Effect of Weight Changes on the Development of Erosive Esophagitis / 가정의학회지

Background@#Gastroesophageal reflux disease is highly prevalent among overweight and obese individuals. This study aimed to investigate the effect of weight change on the development of erosive esophagitis (EE). @*Methods@#A retrospective review of medical records from a university hospital in South Korea identified 7,123 subjects who underwent routine health checkups in 2012 and 2014. We excluded participants with EE in 2012. Body mass index (BMI) changes were classified as loss, stable, mild gain, or moderate gain. @*Results@#Mild and moderate weight gain increased the odds of EE development (odds ratio [OR], 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–1.84 and OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.87–4.21, respectively) relative to weight stability. Weight loss decreased the odds of EE development (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.38–0.90) relative to weight stability. After stratifying subjects into three groups by baseline BMI, those with mild and moderate weight gain in the obese group and moderate gain in the overweight group showed increased odds of EE development relative to members of those groups whose weights remained stable (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.29–3.36; OR, 3.92; 95% CI, 1.99–7.73 in obese group, and OR, 3.30; 95% CI, 1.64–6.64 in overweight group, respectively). In comparison, weight loss in the normal weight group decreased the odds of EE development relative to weight stability (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.15–0.97). @*Conclusion@#Weight gain was positively associated with EE development in overweight or obese individuals. Weight loss was negatively associated with EE development in normal-weight individuals.

Korean Alcohol Guidelines for Moderate Drinking Based on Facial Flushing / 가정의학회지

This study investigated advantages and potential risks associated with drinking alcohol in Koreans based on the alcohol flush reaction. Our investigation reviewed published studies and examined moderate-drinking levels for Koreans based on modified National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism guidelines. Fourteen articles out of a total 198 publications were searched using PubMed, EMBASE, KoreaMed, and RISS (Research Information Sharing Service) databases and selected for review. Individuals without alcohol flush reaction (non-flushers) exhibited lower risks associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and hyperhomocysteinemia and their 10-year cardiovascular disease risk when alcohol consumption was ≤8 drinks/wk. Conversely, risks associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, prediabetes or type-2 diabetes, and high intraocular pressure and increases in carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, gamma glutamyl transferase, and blood glucose levels were present when >8 drinks were consumed. For individuals with flushing reaction (flushers), advantages were reported in relation to risks of hyperhomocysteinemia when alcohol consumption was ≤4 drinks/wk, whereas consumption of >4 drinks/wk increased the risk of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes or type-2 diabetes, high-risk colorectal adenoma, and high intraocular pressure and increased carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, gamma glutamyl transferase, and blood glucose levels. The moderate drinking level for Koreans is ≤8 drinks/wk for men aged ≤65 years and ≤4 drinks/wk for men aged over 65. For women, these limits should be half of those for men. Furthermore, individuals with flushing reaction should maintain an alcohol consumption level half of that for non-flushers.

Association between Benign Prostate Hyperplasia and Occupational Group

BACKGROUND: Insufficient physical activity is well known to increase benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). However, only few studies have been conducted on the relationship between occupational physical activity and BPH. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between occupational physical activities and BPH in South Korea.METHODS: The study subjects included 4,102 workers who visited the health promotion center at Ulsan University Hospital and underwent transrectal ultrasonography between January 2016 and December 2017. The subjects were divided into two groups according to occupational physical activity (manual or non-manual workers). BPH was defined as a prostate volume of >25 mL. We performed a multivariate regression analysis to investigate the associations between the occupational groups and BPH. In addition, we divided the subgroups according to age and body mass index and analyzed the relationship between occupational physical activities and BPH in each subgroup.RESULTS: The risk of BPH was significantly higher in the non-manual workers than in the manual workers. This result was consistent after adjusting for other risk factors of BPH (odds ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–1.51). Likewise, in the subgroup analysis according to age and body mass index, the non-manual workers had higher BPH risk than the manual workers.CONCLUSION: The risk of BPH was significantly higher in the non-manual workers than in the manual workers. To prevent BPH, more attention should be paid to the physical activities and education of non-manual workers.

Relationship of Simple Renal Cyst to Hypertension / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Simple renal cyst is the most common cystic deformation found in adults. However, there were a few systematic Korean reports for the clinical symptoms and complications of simple renal cysts. The author's purpose was to determine the relationship between simple renal cysts diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography and hypertension. METHODS: Among 13,482 persons who took a routine physical examination at Ulsan University Hospital in 2002, 5,127 persons who took medical examinations again in 2010 were selected. We excluded persons who had renal cyst, hypertension, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, kidney disease, thyroid disease, and cancer in 2002. Analysis was conducted for 505 subjects with newly diagnosed simple renal cyst and 2,744 subjects without renal cyst in 2010. The simple renal cyst group was compared to a control group without renal cyst. RESULTS: Among 3,249 subjects, simple renal cyst and hypertension were newly diagnosed in 505 subjects and 503 subjects. The subjects who had simple renal cysts had significantly higher hypertension incidence (odds ratio [OR], 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20 to 1.94). Significant hypertension incidence was observed especially when the subjects had cysts located on both kidneys (OR, 3.48; 95% CI, 2.12 to 5.71), two (OR, 3.08; 95% CI, 1.84 to 5.15) or more cysts (OR, 3.12; 95% CI, 1.38 to 7.04), and larger cysts more than 1 cm in diameter (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.07). CONCLUSION: The presence of simple renal cysts was significantly positively related to the incidence of hypertension. Bilateral distribution, two or more number, and larger size than 1 cm diameter were the characteristics of simple renal cyst related to hypertension.

The Impact of Weight Changes on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Adult Men with Normal Weight / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Although it is known that losing weight has an effect on the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the studies that show how losing weight affects the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease for the normal weight male adults are limited so far. In this study, we set body mass index as criteria and investigated how the weight changes for 4 years makes an impact on the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease for the male adults who have the normal body mass index. METHODS: From January to December of 2004, among the normal weight male adults who had general check-up at the Health Promotion Center of Ulsan University Hospital, 180 people (average age, 47.4 +/- 4.61 years) who were diagnosed with fatty liver through abdominal ultrasonography were included in this study and were observed according to the variety of data and ultrasonography after 4 years (2008). People who had a history of drinking more than 140 g of alcohol per week or who had a past medical history were excluded from the analysis. The weight change of subjects was calculated using the formula 'weight change = weight of 2008 (kg) - weight of 2004 (kg)' and classified into three groups, loss group ( or =3.0 kg). The odds for disappearance of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in those three different groups were compared. RESULTS: Among 180 subjects, compared with stable group (67.2%, 121 subjects), loss group (11.7%, 21 subjects) showed 18.37-fold increase in the odds of disappearance of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.34 to 77.80) and gain group (21.1%, 38 subjects) showed 0.28-fold decrease in the odds of disappearance of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (95% CI, 0.10 to 0.83). CONCLUSION: Even for the normal weight people, losing weight has an effect on the improvement of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Association between Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Seropositivity and Metabolic Syndrome / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We investigated the relationship between HBV infection and metabolic syndrome. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of 9,474 Korean men and women who were at least 20 years old and who underwent a routine health check-up at Ulsan University Hospital in Ulsan, South Korea between March 2008 and February 2009. The associations of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seropositivity with the presence of metabolic syndrome and its components were investigated by logistic regression analysis. Data were analyzed separately for males and females. RESULTS: HBsAg seropositivity was significantly negatively associated with hypertriglyceridemia and metabolic syndrome in men (odds ratio [OR], 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29 to 0.50; P < 0.001 and OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.98, P = 0.033). In women, HBsAg seropositivity was also significantly negatively associated with hypertriglyceridemia, but not with metabolic syndrome (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.91; P = 0.029 and OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.38 to 1.66, P = 0.545). CONCLUSION: HBV infection was significantly negatively associated with hypertriglyceridemia and metabolic syndrome in men and hypertriglyceridemia in women.

The Impact of Weight Changes on Metabolic Syndrome over a Time period of 8 years in Korean Male Workers / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular diseases are common causes of diseases and death for workers. With the increasing prevalence of obesity, the social costs for obesity related diseases are a growing burden in Korea. We aimed to investigate the impact of weight change on metabolic syndrome and its components in Korean male workers. METHODS: We analyzed the data from 2,785 male workers obtained during health checkups in 2000 and in 2008. The subjects were classified into 5 groups as Loss ( or = 9.0 kg) group according to the amount of weight change between the 2 health checkups. The mean values of metabolic syndrome components were compared across the 5 weight change groups by ANCOVA. After classifying subjects into 2 groups according to the normality of their body weight at baseline, the odds ratios for metabolic syndrome and its components each weight-change group were computed by multiple logistic regression analyses, using the Stable group as the reference. RESULTS: There was a strong linear relationship between weight gain and a worsening of the components of metabolic syndrome in 2008 (p<0.001). In normal body weight group, the odds ratios for metabolic syndrome significantly increased in the Mild, Moderate, and Severe gain groups (OR 1.83, 2.82, and 7.56, respectively), and increased with weight gain (p<0.001). In subjects who were obese, the odds ratios for metabolic syndrome significantly increased if their amount of weight gain placed them in the Mild or Moderate gain groups(OR 1.75 and 3.97), increased with the increase of weight gain (p<0.001), and decreased in the Loss group(OR 0.51, 95%CI 0.30 to 0.85). CONCLUSIONS: Weight gain in male workers was positively associated with metabolic syndrome through worsening of metabolic syndrome components. On the other hand, weight loss in obese male workers had a protective effect against metabolic syndrome through the improvement of the components of metabolic syndrome.

The Association between Helicobacter Pylori Infection and Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Men and Women / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities leading diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is suggested to be a risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to investigate the association between H. pylori infection and metabolic syndrome. METHODS: This study was designed with Korean adults having a health check-up in a university hospital in Ulsan from March 2008 to February 2009. The subjects were 17,448 over 20 years old. The analysis was undertaken according to sex separately. The association of H. pylori seropositivity (IgG) with metabolic syndrome components was investigated by multiple linear regression analysis. The association of H. pylori seropositivity with metabolic syndrome was investigated by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: H. pylori seropositivity was significantly inversely associated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol in men (Coefficient, -0.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.03 to -0.004; P = 0.01). However, H. pylori seropositivity was not significantly associated with metabolic syndrome in both men and women (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.90 to 1.14; P = 0.81 for men; OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.55 to 1.02; P = 0.06 for women). CONCLUSION: H. pylori infection was significantly negatively associated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol in men, but not significantly associated with metabolic syndrome in both men and women.

The Association between Marital Status and Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Men / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the association between marital status and metabolic syndrome, and observed how their lifestyle may influence within their relationship. METHODS: We analyzed the data from 12,288 Korean men over 20 years old taking a health checkup in a university hospital in Ulsan from March 2008 to February 2009. The subjects were classified as married, unmarried, separated, widowed, and divorced. The odds ratios for metabolic syndrome in each marital status were calculated after adjusting for age, educational level, and family income. In only married men and divorced men, odds ratios were calculated again after adjusting for alcohol intake, smoking, or exercise added to age, educational level, and family income. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, educational level, and family income, the odds ratio for metabolic syndrome in divorced men was 1.48 (95% confidence internal [CI], 1.03 to 2.12; P = 0.03) compared to married men. However, the odds ratios in divorced men decreased to 1.47 (95% CI, 0.97 to 2.24; P = 0.07) after adjusting for alcohol intake added to age, educational level, and family income, 1.42 (95% CI, 0.99 to 2.04; P = 0.06) after adjusting for smoking added, 1.35 (95% CI, 0.93 to 1.96; P = 0.12) after adjusting for exercise added, and 1.37 (95% CI, 0.89 to 2.12; P = 0.15) after adjusting for alcohol intake, smoking, and exercise added. CONCLUSION: Divorced men were likely to have metabolic syndrome compared to married men and this finding may be mediated by their bad lifestyle.

Lifestyle and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Divorced Male Workers / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Considering the unhealthy lifestyle observed in divorced men, we planned this study to compare the lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors between married and divorced man. METHODS: A total of 11,855 male workers took a health check-up in a University Hospital in Ulsan from March to December 2004. One hundred eight workers were recognized to have checked affirmative on "divorced" check item on the marital status and 400 workers were matched for age and randomly selected from the "married" 10,177 workers. Comparison was performed between the two groups with the results of the main laboratory data and self-recorded life style questionnaire. RESULTS: The divorced men were shorter in height than the married men (P = 0.022), and showed significantly higher diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.033) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (P = 0.001). In lifestyle, the divorced men had significantly lower educational level, lower monthly household income, higher smoking rate, and more frequent irregular meals than the married men. Divorcing had 1.88 times the odds of having higher diastolic blood pressure compared to staying married. CONCLUSION: The divorced men had poorer lifestyle and higher diastolic blood pressure than the married men.