A Study of Factors Related to the Subjective Health Status of Elderly Population in Korea / 보건행정학회지

Background@#Despite the high life expectancy, the subjective health status of the elderly people in Korea is reported to be the lowest as compared to other age groups. The purpose of the conducted study was to identify the factors related to the subjective health status of elderly people aged over 65 in Korea. @*Methods@#This study used data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016–2017) of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The subjects of the study were selected to be 2,904 elderly people aged over 65. The factors that were selected related to subjective health status were socio-demographics, perceived diseases, health behaviors, and mental health. @*Results@#As a result of the examination of the subjective health status according to the characteristics of the subjects of study, the subjective health status was high in males (β=0.144, p=0.011), urban dwellers (β=0.107, p=0.015), employed persons (β=0.139, p=0.001), college graduates (β=0.322, p<0.001), persons with high household income (β=0.226, p<0.001), persons without chronic disease, nonsmokers (β=0.146, p=0.009), drinkers (β=0.111, p=0.003), persons who practiced aerobic physical activity (β=0.150, p<0.001), persons without depression (β=0.286, p<0.001), and persons who rarely had stress (β=0.837, p<0.001). @*Conclusion@#More attention should be paid to those with low subjective health to improve health for elderly people. Expanding policy supports are required for elderly people with low socioeconomic status, chronic disease or depression, or unhealthy behaviors (smoking or lack of physical activity).

A Study of Factors Related to the Subjective Health Status of Elderly Population in Korea / 보건행정학회지

Background@#Despite the high life expectancy, the subjective health status of the elderly people in Korea is reported to be the lowest as compared to other age groups. The purpose of the conducted study was to identify the factors related to the subjective health status of elderly people aged over 65 in Korea. @*Methods@#This study used data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016–2017) of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The subjects of the study were selected to be 2,904 elderly people aged over 65. The factors that were selected related to subjective health status were socio-demographics, perceived diseases, health behaviors, and mental health. @*Results@#As a result of the examination of the subjective health status according to the characteristics of the subjects of study, the subjective health status was high in males (β=0.144, p=0.011), urban dwellers (β=0.107, p=0.015), employed persons (β=0.139, p=0.001), college graduates (β=0.322, p<0.001), persons with high household income (β=0.226, p<0.001), persons without chronic disease, nonsmokers (β=0.146, p=0.009), drinkers (β=0.111, p=0.003), persons who practiced aerobic physical activity (β=0.150, p<0.001), persons without depression (β=0.286, p<0.001), and persons who rarely had stress (β=0.837, p<0.001). @*Conclusion@#More attention should be paid to those with low subjective health to improve health for elderly people. Expanding policy supports are required for elderly people with low socioeconomic status, chronic disease or depression, or unhealthy behaviors (smoking or lack of physical activity).

Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia in a Patient With Recurrent Exertional Syncope

A 16-year-old male with a prior history of recurrent syncope was referred to our hospital after being resuscitated from cardiac arrest developed while playing volleyball. His electrocardiogram (ECG) demonstrated ventricular fibrillation at a local emergency department. After referral, an ECG showed bidirectional ventricular tachycardia (VT) and nonsustained Torsade de Pointes. Two days later, his heart rate became regular, and no additional episodes of VT were observed. His ECG showed sinus rhythm with a corrected QT interval of 423 msec, and two-dimensional echocardiography was unremarkable. We made the diagnosis of a catecholaminergic polymorphic VT. However, only premature ventricular complex bigeminy was induced on exercise ECG and epinephrine infusion tests, and the patient showed no episodes of syncope. His father and mother had different missense mutations in the cardiac ryanodine receptor on genetic testing. The proband had both mutations in different alleles and was symptomatic. It was recommended that the patient avoid competitive physical activities, and a beta-blocker was prescribed.

Aseptic Endocarditis in Behcet's Disease Presenting as Tricuspid Valve Stenosis

Aseptic endocarditis is an uncommon complication of Behcet's disease (BD). We describe a rare case of a 39-year-old female who had BD with aseptic endocarditis of the tricuspid valve (TV) presenting as tricuspid stenosis. She was diagnosed with BD four years ago. The mucocutaneous lesions were well-controlled with colchicine and short courses of corticosteroids. She remained free of signs and symptoms of BD for one year without any medication. Three months before admission, she gradually developed dyspnea on exertion and peripheral edema. Echocardiography revealed dilated right atrium and markedly thickened TV with severe stenosis. TV replacement was performed. Pathologic examination of the valve showed fibrinoid necrotic material and inflammatory cell infiltration. Blood cultures and cultures of the excised valve were negative for microorganisms.

Predictors of Weight Reduction and Smoking Cessation in Overweight and Obese Patients with Acute Myocardial infarctions / 영남의대학술지

BACKGROUND: Little is known about predictors of lifestyle modification in overweight or obese patients with acute myocardial infarctions. METHODS: Between October 2005 and May 2007, 311 overweight or obese patients with an AMI visited Kyungpook National University Hospital. Among them, 216 patients (63+/-11 years old, 144 males) with > or =1 year of follow-up were included. RESULTS: Body weight of all patients showed a significant decrease and 20% showed a >3% weight reduction at 1 year of follow-up. Ninety-six (44%) patients were smoking at baseline, and 52% of them had quit by 1 year of follow-up. Only six smokers were successful with both a >3% weight reduction and smoking cessation. In multivariate analysis, age (OR 1.084, 95% CI 1.028-1.144, p=0.003) and smoking cessation (OR 0.167, 95% CI 0.048-0.575, p=0.005) were independent predictors of weight reduction. Abdominal circumference was a negative predictor of smoking cessation (OR 0.903, 95% CI 0.820-0.994, p=0.037). CONCLUSIONS: Mean body weight of all patients showed a significant decrease at follow-up. Smoking cessation and age were independent predictors of weight reduction, and abdominal circumference was a negative predictor of smoking cessation.

Epinephrine-Induced Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia in a Patient With Congenital Long QT Syndrome

A 24-year-old woman presented to the department of plastic surgery for surgical excision of a nevus on her nose. Although her history failed to reveal any cardiac disease, her pre-operative electrocardiogram (ECG) showed an extremely prolonged QT interval of up to 528 msec. Repeated history-taking after admission revealed three syncopal episodes associated with both physical and emotional stress, and because the two-dimensional echocardiography and exercise ECG test were normal except for the prolonged QT interval, an epinephrine test was done to assess QT interval changes after an epinephrine infusion. Immediately after a bolus injection of epinephrine (0.1 microgram/kg), marked prolongation of the QT interval developed, followed by polymorphic ventricular tachycardia which was immediately terminated with direct current shock, resulting in the diagnosis of a long QT syndrome (LQTS), probably type 1. Gene studies were recommended, but declined by the patient and her family. She was instructed to avoid competitive sports, and a beta-blocker was prescribed after which she remained symptom-free.