Prevalence of Radiographic Knee Osteoarthritis in Elderly Koreans

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the epidemiologic characteristics of knee osteoarthritis (OA) in elderly Koreans with respect to its detailed prevalence and association with demographic factors such as gender, age and body mass index (BMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six hundred and ninety six subjects (men 298 and women 398) aged 65 years or older were recruited from an urban population. Radiographic evaluations were conducted using three plain radiographs (weight bearing anteroposterior view, 45 degree of flexion posteroanterior view, and the Merchant view). Radiographic severity was determined using the Kellgren-Lawrence (K/L) grading scale and radiographic OA was defined as K/L grade 2 or higher. Overall prevalence of OA was analyzed with regard to gender, age and BMI using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of knee OA in the study cohort was 38.1%. Women had the much higher prevalence of knee OA than men (53.8% vs. 17.1%). Female gender, obesity and ageing were associated with the risk of knee OA, but a female gender was found to be the strongest predictor for knee OA. CONCLUSION: This study documents that knee OA is highly prevalent among Korean elderly, and that elderly Korean women are at much greater risk of development of knee OA. It is hoped that our findings provide information that aids the creation of national health policies that better target the prevention and treatment of knee OA.

Analysis of Factors Related to Intention of Long-Term Care Insurance Service Utilization for Elderly Koreans in Japan / 国際保健医療

The purpose of this study was to examine the awareness and needs of older Korean residents in Japan for long-term care insurance services by analyzing the factors associated with their interest in using the services.<br>All participants were Koreans aged 65 years or older living in Tokyo's Ward A, and all were interviewed in their homes. The investigation items were the presence or absence of intention of using long-term care insurance services as well as the following: 1. predisposing factors (basic attributes, communication abilities in Japanese, inclination toward family care); 2. Enabling factors (degree of familiarity with the services, economic situation, receipt or non-receipt of public pensions, record on use of the services); and 3. Need factors (subjective sense of well-being, ADL, IADL). The χ² test was used to examine the correlations between the presence or absence of intention of using the services.<br>Seventy-eight Koreans were studied. Among those, 35.9% were second-generation Koreans living in Japan. Those with strong inclination toward family care and without pensions accounted for 26.3%. The percentage that intended to use long-term care insurance services was 69.2%, which showed significant correlations with inclination toward family care and economic situation. Many of the Koreans had a positive view of the socialization of care and wanted family-centered home care with outside services. The study found significant correlations between the receipt or non-receipt of pensions, economic situation and age, suggesting that care premiums and fees are a greater financial burden for older Koreans without pensions when compared with the burden for older Japanese. For Koreans, the financial burden may possibly prevent obtaining services. The study showed that developing a support system to allow easy access to long-term care insurance services and providing help compatible with individual care needs are necessities.