The Estimated Proportion for Influenza Vaccination and Related Factors in Korean Diabetics / 보건행정학회지

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the estimated proportion for influenza vaccination and to identify factors associated with influenza vaccination in Korean diabetic patients. METHODS: Data from the fourth, fifth, and sixth (except for 2013) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n=3,726) was used. A chi-square test was performed to investigate the estimated proportion for influenza vaccination, and a multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with self-reported influenza vaccination. RESULTS: In men, 28.8% of diabetes patients 30–64 years of age, and 76.1% of elderly (over 65 years of age) diabetes patients received influenza vaccination. In women, 37.7% of diabetes patients 30–64 years of age, and 78.4% of elderly diabetes patients received influenza vaccination (p < 0.0001). The determinants of influenza vaccination were marriage, hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07–2.24), residence within a mega city, unemployment (OR, 3.94; 95% CI, 1.24–12.54), and exercise via (weekly) walking for diabetic men; and hypertension (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.16–2.52), chronic disease (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.08–3.02), and exercise via walking (OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.49–4.73) for diabetic women. CONCLUSION: Influenza vaccination remains relatively low in young diabetic patients. It is necessary to recommend vaccination to young diabetic patients, and to devise other strategies to improve vaccination.

Incidences of Lower Extremity Injuries in Korea

PURPOSE: We conducted this retrospective epidemiological study to assess the incidence and severity of lower extremity injuries in Korea METHODS: For this study, we retrospectively reviewed nationwide lower-extremity injury data compiled from 2001 to 2003 based on the National Injury Database, what included National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC), Car Insurance, and Industry Insurance data. Data were standardized in terms of demographic characteristics, region, and socioeconomic status by using NHIC data. To assess the degree of the injuries, we used the Modified Abbreviated Injury Scale (MoAIS), what has been changed from the International Classification of Disease-10 (ICD-10) code. By using the Excess Mortality Ratio-adjusted Injury Severity Score (EMR-ISS), we classified the degree of severity into four categories: mild, moderate, severe and critical. RESULTS: From 2001 to 2003, lower extremity injuries increased slightly, with a yearly average of 2,437,335. Insurance data should that lower-extremity injuries were the most common, followed by upper-extremity injuries. Significant difference were seen in the numbers of lower extremity injuries based on gender and age. As for provinces, Seoul and Gyeongi provinces had the highest numbers of cases. Junlabukdo had the highest rate of 55,282 cases per 1 million people for standardized gender and population. The annual incidence of the insured patients with lower extrimity injuries was higher than the employer's medical insurance contributions to the medical insurance program. Daily cases occur most often in May and June, with the lowest occurrences being in January and February. CONCLUSION: The result of this study shows that lower extremity injuries comprised common cause of all injuries. In addition, differences associated with gender, location and socioeconomic status were observed. Further studies are needed to find reasons and then this knowledge will allow strategies to prevent the lower extremity injuries.

Effects of Long-term Fluoride in Drinking Water on Risks of Hip Fracture of the Elderly: An Ecologic Study Based on Database of Hospitalization Episodes / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: Fluoridation of drinking water is known to decrease dental caries, particularly in children. However, the effects of fluoridated water on bone over several decades are still in controversy. To assess the risk of hip fracture related to water fluoridation, we evaluated the hip fracture-related hospitalizations of the elderly between a fluoridated city and non-fluoridated cities in Korea. METHODS: Cheongju as a fluoridated area and Chungju, Chuncheon, Suwon, Wonju as non-fluoridated areas were chosen for the study. We established a database of hip fracture hospitalization episode based on the claims data submitted to the Health Insurance Review Agency from January 1995 to December 2002. The hip fracture hospitalization episodes that satisfied the conditions were those that occurred in patients over 65 years old, the injuries had a hip fracture code (ICD-9 820, ICD-10 S72) and the patients were hospitalized for at least 7days. A total of 80,558 cases of hip fracture hospitalization episodes were analyzed. RESULTS: The admission rates for hip fracture increased with the age of the men and women in both a fluoridated city and the non-fluoridated cities (p<0.01). The relative risk of hip fracture increased significantly both for men and women as their age increased. However, any difference in the hip fracture admission rates was not consistently observed between the fluoridated city and the nonfluoridated cities. CONCLUSIONS: We cannot conclude that fluoridation of drinking water increases the risk of hip fracture in the elderly.

The Epidemiologic Characteristics of Drowning in Korea

PURPOSE: In spite of preventive measures and excellent prognosis with immediate treatments, drowning and drowning- related injuries remain as one of the leading causes of accidental death in Korea. However, abundant statistical data for drowning has yet to be collected. Thus, this study aimed to describe the epidemiologic characteristics of drowning in terms of demographic characteristics, geopolitical factors and socio-economic status. METHODS: This study was conducted with drowning patients who either visited hospitals or died between January 2001 and December 2003. Of these patients, we enrolled individuals registered for such coverages as automobile insurance, national health service and work injury insurance and we reviewed death records reported to the Korea National Statistical office. NISS (New Injury Severity Scale) and EMR-ISS (the Excessive Mortality Ratio -adjusted Injury Severity Score) values were calculated for each patients and the results were classified 4-into four different severity groups. After analysis, we drew conclusions in terms of year, gender, age, region, insurance type, daily rate of incidences and severity. RESULTS: The incidences of drowning-related injury were 2,486 in 2001, 2,364 in 2002, and 2,595 in 2003 (average of 2,482). The average annual death were 1,954. Victims were more likely to be male and especially high incidence rates were found for two groups: (1) Children aged 5-9 years, (2) Adults aged 40 and older. Seoul and Gyeonggi had the largest total numbers of injury cases, while JeJu had the highest per capita incidence rate (106 per 1,000,000 population). The seasonal distribution of incidence rates showed that predictably, incidents were most frequent between the beginning of July and September. CONCLUSION: The average number of incidents was 55.73 per 1,000,000 population, which constitutes approximately 0.02% of all injuries. Based on this data, we recommand continuing studies and further evaluations in order to develop specific measures to combat drowning.

Incidences of Upper Extremity Injuries in Korea

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to assess the frequency and severity of upper extremity injuries in Korea through a retrospective epidemiological study. METHODS: For this study, we retrospectively reviewed nation-wide upper extremity injury data compiled from 2001 to 2003 from the National Injury Database, which includes the National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC), Car Insurance, and Industry Insurance. NHIC consists of the medical aid population, the self-employed insured population and the employer-insured population. Data was standardized in terms of demographic characteristics, region and socioeconomic status by NHIC. To assess the degree of the injuries, we used the International Classification of Disease-10 (ICD-10) code and the Modified Abbreviated Injury Scale (MoAIS). Afterwards, we classified the degree of the severity into 4-four categories-mild, moderate, severe and critical- using the Excess Mortality Ratio-adjusted Injury Severity Score (EMR-ISS). RESULTS: Frequency of cases of upper extremity injuries per 1,000,000 persons was 58,663, and the incidence rate is 26.9% of total injuries. In fact, the incidence rate remained stable. Yet, there was a steady increase in total injuries from 2001 to 2003. Injuries in men outnumbered women regardless of the severity. In terms of severity, mortality was higher for the elderly aged 60 and over. The Seoul and Kyeonggi-areas showed the highest incidence rate while Jeju was the lowest. Furthermore, injuries were more frequent among the medical aid population. The daily incidence rate for non-critical cases was higher in the months of June, September and October. CONCLUSION: The data indicated that upper extremity injuries comprised a major portion of all injuries. Moreover, the result were affected by differences in gender, location and socioeconomic status. All in all, it is critical that sophisticated research and clinical data be compiled in order to develop more effective prevention strategies.

The Present Status and Perspective of Nationwide Occupational Diseases Surveillance System / 대한산업의학회지

No abstract available.

Study on Perceived Occupational Psychosocial Stress and Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders among VDT Works / 대한산업의학회지

It has been hypothesized that jobs that have both high psychological demands and low decision latitude ('job strain") can lead to musculoskeletal disorder. The objective of this study was to test whether job strain was correlated with the presence of work-related musculoskeletal disorder, especially myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). Information on demographic factors, confounders such as household load and taking care of children or not, and scores for decision latitude, job demand, and social support was obtained by self-administered questionnaire, which had been developed in Korean language, by adopting NIOSH instrument and Extended Karasek Model (16 items). All subjects were also examined by rehabilitation medicine specialists for musculoskeletal disorders. Subjects (n=370) could be categorized into 4 groups, these were, housewives(n=89), shipyard CAD workers(n=89), general female workers(n=79; nurses, insurance counselors, public officials, clerks, etc), and telephone directory assistance operators(n=113). Results from univariate analyses indicated that all demographic factors, all confounders, scores for decision latitude and social support were not associated with the risk of musculoskeletal disorder. However, score for job demand was higher in musculoskeletal disorder cases than others. In subgroup analysis, this association was convinced again, in telephone directory assistance operators. Job strain model showed that the group of telephone directory assistance operators was high-strain group, and OR of musculoskeletal disorder was 2.446 (95% C.I. : 1.174, 5.096), when comparing this with the low strain group. In conclusion, job strain is a risk factor for work-related musculoskeletal disorder.