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Objective@#Various and accurate psychiatric assessments in patients with breast cancer who frequently suffer from psychological problems due to long-term survivors are warranted. This systematic review aimed to investigate the current evidence on psychometric properties of psychiatric assessment for evaluating psychological problems in breast cancer patients. @*Methods@#This systematic review progressed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline. Four electronic databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature were searched. This study protocol was registered on Open Science Framework. @*Results@#Of the 2,040 articles, 21 papers were finally included. Among them, only five studies showed the performance of psychiatric assessment tools. Among 13 assessment tools used in the selected articles, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Distress Thermometer (DT), or Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale was frequently used for the evaluation of psychological problems. The DT and Psychosocial Distress Questionnaire-Breast Cancer showed acceptable performances for the prediction of depression and anxiety assessed by the HADS. @*Conclusion@#This systematic review found psychiatric assessment tools with acceptable reliability and validity for breast cancer patients. However, comparative studies on reliability and validity of various scales are required to provide useful information for the selection of appropriate assessment tools based on the clinical settings and treatment stages of breast cancer. Joint research among the fields of psychiatry and breast surgery is needed for research to establish the convergent, concurrent, and predictive validity of psychiatric assessment tools in breast cancer patients.
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Background@#and Purpose All young males in South Korea must undergo a physical examination for their participation in military service. We aimed to determine the prevalence rate (PR) of various neuromuscular diseases in young South Korean males using the data of exempted patients and soldiers. @*Methods@#The number of males exempted based on specific items of physical examination corresponding to neuromuscular disease during 2011–2020 were obtained from the records of the Military Manpower Administration. The list of enlisted soldier patients who were discharged from military service due to neuromuscular diseases during 2011–2020 was obtained from the Armed Forces Medical Command, and their medical records were reviewed. @*Results@#The PR of neuromuscular diseases was calculated among 948 identified males: 713 exempted males and 235 soldiers. The PRs of overall hereditary neuropathies, Hirayama disease (HD), myasthenia gravis (MG), and inherited muscle diseases in South Korean males in their early 20s were 8.34 (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.39–9.30), 5.54 (95% CI, 4.76–6.32), 2.97 (95% CI, 2.40–3.55), and 10.38 (95% CI, 9.31–11.46) per 100,000 persons, respectively.Among the enlisted soldiers, hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy was the most common neuromuscular disease, with a prevalence among the enlisted soldiers of 3.11 (95% CI, 2.42–3.80) per 100,000 persons. Myotonic dystrophy was the most prevalent myopathy, followed by facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. @*Conclusions@#The 10-year PRs of hereditary polyneuropathies, HD, MG, and inherited muscle diseases in young South Korean males have been reported. These data could be valuable to understanding each neuromuscular disease in the young male population of South Korea.
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Background@#The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began in December 2019.While it has not yet ended, COVID-19 has already created transitions in health care, one of which is a decrease in medical use for health-related issues other than COVID-19 infection.Korean soldiers are relatively homogeneous in terms of age and physical condition. They show a similar disease distribution pattern every year and are directly affected by changes in government attempts to control COVID-19 with nonpharmaceutical interventions. This study aimed to identify the changes in patterns of outpatient visits and admissions to military hospitals for a range of disease types during a pandemic. @*Methods@#Outpatient attendance and admission data from all military hospitals in South Korea from January 2016 to December 2020 were analyzed. Only active enlisted soldiers aged 18–32 years were included. Outpatient visits where there was a diagnosis of pneumonia, acute upper respiratory tract infection, infectious conjunctivitis, infectious enteritis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis, urticaria, and fractures were analyzed. Admissions for pneumonia, acute enteritis, and fractures were also analyzed. All outpatient visits and admissions in 2020 for each disease were counted on a weekly basis and compared with the average number of visits over the same period of each year from 2016 to 2019. The corrected value was calculated by dividing the ratio of total weekly number of outpatient visits or admissions to the corresponding medical department in 2020 to the average in 2016–2019. @*Results@#A total of 5,813,304 cases of outpatient care and 143,022 cases of admission were analyzed. For pneumonia, the observed and corrected numbers of outpatient visits and admissions in 2020 decreased significantly compared with the average of other years (P < 0.001). The results were similar for outpatient visits for acute upper respiratory tract infection and infectious conjunctivitis (P < 0.001), while the corrected number of outpatient visits for infectious enteritis showed a significant increase in 2020 (P = 0.005). The corrected number of outpatient visits for asthma in 2020 did not differ from the average of the previous 4 years but the number of visits for the other allergic diseases increased significantly (P < 0.001). For fractures, the observed and corrected numbers of outpatient visits and admissions in 2020 decreased significantly compared with the average of other years (P < 0.001). @*Conclusion@#During the COVID-19 pandemic, outpatient visits to military hospitals for respiratory and conjunctival infections and fractures decreased, whereas visits for allergic diseases did not change or increased only slightly. Admissions for pneumonia decreased significantly in 2020, while those for acute enteritis and fractures also decreased, but showed an increased proportion compared with previous years. These results are important because they illustrate the changing patterns in lifestyle as a result of public encouragement to adopt nonpharmaceutical interventions during the pandemic and their effect on medical needs for both infectious and noninfectious diseases in a select group.
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Purpose@#Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has become a standard axillary staging surgery for early breast cancer, and the proportion of patients requiring axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is decreasing. We aimed to evaluate the association between the number of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) retrieved and the risk of lymphedema of the ipsilateral arm. @*Methods@#Prospectively collected medical records of 910 patients were reviewed.Lymphedema was defined as a difference in circumference > 2 cm compared to the contralateral arm and/or having clinical records of lymphedema treatment in the rehabilitation clinic. @*Results@#Together with an objective and subjective assessment of lymphedema, 36 patients (6.1%) had lymphedema in the SLNB group and 85 patients (27.0%) had lymphedema in the ALND group (p < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis of the whole cohort, risk factors significantly associated risk with the development of lymphedema were body mass index, mastectomy (vs.breast-conserving surgery), ALND, and radiation therapy. In logistic regression models in the SLNB group only, there was no correlation between the number of retrieved SLNs and the incidence of lymphedema. In addition, in the Pearson correlation analysis, no correlation was observed between the number of retrieved SLNs and the difference in circumference between the ipsilateral and contralateral upper extremities (correlation coefficients = 0.067, p = 0.111). @*Conclusion@#The risk of lymphedema in breast cancer surgery and adjuvant treatments is multifactorial. The number of retrieved lymph nodes during sentinel biopsy was not associated with the incidence of lymphedema.
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Background@#The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began in December 2019.While it has not yet ended, COVID-19 has already created transitions in health care, one of which is a decrease in medical use for health-related issues other than COVID-19 infection.Korean soldiers are relatively homogeneous in terms of age and physical condition. They show a similar disease distribution pattern every year and are directly affected by changes in government attempts to control COVID-19 with nonpharmaceutical interventions. This study aimed to identify the changes in patterns of outpatient visits and admissions to military hospitals for a range of disease types during a pandemic. @*Methods@#Outpatient attendance and admission data from all military hospitals in South Korea from January 2016 to December 2020 were analyzed. Only active enlisted soldiers aged 18–32 years were included. Outpatient visits where there was a diagnosis of pneumonia, acute upper respiratory tract infection, infectious conjunctivitis, infectious enteritis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis, urticaria, and fractures were analyzed. Admissions for pneumonia, acute enteritis, and fractures were also analyzed. All outpatient visits and admissions in 2020 for each disease were counted on a weekly basis and compared with the average number of visits over the same period of each year from 2016 to 2019. The corrected value was calculated by dividing the ratio of total weekly number of outpatient visits or admissions to the corresponding medical department in 2020 to the average in 2016–2019. @*Results@#A total of 5,813,304 cases of outpatient care and 143,022 cases of admission were analyzed. For pneumonia, the observed and corrected numbers of outpatient visits and admissions in 2020 decreased significantly compared with the average of other years (P < 0.001). The results were similar for outpatient visits for acute upper respiratory tract infection and infectious conjunctivitis (P < 0.001), while the corrected number of outpatient visits for infectious enteritis showed a significant increase in 2020 (P = 0.005). The corrected number of outpatient visits for asthma in 2020 did not differ from the average of the previous 4 years but the number of visits for the other allergic diseases increased significantly (P < 0.001). For fractures, the observed and corrected numbers of outpatient visits and admissions in 2020 decreased significantly compared with the average of other years (P < 0.001). @*Conclusion@#During the COVID-19 pandemic, outpatient visits to military hospitals for respiratory and conjunctival infections and fractures decreased, whereas visits for allergic diseases did not change or increased only slightly. Admissions for pneumonia decreased significantly in 2020, while those for acute enteritis and fractures also decreased, but showed an increased proportion compared with previous years. These results are important because they illustrate the changing patterns in lifestyle as a result of public encouragement to adopt nonpharmaceutical interventions during the pandemic and their effect on medical needs for both infectious and noninfectious diseases in a select group.
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Purpose@#Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has become a standard axillary staging surgery for early breast cancer, and the proportion of patients requiring axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is decreasing. We aimed to evaluate the association between the number of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) retrieved and the risk of lymphedema of the ipsilateral arm. @*Methods@#Prospectively collected medical records of 910 patients were reviewed.Lymphedema was defined as a difference in circumference > 2 cm compared to the contralateral arm and/or having clinical records of lymphedema treatment in the rehabilitation clinic. @*Results@#Together with an objective and subjective assessment of lymphedema, 36 patients (6.1%) had lymphedema in the SLNB group and 85 patients (27.0%) had lymphedema in the ALND group (p < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis of the whole cohort, risk factors significantly associated risk with the development of lymphedema were body mass index, mastectomy (vs.breast-conserving surgery), ALND, and radiation therapy. In logistic regression models in the SLNB group only, there was no correlation between the number of retrieved SLNs and the incidence of lymphedema. In addition, in the Pearson correlation analysis, no correlation was observed between the number of retrieved SLNs and the difference in circumference between the ipsilateral and contralateral upper extremities (correlation coefficients = 0.067, p = 0.111). @*Conclusion@#The risk of lymphedema in breast cancer surgery and adjuvant treatments is multifactorial. The number of retrieved lymph nodes during sentinel biopsy was not associated with the incidence of lymphedema.
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Sparganosis is a parasitic infestation caused by sparganum, a plerocercoid tapeworm larva of the genus Spirometra. Since the first case of human sparganosis reported in 1908, sparganosis has been a global disease, and is common in China, Japan, and Southeast Asian countries. Consumption of raw snakes, frogs, fish, or drinking contaminated beverages are sources of human infections. Human sparganosis usually manifests in subcutaneous fat in areas such as the abdomen, genitourinary tract, and limbs. Breast sparganosis cases are rare, representing less than 2% of total cases of human infections. Complete surgical extraction of the sparganum is the treatment of choice. Because of the rarity of the disease, clinical suspicion is vital to reach the diagnosis of breast sparganosis. Here we report 2 rare cases of breast sparganosis presenting with a painless breast lump, both treated with surgical excision and sparganum extraction.
Subject(s)
Humans , Abdomen , Asian People , Beverages , Breast , Cestoda , China , Diagnosis , Drinking , Extremities , Japan , Larva , Snakes , Sparganosis , Sparganum , Spirometra , Subcutaneous FatABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Long time total parenteral nutrition (TPN) can induce irreversible liver damage. In this study, we investigated the associated factors of parenteral nutrition associated cholestasis (PNAC) in neonates. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 227 neonates (male:female=110:117) those who had received TPN over 2 weeks from March 2010 to February 2014. PNAC was defined as direct bilirubin was higher than 2.0 mg/dL without any cause except TPN. RESULTS: Overall incidence was 28.6%. PNAC was frequently developed in younger gestational age with lower birth weight. Episodes of sepsis, underlying bronchopulmonary dysplasia, history of necrotizing enterocolitis, and experience of gastrointestinal surgery increase the incidence of PNAC. PNAC was directly associated the duration of TPN and long period to full enteral feeding, reaching 60 and 150 mL/kg/day. Overall mortality rate was 9.7%. It was higher in PNAC group despite PNAC was not the primary cause of death. All survivors were recovered from cholestasis with encourage of enteral nutrition. CONCLUSION: PNAC in neonate was associated with younger gestational ages and lower birth weights, duration of TPN, or who experienced sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, gastrointestinal surgery or bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant, Newborn , Bilirubin , Birth Weight , Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia , Cause of Death , Cholestasis , Enteral Nutrition , Enterocolitis, Necrotizing , Gestational Age , Incidence , Liver , Mortality , Parenteral Nutrition , Parenteral Nutrition, Total , Retrospective Studies , Sepsis , SurvivorsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to test a model linking infant health problem, mother's depression and marital relationship to infant abuse. METHODS: This study employed a cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected from 2009 Data of Index Studies for Korean Children and Adolescents Development. Survey data from 1,060 infants and their mothers (including infant health status and infant physical illness scale, depression scale, marital relationship scale, and child abuse scale) were used to test the model. The model was tested using path analysis techniques within structural equation modeling. RESULTS: The model fit indices suggested that the original hypothesized model adequately fit the data (chi2 = .33, df = 5, p = .84, Tucker-Lewis Index = 1.04, Comparative Fit Index = 1.00, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = .00). Infant health problem and mother's depression had a negative direct effect on marital relationship, which in turn had a direct negative effect on infant abuse. Infant health problems directly affected infant abuse and also influenced infant abuse indirectly through the marital relationship. Mother's depression had significant direct effects on infant abuse and also influenced infant abuse indirectly through the marital relationship. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study demonstrate the fundamental importance of infant health as linked to the mother's mental health, and marital relationship and increasing the quality of marital relationship may be the key to infant abuse prevention.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Infant , Middle Aged , Child Abuse/psychology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Depressive Disorder/epidemiology , Health Status , Infant Welfare/psychology , Marriage/psychology , Models, Psychological , Mothers/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Republic of Korea/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Early diagnosis and treatment of heterotopic ossification (HO) is essential to the prevention of complications. It is difficult to diagnose HO in its initial phase because non-specific clinical manifestations, laboratory findings and imaging findings of immature HO may mimic other diseases such as cellulitis, osteomyelitis, thrombophlebitis, deep vein thrombosis and local infection with abscess. We experienced two cases of HO, which were misdiagnosed as pyomyositis at first by clinical signs and MRI findings indicating the deep infection; the extensive intramuscular ossification appeared later on. We observed an increase of C-reactive protein and creatine kinase followed by the elevation of alkaline phosphatase with abnormal triphasic bone scan. The trajectory of these biomarkers was analyzed to get more insight into the early stages of HO along with the imaging findings. Although our cases cannot be generalized as typical of immature HO, they clearly demonstrate that the change of specific biomarkers with a careful history taking and physical examination should be noted to detect HO as early as possible while avoiding confusion with other mimicking conditions.
Subject(s)
Abscess , Alkaline Phosphatase , Biomarkers , C-Reactive Protein , Cellulitis , Creatine Kinase , Early Diagnosis , Hydrazines , Ossification, Heterotopic , Osteomyelitis , Physical Examination , Pyomyositis , Thrombophlebitis , Venous ThrombosisABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To investigate the physical function of elderly people in Korea using quantitative and objective tools and to assess the impact of declined physical function on their quality of life. METHODS: The Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging was designed as a population-based prospective cohort study on the health and aging of the elderly people in Korea aged 65 years and older. Within one city's central metropolitan area, 1,000 subjects including a simple random sample and an oldest-old subpopulation participated in a baseline study for one year. We evaluated the isokinetic peak torque of the knee extensors and flexors, grip force, and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and surveyed their daily physical activities and quality of life using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). RESULTS: Overall, 676 subjects completed the evaluations of physical function and activity. The isokinetic torque of the knee extensors and flexors declined with age in both men and women. The women in the old-old (75-84 years) group showed lower SPPB and physical activity than women in the young-old (65-74 years) group, but these measures were maintained till age 85 in the men. SPPB and physical activity were significantly associated with the physical component scale (PCS) of the SF-36 in both men and women, while isokinetic torque was associated with PCS in women only. CONCLUSION: Physical performance and activity declined differently in Korean elderly men and women. Both these measures showed to be the main factors associated with quality of life.
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Aging , Cohort Studies , Hand Strength , Health Surveys , Knee , Korea , Longitudinal Studies , Motor Activity , Prospective Studies , Quality of Life , TorqueABSTRACT
Kummell's disease is a rare disorder defined as delayed avascular necrosis of a vertebral body after minor trauma. Diagnosis is based on clinical presentation of delayed onset back pain and kyphosis after minor trauma, and on intravertebral vacuum cleft in radiologic examination. Vertebroplasty or surgical management is necessary to the patients with risks of vertebral collapse or cord compromise, but we experienced a successful result after active conservative management to a patient with severe vertebral collapse and mild spinal cord compression without myelopathy. A 76-year old woman had back pain and gait disturbance 7 weeks after fall down. X-ray and MRI showed a vacuum cleft in T12 vertebra. We treated her conservatively with bed rest and immobilization followed by gradual weight bearing with thoracic-lumbar-sacral orthosis. Back pain and gait disturbance was improved after conservative management, and the improvement was maintained until 8 months after fall down.
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Back Pain , Bed Rest , Diagnosis , Gait , Immobilization , Kyphosis , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Necrosis , Orthotic Devices , Osteonecrosis , Spinal Cord Compression , Spinal Cord Diseases , Spine , Vacuum , Vertebroplasty , Weight-BearingABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the independence levels of ADL and the function of affected and unaffected hands using Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Jebsen Hand Function Test (JHFT) at subacute and chronic stages of stroke. METHOD: Retrospective review was performed including unilateral stroke patients who had been admitted and evaluated with MBI and JHFT before discharge and 6 months after stroke onset. Correlations between sub-MBI related to hand function and JHFT were analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients with dominant hemispheric lesion and 13 patients with non-dominant hemispheric lesion were included in this analysis. The evaluation was performed at 43.2+/-28.0 days post-stroke before discharge and followed at 200.0+/-46.1 days post-stroke. MBI scores and the JHFT scores of affected hand were significantly increased in both groups. At the time of discharge, both groups showed significant correlations between MBI scores and the JHFT scores of unaffected hand, but at 6 months post-stroke, significant correlations were found between MBI scores and the JHFT scores of dominant hand. Improvement of the 'stacking checker' item was significantly correlated with improvement of MBI in both groups. CONCLUSION: In subacute stage, MBI reflects the function of unaffected hand, but in chronic stage, it rather reflects the function of dominant hand. The results suggest that rehabilitation concerning hand function may need different approach according to the lesion laterality.
Subject(s)
Humans , Activities of Daily Living , Cerebrovascular Disorders , Functional Laterality , Hand , Rehabilitation , Retrospective Studies , StrokeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is one of the important factors influencing morbidity and mortality in elderly patients with gastric carcinoma. METHODS: Since September to December 2001, we investigated the nutritional parameters of 44 elderly patients with gastric carcinoma by measuring anthropometric and biochemical blood indices and assessing dietary intake along with subjective global assessment. RESULTS: The mean body mass index of subjects was below the physical average of korea on the base of 64 years old. The ratio of carbohydrate, protein and lipid to energy intake was 74.0:13.5:12.5(%). There were significantly positive correlations between three groups according to subjective global assessment and height, body weight, 1 month weight loss %, 6 month weight loss %, body mass index, transferrin and nutrient intake, such as energy, protein and niacin. CONCLUSION: Mean nutrient intake, such as total energy, protein and niacin appear to be related of subjective global assessment in elderly subjects. Nutritional assessment by nutrient intake should be done in elderly patients with gastric carcinoma and be supplied with adequate nutrition for them.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Middle Aged , Body Height , Body Mass Index , Energy Intake , Korea , Malnutrition , Mortality , Niacin , Nutrition Assessment , Nutritional Status , Transferrin , Weight LossABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of tracheal suction and the effects of different methods of bronchodilator inhalation (Ultrasonic nebulizer, MDI puff, MDI puff with spacer) in VSD surgery patients. MATERIAL & METHOD: From June 2001 to March 2002, sixty consecutive patients were randomly assigned to a control group (n= 15), ultrasonic nebulizer group (n=15), metered dose inhalation (MDI) puff group (n=15) and MDI with spacer group (n=15). Vital signs (HR, BP, CVP), ABGA and pulmonary functions were measured before suction (baseline for suction), after suction, 15 minutes after suction (base of bronchodilator inhalation), 30 minutes after bronchodilator inhalation, and 2 hours after bronchodilator inhalation. Stastistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Repeated measure ANOVA was used to examine the effects of tracheal suction. One way ANOVA with Bonferroni's correction and mutiple range test (the least significant difference test) were used to examine the effects of albuterol inhalation. RESULT: 1. Heart rate increased significantly immediately after suction (p<0.01) and recovered 15 minutes after suction. 2. PaO2 and PH decreased significantly immediately after suction (p<0.05) and PaO2 recovered 15 minutes after suction. PaCO2 increased immediately after suction and significantly 15 minutes after suction (p<0.01). But changes in vital signs and ABGA were within the normal range. 3. Tidal volume decreased significantly 15 minutes after suction (p<0.05) 4. Changes of HR and tidal volume were greater in the nebuizer group compared to the other groups (p<0.05) 30 minutes after bronchodilator inhalation and recovered 2 hours after bronchodilator inhalation. 5. Changes of airway deadspace was greater in the nebulizer group compared to the control group and MDI puff group 30 minutes after albuterol inhalation (p<0.05) and at 2 hours (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Tracheal suction did not have significant effect on vital signs and pulmonary functions after OHS. Although the methods of bronchodilator inhalation did not showed any significant difference on pulmonary function, the nebulizer method increased PaO2 (20%) and tidal volume transiently. If the patient needs bronchodilator inhalation with bronchospasm after OHS, the nebulizer method is the best choice. More study on the effects of bronchodilator inhalation in bronchospasm group is needed.
Subject(s)
Humans , Albuterol , Bronchial Spasm , Heart Rate , Heart , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Inhalation , Nebulizers and Vaporizers , Reference Values , Suction , Tidal Volume , Ultrasonics , Vital SignsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There are no agreement for abnormalities in serum lipid concentrations and lipoprotein(a)(Lp(a)) in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. But there are no reports for consideration of postmenopausal state and hormone replacement therapy(HRT). Therefore, we analized serum Lp(a) and lipid concentrations in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism considering menopause and HRT and the correlation between serum Lp(a) level and thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) concentration. METHODS: We undertook this study in 99 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism(TSH>5uIU/mL) and 297 age and sex matched normal control subjects. They had no abnormalities in liver and renal function, fasting blood glucose and medical and drug histories. We excluded who were recieving HRT. Serum free thyroxine, triiodothyronine , TSH were measured by radioimmune assay using commercial kits, and Lp(a), total cholesterol, TG and HDL by Latex and enzyme method, respectively. RESULTS: There were no significant differences of serum Lp(a), total cholesterol, LDL, TG, HDL concentrations in patients with subclinical hypthyroidism and control subjects, analyzing after dividing into men, premenopausal and postmenopausal women. In patiens with subclinical hypothyroidism, there was no correlation between serum Lp(a) and TSH concentraions(r=0.06, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Considering menopause and HRT, there were no increase in serum Lp(a) and lipid concentrations in subclinical hypothyroidism. There was no correlation between serum Lp(a) and TSH concentration in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.