A Survey of Positive Rates of HBsAg and anti-HBs in a Rural Area of Korea / 대한내과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The positive rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers differ according to age, sex, race, locality, sexual behavior, socioeconomic conditions, immunologic and genetic factors. It is a well-known fact that Korea is one of the endemic areas of HBV infection in the world. Past many reports have presented that the positive rates of HBsAg and anti-HBs in Korea were about 6~14% and 30~62%, respectively. However there were a few epidemiological surveys of rural communities on the positive rates of HBV markers. The present study undertook to determine the positive rates of HBsAg and anti-HBs in Hwasun county, a rural area of Korea. METHODS: We performed Population-based cross- sectional study by random cluster sampling of registered residents in Hwasun county. Out of the 2,920 subjects (4.1%) scheduled for the survey, 1,913 residents underwent the actual examination. We tested HBsAg and anti- HBs by reversed passive hemagglutination (RPHA) and passive hemagglutination (PHA), respectively. RESULTS: The positive rates of HBsAg and anti-HBs in all subjects were 5.6% and 20.8%, respectively, and those were 5.4% and 20.4% in 168 pregnant women, respectively. The positive rate of HBsAg was significantly higher in male (8.2%) than in female (4.0%) (p< 0.01). The positive rate of anti-HBs was 21.4% in female, but it was not significanly higher than in male (19.6%). There were no significant differences according to age groups in the positive rates of HBsAg and anti-HBs. CONCLUSION: There are no significant changes in the positive rates of HBsAg and anti-HBs between the present study for Hwasun county and past many reports in Korea. Although the rate of hepatitis B vaccination increased significantly, it was not effective because that the vaccinated total numbers in the rural area of Korea were probably small. So it is very important to undertake a nationwide program of hepatitis B immunization and to educate the residents in rural areas of Korea.

The Prevalence of Simple Renal Cysts Studied by Ultrasonography, and the Relations to Age and Hypertension / 대한신장학회잡지

Simple renal cyst is the most common space- occupying lesion of kidney in adults. However, there were a few systematic Korean reports for the prevalence of simple renal cysts. Our purpose was to estimate the prevalence of simple renal cysts using ultrasonography, and to determine the relations to age and hypertension. The subjects were 504 volunteers (aged over 29 years) of the persons who were enrolled a health check-up program of Naju Hospital, Naju, Korea. Number of male in 504 persons was 334 (66.3%) and female 170 (33.7%). Mean age was 55 years (range; 30-86). The results were as follows: 1) One or more renal cysts were found in 50 individuals of 504 persons aged over 29 years (9.9%). In 331 persons aged over 49 years, the prevalence of simple renal cysts was 12.1%. The prevalence was significantly increased with age (P<0.001), but the difference between male (9.6%) and female (10.6%) was insignificant. 2) Mean value of cyst diameter was 23mm (5-69 mm) and was not correlated with age. However, the cyst diameter was significantly higher in female than in male, 32.4mm vs 18.0mm (P<0.001). Total number of cysts per person tended to increase with age (P<0.001). 3) The correlation between prevalence of simple renal cysts and blood pressure was statistically insignificant. However, the prevalence of hypertension in persons with cysts was higher than in persons with no cyst (27.9% vs 15.3%, P<0.05). Cyst diameter was not correlated with blood pressure. 4)Urinalysis in persons with cysts, showed microscopic hematuria in 47.4% and proteinuria in 26.3 %, however, grade of microscopic hematuria and proteinuria were not correlated with cyst diameter. The concentrations of blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, hemoglobin and hematocrit were not affected by presence or absence of simple renal cysts. By comparison with the recent foreign reports, the prevalence of simple renal cysts in Korean was similar to those in foreigners. Our study ascertained that simple renal cysts are age-dependent and total number of cysts per person also increases with age. In most of persons with simple renal cysts, the renal function is not affected and the related symptoms are trivial. However, we suggested that simple renal cysts may cause hypertension. To elucidate the correlation between simple renal cyst and hypertension, further studies are needed.

The Screening of Middle-aged and Geriatric Diseases for 2,021 Residents over 39 Years of Age in Hwasun County, Korea / 대한내과학회지

OBJECTIVE: Middle-aged and geriatric diseases are becoming prevalent in developing countries and some industrialized nations. The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of middle-aged and geriatric diseases in Hwasun County, a rural area of Korea, and to examine the correlation between them and various clinical parameters. METHODS: Population-based cross-sectional study by random cluster sampling of registered residents over 39 years of age was performed. Out of the 3,138 subjects scheduled for the survey, 2,021 residents (male 812, female 1,209) underwent the actual examinations (response rate:64.4%). We examined their weight, height, blood pressure, diet pattern, past and family history, alcohol-drinking and smoking history, and various laboratory parameters. RESULTS: The mean body mass index (BMI) was 22.8+/-3.8. In BMI criteria, the crude prevalence of obesity was found to be 24.6% (grade I obesity; 22.9%, grade II obesity; 1.7%). We found the increasing hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia as BMI increased. Overall crude prevalence was 21.4% for hypertension defined as BP (blood pressure) > or =140/90 mmHg or subject on medication, and 16.1% for BP > or =160/100 mmHg or subject on medication. The crude prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, alcoholic liver disease, ischemic heart disease diagnosed by electrocardiography were 6.2%, 6.0%, 4.4%, and 2.3%, respectively. These prevalence were found to be relatively lower than those of reported elsewhere in the world. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that middle-aged and geriatric diseases in the rural area of korea are becoming prevalent, although they are less prevalent than in the urban area or advanced countries. We hope that the present study contributes to understand the prevalence of middle-aged and geriatric diseases in the rural area of Korea, and to prevent and control them adequately.