Correlation between Regional Suicide Rates and Medical Aid in the Korean Elderly

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to find out the relationship between the regional suicide rates and the percentages of medical aid in the elderly in Korea. METHODS: Suicide rates of the elderly in 16 upper-level local governments from 2007 to 2009 were calculated using 'Cause of Death Statistics' and 'Annual Report on Live Births and Deaths Statistics' from Korea National Statistical Office. The percentages of medical aid persons among the elderly in 16 upper-level local governments were calculated using 'National Health Insurance Statistical Yearbook' from Health Insurance Review Agency and National Health Insurance Corporation. The correlation between the suicide rates and the percentages of medical aid in the elderly was measured. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between the suicide rates and the percentage of medical aid in the elderly in 16 upper-level local governments. But significant negative correlation was found when only the old-elderly or the old women were analyzed. And the significant negative correlation was also found when only 8 local governments except the major cities and the national capital area were included for analysis. CONCLUSION: Medical aid system could be helpful to reduce the suicide rate in the old-elderly or the old women in Korea. And this effect might be intensified in non-metropolitan and non-capital area.

A clinical study on infants of diabetic mothers

Thirty one infants of diabetic mothers(IDM) who had been admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Chonnam University Hospital from January 1987 to July 1991 were studied for evaluation of their perinatal outcome and prognosis. The results were as follows; 1) The distribution of diabetic mothers according to modified White's classification was GD & class A in 12 cases(38.7%), B in 16 cases(51.6%), C in one case, D4 in one case, and R in one case. 2) Of the 31 diabetic mothers, 8(25.8%) had a history of infertility or stillbirth, 20(64.5%) had prognostically bad signs of pregnancy (PBSP), and 12(38.7%) were treated with insulin and/or oral hypoglycemic agent during pregnancy. 3) C-section rate was 32.2%, and the rates of shoulder dystocia and birth asphyxia were 35.5% and 29.0%, respectively. 4) The rates of large for gestational age were 75.0% in class GD & A, 68.8% in class B, and the rates of small for gestational age were 8.3% and, 6.3% respectively, Characteristic face with body composition was noted in all babies, hepatosplenomegaly in 90.3%, heart murmur in 41.9%, respiratory distress syndrome in 12.9%, transient tachypnea of mewborn in 19.4%, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 40.0%, and seizure in 6.5%. 5) Laboratory abnormalities were hypoglycemia in 77.4%, hyperbilirubinemia in 83.9%, polycythemia in 16.1%, hyperinsulinemia in 45.5%, hypercalcemia in 22.6%, and hypomagnesemia in 23.1%. 6) Birth injuries were noted in 61.3%, The most common were caput succedaneum and/or cephal-hematoma, brachial palsy, and fracture. Congenital anomalies were noted in 16.1%. The most common were musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal anomalies. 7) In the short term follow up of 19 patients, there were mild developmental delay in 2 cases, cerebral palsy in 2 cases, and epilepsy in 1 case. These results suggested that infants of diabetic mothers had greater morbidity than infants of nondiabetic mothers. Therefore, long term follow up is recommended to achieve their normal growth and development.