Association between High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Metabolic Syndrome in South Korea: A Gender-Specific Analysis / 보건행정학회지

Background@#Metabolic syndrome has been known as a risk of cardiovascular disease. Meanwhile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is used as a predictor of cardiovascular disease. In this paper, we aimed to investigate the association between hs-CRP and metabolic syndrome.Method: A total of 7,633 were chosen as the study population from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey dataset (2016–2017). Our dependent variable was whether an individual had metabolic syndrome or not, and the independent variable of interest was hs-CRP which was categorized into three groups. The chi-square tests and hierarchical logistic regression analyses reflecting survey characteristics were conducted. All analyses were stratified by gender. @*Results@#According to the adjusted model with all covariates, compared to individuals having the low risk of hs-CRP, those having its average risk were more likely to have metabolic syndrome in men (odds ratio [OR], 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–1.76) and women (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.33–2.16). Individuals having the high risk was not significantly different in men; however, they were more likely to have metabolic syndrome in women (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.28–3.23). @*Conclusion@#In an upcoming aging society, it is important to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome to improve population health. This study suggests that hs-CRP may be used as a marker of the risk of metabolic syndrome in a gender-specific way, thereby contributing to enhancing awareness of the risk of metabolic syndrome among the general public.

Effects of Diabetic Case Management on Knowledge, Self-Management Abilities, Health Behaviors, and Health Service Utilization for Diabetes in Korea

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a case management program for diabetics, using a pre-post comparison design. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population comprised 6007 diabetics who received case management intervention in 2006 and were sampled nationwide in Korea. Before and after the intervention, the study population answered questions regarding their knowledge of diabetes, self-management ability, and health behaviors. Body mass index (BMI) was also calculated. Healthcare service utilization for diabetes was extracted from health insurance claim data from 2005 to 2007. RESULTS: The case management program significantly improved the study population's knowledge of diabetes and ability to self-manage nutrition, blood glucose monitoring, foot and oral care, and medications. This program also significantly changed the study population's health behaviors regarding smoking, alcohol drinking, and exercise, and BMI was positively affected. In the over-serviced subgroup, there was a significant decrease in the number of consultations (mean=7.0; SD=19.5) after intervention. Conversely, in the under-serviced subgroup, there was a significant increase in the number of consultations (mean=3.2; SD=7.9) and the days of prescribed medication (mean=66.4; SD=120.3) after intervention. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the case management program led the study population to improve their knowledge, self-management ability, health behaviors, and utilization of health care. It is necessary in future studies to evaluate the appropriateness of healthcare usage and clinical outcome by using a control group to determine the direct effectiveness of this case management program.

Validity of Measles Immunization Certificates Submitted upon Enrollment in an Elementary School in Korea / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To increase the booster vaccination rate, the Korean government legislated a measles vaccination for elementary school students in 2001, requiring parents to submit a certificate of vaccination upon the admission of the students to elementary school. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of measles vaccination certificates which were issued to parents. METHODS: Using questionnaire survey data of 890 general practitioners and 9,235 parents in 2005, we investigated the evidence for booster vaccination certificates of measles. RESULTS: In the survey of general practitioners, 59.5% of the certificates depended on the medical records of clinic, 13.5% was immunization booklets, 23.7% was re-immunizations, 1.9% was confirmation of record of other clinics, and 1.4% was parents' statements or requests without evidence. In the survey of parents, 36.2% of the certificates depended on the medical records of clinic, 43.4% was immunization booklets, 18.0% was reimmunizations, and 2.4% was parents statements or requests without evidence. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that a majority of the booster vaccination certificates of measles was issued on the basis of documented vaccinations and it means that the implementation of the law requiring the submission of elementary school students' vaccination certificates has been very successful in Korea.

Validity of Measles Immunization Certificates and Perception of General Practitioners Concerning Immunization Certificate

BACKGROUND: In Korea, the law reguires submission of immunization certificate to elementary school on admission since 2001 in order to prevent measles outbreaks such as those that occurred in the year 2000 and 2001. As a result, the submission rate of immunization certificate has been almost 99%. To that effect it seems to have been a very successful policy. But the validity and accuracy of such certificates have not been guestioned. This study aimed to assess the validity of the measles immunization certificates and general practitioners' perception of the law to submit immunization certificate. METHODS: A postal survey was conducted from April to May 2005 among general practitioners who were pediatricians and family physicians. The main questions were the method to confirm childrens' past vaccination and the proportion of doing booster vaccination, and also their opinions on governments' policy to extend the submission of immunization certificate on school admission. RESULTS: The total study subjects were 840. The proportion of issued immunization certificates based on exact vaccination records or booster vaccination was 98.7%. The opinions concerning the law to submit immunization certificates were: very necessary (88.8%), and should include all children basic immunization (62.8%). On the other hand, the most common reason against the law was that they did not feel the necessity (31.4%). CONCLUSION: The validity of immunization certificates was very high. The opinions concerning the law to submit immunization certificates were favorable in most subjects. And mutual understanding between the general practitioners and the government is in demand before the law to submit immunization certificates becomes effect.