The Association between Gamma-glutamyltransferase and Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Male Workers

BACKGROUND: Serum Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) has been used clinically as a marker for excessive alcohol consumption or liver diseases, but it was reported recently that GGT is associated with cardiovascular disease. This study was done to verify the association between GGT and the metabolic syndrome in Korean male workers. METHODS: Total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, uric acid, and GGT were measured and liver US was performed in 1,215 male workers who underwent annual health check up in a university health promotion center from May to October 2003. The association of GGT with the metabolic syndrome was assessed. RESULTS: The mean age of subjects was 41.9 +/- 7.2 years and the mean BMI was 24.1 +/- 2.7 kg/m2. A raised GGT level (GGT > 75 IU/L) was seen in 172 of 1,136 (15.1%) and the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 9.9% (112/1,136). Individuals with the metabolic syndrome had a higher mean GGT concentration (53.4 IU/L) than individuals without the metabolic syndrome (34.4 IU/L; P < 0.001). The subjects with increased GGT showed more risk of metabolic syndrome than the subjects with normal GGT by multivariate analysis (OR=2.835). Subgroup analyses did not change the association between the GGT and the metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the serum GGT was associated with the metabolic syndrome and that increased GGT was another feature of the metabolic syndrome.

Occupational Stress on Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases and Metabolic Syndrome / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between occupational stress and cardiovascular risk factors including metabolic syndrome in a working population. METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted among Koreans working in several industries. They were questioned about: demographic factors, marital status, education, personal history, alcohol intake, smoking, and physical activity , while their occupational stress was assessed using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS). The subjects were measured for height, weight, blood pressure, waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and LDLcholesterol. Regression analyses to determine the relationships between occupational stressors using KOSS and cardiovascular risk factors were performed using multivariate models with adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS: A total of 2,097 workers (1,770 men and 327 women) were included. Multiple logistic regression analysis (socio-demographics and potential confounders) demonstrated a positive association between high interpersonal conflicts and hypertension, a negative association between high job insecurity and diabetes and no association between any KOSS subscale and metabolic syndrome and obesity. Multiple linear regression, adjusted for socio-demographics and potential confounders demonstrated a negative association between low HDL-cholesterol and poor physical environments, high job demand and poor job insecurity and no association between lipid profiles and other KOSS sub-scales. CONCLUSIONS: A few KOSS sub-scales such as interpersonal conflicts showed a positive association with hypertension in Korean workers. Neverthelsss, some measures of occupational stress showed a negative association with diabetes and HDL-cholesterol in cross-sectional population-based survey. We therefore decided to conclude this association by longitudinal study.

Evidence Based Evaluation of Health Information in the Television News

BACKGROUND: A rapid growth of socioeconomic status in Korea has triggered health information resolution of unprecedented magnitude among the general population. Despite its obvious benefits, the increase in the amount of information could also result in many potentially harmful effects on both consumers and professionals who do not use it appropriately. METHODS: This study was performed to evaluate health information in the television news from June 2003 through January 2004. We evaluated the quality and the accuracy of health information provided in the night news. We reviewed the health information for quality using the evidence-based medicine tools which evaluate the accuracy required to understand the text. RESULTS: A total of 85 types of information were identified. Among them, 34 (40.0%) contained inaccurate or misleading statement based on evidence-based medicine. These included confusing surrogate outcome with an end outcome (15.3%), extrapolating nonhuman results to human (8.2%), exaggerating results in conclusion (12.9%), incorrect words (7.1%), indefinite study methods (2.4%) In broadcasting stations A, B and C, the rate of error were 55.6%, 38.2% and 42.4%, respectively. The rate of error were higher in information of Korean source compared to those of international sources (65.8% and 27.3%). CONCLUSION: Many inaccurate medical information exist in the television news.

The Association between C-reactive Protein and Smoking Characteristics among Korean Men

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein is a substance that elevates when there is an abnormal metabolic reaction or inflammatory condition. Some researchers in Korea reported different results about the association between smoking and CRP. In this study, the relationship between CRP and various smoking characteristics among Korean men was investigated. METHODS: A data was analyzed in healthy men, who had visited a health promotion center in a university hospital from September, 2003, to December, 2003. CRP was quantitatively analyzed by high sensitivity-CRP. Elevated CRP (> or =2.2 mg/L) level in relation to various smoking characteristics were studied and multiple logistic regression analysis for elevated CRP (> or =2.2 mg/L) level was conducted. RESULTS: The number of current smokers was 893, past smokers 550, and non-smokers 413. The association between smoking status, daily smoking amount, duration of smoking (P=0.031, P=0.003, P=0.034) and elevated CRP level was shown by chi-square test. After multiple logistic regression analysis for risk factors, elevated CRP level was shwon to be associated with daily smoking amount in the current smokers, body fat percentage, WBC count and HDL-cholesterol. The odds ratios for elevated CRP level by smoking amount were 2.32 (95% confidence interval 1.11~4.85) in those who smoked 10~19 cigarettes per day, 3.54 (95% confidence interval 1.64~7.63) in those who smoked more than 20 cigarettes per day compared to those who smoked less than 10 cigarettes per day. CONCLUSION: Among current smokers, elevated CRP level was associated with daily smoking amount in the current smokers, This is the first study to report the relationship between CRP and smoking behaviors among Korean men.

The Usefulness of Waist/Height Ratio as an Obesity Index

BACKGROUND: Waist circumference and BMI have been known as an independent predictor for cardiovascular diseases. But some people with a normal BMI or normal waist circumference may have cardiovascular risk factors. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the simplicity and the usefulness of waist/height ratio as an index of obesity and to investigate the waist/height ratio as a predictor for metabolic risks in individuals with normal weight and/or normal waist circumference. METHODS: The subjects were 1,157 individuals (635 men, 522 women). The morbidity index for metabolic risk factors was calculated by the sum of the risk factors scores (one point per item, if present). We set the criteria of obesity as BMI>or=25 kg/m2, waist circumference of >or=90 cm in males and >or=80 cm in females, waist/hip ratio of >or=0.9 in males and >or=0.8 in females, and waist/height ratio of >or=50 cm/cm*100. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation among waist/ height ratio, waist/hip ratio, BMI, and waist circumference (P=0.000). The odds ratios for morbidity index (>or=3) in normal BMI, waist circumference, and waist/hip ratio subjects with waist/height over 50 were significantly higher with 4.60, 3.83, and 2.79, respectively, and also higher in normal BMI with normal waist circumference subjects with 3.90 (P=0.000). CONCLUSION: Waist/height ratio may be used a simple and practical index of obesity. Especially, it may be useful in subjects with normal BMI or normal waist circumference when predicting their metabolic risks.