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Volume 34; 2012
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Original Articles
Epidemiological Characteristics of Imported Influenza A (H1N1) Cases during the 2009 Pandemic in Korea
Jun Kil Choi, Sang Won Lee, Bo Youl Choi
Epidemiol Health. 2012;34:e2012009.   Published online December 31, 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2012009
  • 13,102 View
  • 93 Download
  • 1 Citations
AbstractAbstract PDF
Abstract
OBJECTIVES

Quarantine measure for prevention of epidemic disease and further evaluations of their efficiency are possible only by elaborating analyses of imported cases. The purpose of this study was to analyze descriptive epidemiological characteristics of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) cases imported to Korea.

METHODS

We collected two sets of data. The first set, comprised daily reported cases of H1N1 obtained from local cities in accordance with government policy about mandatory reporting of all H1N1 cases during May 1 to August 19, 2009. The second set, including 372 confirmed imported H1N1 cases, identified from 13 National Quarantine Stations in the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from May 24 to December 31, 2009. However, given the lack of information on the nature of the imported H1N1 cases from the two data sets during the over lapping period from May 24 to August 19, we express the number of imported cases as a range for this period.

RESULTS

We estimated that the number of imported H1N1 cases from May 1 to August 19, 2009, was between 1,098 and 1,291 and the total number of cases was 2,409 to 2,580. We found the number of imported cases was beginning to diminish as of August. A analysis of the second data set showed that the distribution of sex was similar (males 50.7%, females 49.3%) and the age distribution from 20 to 59 was 61.5% and that of 60 and over was 0.8% of the 372 cases. We identified 25 countries where people infected with H1N1 traveled and 67.5% were in Asia. But the proportion of cases (/1,000) by region shows Oceania (0.199), South America (0.118), Southeast Asia (0.071), North America (0.049), Europe (0.035), and Northeast Asia (0.016) in that order. The order of H1N1 peaking was the Southern Hemisphere, Tropics, and the Nothern Hemisphere.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provided information that could make possible the evaluation of the government quarantine measure for stopping imported disease from causing community-acquired spread in the future.
Summary
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Key Message

Citations

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  • Social Distancing and Transmission-reducing Practices during the 2019 Coronavirus Disease and 2015 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Outbreaks in Korea
    Won Mo Jang, Deok Hyun Jang, Jin Yong Lee
    Journal of Korean Medical Science.2020;[Epub]     CrossRef
Burden of Disease of Multiple Sclerosis in Korea
Soo-Eun Chung, Hae-Kwan Cheong, Jae-Hyun Park, Ho Jin Kim
Epidemiol Health. 2012;34:e2012008.   Published online November 30, 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2012008
  • 17,011 View
  • 143 Download
  • 19 Citations
AbstractAbstract PDF
Abstract
OBJECTIVES

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. There are few reports on the burden of disease of MS, worldwide. The authors aim to estimate burden of disease and estimate the epidemiologic indexes of MS in Korea using available epidemiologic data.

METHODS

Epidemiologic indexes were computed using DISMOD II software based on prevalence from nationwide survey, incidence estimated from extrapolation, mortality from National Statistics Office, and duration of disease from literature as input indexes. We calculated disability-adjusted life year (DALY) as a measure of premature mortality and disability, equivalent to years of healthy life lost due to a given condition.

RESULTS

The incidence of MS in Korea was 0.1 per 100,000, higher in female than in male. The highest incidence was estimated in the age group between 35 and 44 years in male and age group between 25 and 29 years in female. Total burden of disease of MS was 1,394 DALY, comprised of 292 (21%) years of life lost and 1,101 (79%) years lived with disability. The mean age at onset of MS was 33 years old in men and 32 years old in female. Estimated duration of disease was 35 years in men and 40 years in female. Most of the DALY of MS occurred in the adult population between 25 and 54 years of age.

CONCLUSION

Although MS is a rare disease in Korea, most of the DALY arises from young people, which results in a major financial burden on the patient, family, health system and society.
Summary
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Citations

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  • Incidencia y prevalencia de la esclerosis múltiple en China y países asiáticos
    G.X. Zhang, A. Carrillo-Vico, W.T. Zhang, S.S. Gao, G. Izquierdo Ayuso
    Neurología.2023; 38(3): 159.     CrossRef
  • Incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis in China and other Asian countries
    G.X. Zhang, A. Carrillo-Vico, W.T. Zhang, S.S. Gao, G. Izquierdo Ayuso
    Neurología (English Edition).2023; 38(3): 159.     CrossRef
  • Hypophosphatemic Rickets in Colombia: A Prevalence-Estimation Model in Rare Diseases. 2018
    Jancy Andrea Huertas-Quintero, Natalia Losada-Trujillo, Diego Alberto Cuellar-Ortiz, Harvy Mauricio Velasco-Parra
    The Lancet Regional Health - Americas.2022; 7: 100131.     CrossRef
  • A multicenter study to evaluate the disease burden and health economics of inpatients with multiple sclerosis in China
    Tan Guojun, Xu Yan, Wang Weizhi, Wang Lihua, Li Chunyang, Zhang Xinghu, Zhou Hongyu, Dong Huiqing, Zhang Meini, Jin Tao, Yang Huan, Cui Liying, Guo Li
    Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.2022; 60: 103732.     CrossRef
  • The analysis of dynamic gene expression patterns in peripheral blood of multiple sclerosis patients indicates possible diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers
    Rabat Razia, Fazeel Majeed, Rehab Amin, Shahid Mukhtar, Khalid Mehmood, Deeba Noreen Baig
    Molecular Immunology.2022; 147: 147.     CrossRef
  • Identification of blood-derived candidate gene markers and a new 7-gene diagnostic model for multiple sclerosis
    Xin Chen, Huiqing Hou, Huimin Qiao, Haolong Fan, Tianyi Zhao, Mei Dong
    Biological Research.2021;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Epidemiology, treatment patterns and healthcare utilizations in multiple sclerosis in Taiwan
    Chia-Yun Hsu, Long-Sun Ro, Li-Ju Chen, Chun-Wei Chang, Kuo-Hsuan Chang, I-Hsuan Wu, Amy Lin, Fei-Yuan Hsiao
    Scientific Reports.2021;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Burden of multiple sclerosis in Iran from 1990 to 2017
    Nima Fattahi, Sahar Saeedi Moghaddam, Farnam Mohebi, Negar Rezaei, Masoud Masinaei, Sahar Mohammadi Fateh, Elham Soleymani Hassanlouei, Farhad Manoochehri, Eghbal Fattahi, Mohammad Ali Sahraian, Maziar Moradi-lakeh, Ali H. Mokdad, Mohsen Naghavi, Farshad
    BMC Neurology.2021;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Optic neuritis in German children: clinical findings and association with multiple sclerosis
    Felix Tonagel, Helmut Wilhelm, Carina Kelbsch
    Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology.2020; 258(7): 1523.     CrossRef
  • Evidence of an increased prevalence of multiple sclerosis: a population-based study of Tehran registry during 1999–2018
    Amir Almasi-Hashiani, Mohammad Ali Sahraian, Sharareh Eskandarieh
    BMC Neurology.2020;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Epstein-Barr virus infection as a predisposing factor for multiple sclerosis. An update from molecular biology, immunology and epidemiology
    David López-Valencia, Ángela Medina-Ortega, Diego Fernando Hoyos-Samboní, Jhan Sebastián Saavedra-Torres, Carolina Salguero
    Revista de la Facultad de Medicina.2019; 67(3): 305.     CrossRef
  • Osteopontin (OPN) as a CSF and blood biomarker for multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
    Elmira Agah, Arshia Zardoui, Amene Saghazadeh, Mona Ahmadi, Abbas Tafakhori, Nima Rezaei, Heinz Wiendl
    PLOS ONE.2018; 13(1): e0190252.     CrossRef
  • Using inpatient data to estimate the prevalence of Wegener's granulomatosis in China
    Xiao Liu, Yazhou Cui, Yan Li, Chao Wang, Heng Zhao, Jinxiang Han
    Intractable & Rare Diseases Research.2016; 5(1): 31.     CrossRef
  • Estimating epidemiological data of Multiple sclerosis using hospitalized data in Shandong Province, China
    Xiao Liu, Yazhou Cui, Jinxiang Han
    Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases.2016;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Epidemiology of Multiple Sclerosis
    Jonathan Howard, Stephen Trevick, David S. Younger
    Neurologic Clinics.2016; 34(4): 919.     CrossRef
  • Quantifying Burden of Disease to Measure Population Health in Korea
    Jihyun Yoon, Seok-Jun Yoon
    Journal of Korean Medical Science.2016; 31(Suppl 2): S101.     CrossRef
  • Modeling the Burden of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in the USA in 2013
    Mark Stuntz
    Cardiology.2016; 135(2): 127.     CrossRef
  • Optic Neuritis in Korean Children: Low Risk of Subsequent Multiple Sclerosis
    Young Mi Kim, Hye Young Kim, Min Jeong Cho, Min Jung Kwak, Kyung Hee Park, Gyu Min Yeon, Yunjin Lee, Sang Ook Nam
    Pediatric Neurology.2015; 53(3): 221.     CrossRef
  • No association between CCL2 gene polymorphisms and risk of inflammatory demyelinating diseases in a Korean population
    S. Namgoong, J. S. Bae, H. S. Cheong, J.-H. Kim, J. Y. Kim, L. H. Kim, H. J. Kim, H. D. Shin
    Tissue Antigens.2014; 84(2): 223.     CrossRef
A Population Health Surveillance Theory
Farouk El Allaki, Michel Bigras-Poulin, Pascal Michel, André Ravel
Epidemiol Health. 2012;34:e2012007.   Published online November 30, 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2012007
  • 14,834 View
  • 163 Download
  • 9 Citations
AbstractAbstract PDF
Abstract
OBJECTIVES

Despite its extensive use, the term "Surveillance" often takes on various meanings in the scientific literature pertinent to public health and animal health. A critical appraisal of this literature also reveals ambiguities relating to the scope and necessary structural components underpinning the surveillance process. The authors hypothesized that these inconsistencies translate to real or perceived deficiencies in the conceptual framework of population health surveillance. This paper presents a population health surveillance theory framed upon an explicit conceptual system relative to health surveillance performed in human and animal populations.

METHODS

The population health surveillance theory reflects the authors' system of thinking and was based on a creative process.

RESULTS

Population health surveillance includes two broad components: one relating to the human organization (which includes expertise and the administrative program), and one relating to the system per se (which includes elements of design and method) and which can be viewed as a process. The population health surveillance process is made of five sequential interrelated steps: 1) a trigger or need, 2) problem formulation, 3) surveillance planning, 4) surveillance implementation, and 5) information communication and audit.

CONCLUSIONS

The population health surveillance theory provides a systematic way of understanding, organizing and evaluating the population health surveillance process.
Summary
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Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Evaluating Completeness of Foodborne Outbreak Reporting in the United States, 1998–2019
    Yutong Zhang, Ryan B. Simpson, Lauren E. Sallade, Emily Sanchez, Kyle M. Monahan, Elena N. Naumova
    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(5): 2898.     CrossRef
  • Self-reported Severe and Nonsevere Hypoglycemia in Type 1 Diabetes: Population Surveillance Through the BETTER Patient Engagement Registry: Development and Baseline Characteristics
    Anne-Sophie Brazeau, Virginie Messier, Meryem K. Talbo, Claudia Gagnon, Nadine Taleb, Isabel Fortier, Zekai Wu, Bruce A. Perkins, André C. Carpentier, Aude Bandini, Rémi Rabasa-Lhoret
    Canadian Journal of Diabetes.2022; 46(8): 813.     CrossRef
  • Potential and Challenges of Community-Based Surveillance in Animal Health: A Pilot Study Among Equine Owners in Switzerland
    Ranya Özçelik, Franziska Remy-Wohlfender, Susanne Küker, Vivianne Visschers, Daniela Hadorn, Salome Dürr
    Frontiers in Veterinary Science.2021;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Leveraging Sub-national Collaboration and Influence for Improving Animal Health Surveillance and Response: A Stakeholder Mapping in Tanzania
    Janeth George, Barbara Häsler, Erick V. G. Komba, Calvin Sindato, Mark Rweyemamu, Sharadhuli I. Kimera, James E. D. Mlangwa
    Frontiers in Veterinary Science.2021;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Systematic analysis of the scientific literature on population surveillance
    Gregorio González-Alcaide, Pedro Llorente, José-Manuel Ramos-Rincón
    Heliyon.2020; 6(10): e05141.     CrossRef
  • Valuing Health Surveillance as an Information System: Interdisciplinary Insights
    Nicolas Antoine-Moussiaux, Olivier Vandenberg, Zisis Kozlakidis, Cécile Aenishaenslin, Marisa Peyre, Mathieu Roche, Pascal Bonnet, André Ravel
    Frontiers in Public Health.2019;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Knowledge integration in One Health policy formulation, implementation and evaluation
    Martin Hitziger, Roberto Esposito, Massimo Canali, Maurizio Aragrande, Barbara Häsler, Simon R Rüegg
    Bulletin of the World Health Organization.2018; 96(3): 211.     CrossRef
  • HIV in Japan: Epidemiologic puzzles and ethnographic explanations
    Anthony S. DiStefano
    SSM - Population Health.2016; 2: 436.     CrossRef
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    Flavie Vial, John Berezowski
    Preventive Veterinary Medicine.2015; 120(1): 27.     CrossRef
Estimation of the Frequency of Intravenous Drug Users in Hamadan City, Iran, Using the Capture-recapture Method
Salman Khazaei, Jalal Poorolajal, Hossein Mahjub, Nader Esmailnasab, Mohammad Mirzaei
Epidemiol Health. 2012;34:e2012006.   Published online October 31, 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2012006
  • 12,833 View
  • 100 Download
  • 6 Citations
AbstractAbstract PDF
Abstract
OBJECTIVES

The number of illicit drug users is prone to underestimation. This study aimed to use the capture-recapture method as a statistical procedure for measuring the prevalence of intravenous drug users (IDUs) by estimating the number of unknown IDUs not registered by any of the registry centers.

METHODS

This study was conducted in Hamadan City, the west of Iran, in 2012. Three incomplete data sources of IDUs, with partial overlapping data, were assessed including: (a) Volunteer Counseling and Testing Centers (VCTCs); (b) Drop in Centers (DICs); and (c) Outreach Teams (ORTs). A log-linear model was applied for the analysis of three-sample capture-recapture results. Two information criteria were used for model selection including Akaike's Information Criterion and the Bayesian Information Criterion.

RESULTS

Out of 1,478 IDUs registered by three centers, 48% were identified by VCTCs, 32% by DICs, and 20% by ORTs. After exclusion of duplicates, 1,369 IDUs remained. According to our findings, there were 9,964 (95% CI, 6,088 to 17,636) IDUs not identified by any of the centers. Hence, the real number of IDUs is expected to be 11,333. Based on these findings, the overall completeness of the three data sources was around 12% (95% CI, 7% to 18%).

CONCLUSION

There was a considerable number of IDUs not identified by any of the centers. Although the capture-recapture method is a useful and practical approach for estimating unknown populations, due to the assumptions and limitations of the method, the results must be interpreted with caution.
Summary
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Citations

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  • The prevalence of opioid use disorder in Kentucky’s counties: A two-year multi-sample capture-recapture analysis
    Katherine Thompson, Joshua A. Barocas, Chris Delcher, Jungjun Bae, Lindsey Hammerslag, Jianing Wang, Redonna Chandler, Jennifer Villani, Sharon Walsh, Jeffery Talbert
    Drug and Alcohol Dependence.2023; 242: 109710.     CrossRef
  • Estimating the Population Size of Female Sex Worker Population in Tehran, Iran: Application of Direct Capture–Recapture Method
    Manoochehr Karami, Salman Khazaei, Jalal Poorolajal, Alireza Soltanian, Mansour Sajadipoor
    AIDS and Behavior.2017; 21(8): 2394.     CrossRef
  • Using the capture-recapture method to estimate the human immunodeficiency virus-positive population
    Jalal Poorolajal, Younes Mohammadi, Farzad Farzinara
    Epidemiology and Health.2017; 39: e2017042.     CrossRef
  • Estimation of perinatal mortality rate for institutional births in Rajasthan state, India, using capture-recapture technique
    P. K. Mony, B. Varghese, T. Thomas
    BMJ Open.2015; 5(3): e005966.     CrossRef
  • Estimating the size of the population of persons who inject drugs in the island of Montréal, Canada, using a six-source capture–recapture model
    Pascale Leclerc, Alain C. Vandal, Aïssatou Fall, Julie Bruneau, Élise Roy, Suzanne Brissette, Chris Archibald, Nelson Arruda, Carole Morissette
    Drug and Alcohol Dependence.2014; 142: 174.     CrossRef
  • Heterogeneity and behavioral response in continuous time capture–recapture, with application to street cannabis use in Italy
    Alessio Farcomeni, Daria Scacciatelli
    The Annals of Applied Statistics.2013;[Epub]     CrossRef
The Burden of Premature Mortality in Hamadan Province in 2006 and 2010 Using Standard Expected Years of Potential Life Lost: A Population-based Study
Jalal Poorolajal, Nader Esmailnasab, Jamal Ahmadzadeh, Tahereh Azizi Motlagh
Epidemiol Health. 2012;34:e2012005.   Published online August 31, 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2012005
  • 13,109 View
  • 121 Download
  • 9 Citations
AbstractAbstract PDF
Abstract
OBJECTIVES

Examining the premature death rate represents the first step in estimating the overall burden of disease, reflecting a full picture of how different causes affect population health and providing a way of monitoring and evaluating population health. The present study was conducted to assess the burden of premature mortality in Hamadan Province, Iran in 2006 and 2010.

METHODS

To calculate years of potential life lost (YPLL), the dataset was categorized into 5-year age groups based on each person's age at death. Then the age groups were subtracted from the relevant age-based life table produced by the World Health Organization in 2009. The YPLL for each individual were then added together to yield the total YPLL for all individuals in the population who died in a particular year. Finally, we calculated the YPLL for all sex-, age-, and cause-specific mortality rates and reported them as percentages.

RESULTS

We analyzed 18,786 deaths, 9,127 of which occurred in 2006 and 9,659 in 2010. Mortality rates were higher in men than women for all age groups both in 2006 and 2010. In addition, age-specific mortality rates in both genders for all age groups were higher in 2010 than in 2006. The percentage of YPLL from ischemic heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, transport accidents, and intentional self-harm were among the greatest sources of premature death.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present survey indicate that the eight major causes of premature death in both 2006 and 2010 were non-communicable diseases, especially ischemic heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, transport accidents, and intentional self-harm. Furthermore, our findings indicate a change in the role of non-communicable diseases in premature mortality in recent years.
Summary
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Citations

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  • Suicidal behaviors among intravenous drug users: a meta-analysis
    Bahram Armoon, Marie-Josée Fleury, Azadeh Bayani, Rasool Mohammadi, Elaheh Ahounbar, Mark D. Griffiths
    Journal of Substance Use.2022; : 1.     CrossRef
  • Diabetes in southern Iran: a 16-year follow-up of mortality and years of life lost
    Habibollah Azarbakhsh, Mohammad Hossein Sharifi, Jafar Hassanzadeh, Rebecca Susan Dewey, Maryam Janfada, Alireza Mirahmadizadeh
    International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Prevalence, sociodemographic variables, mental health condition, and type of drug use associated with suicide behaviors among people with substance use disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis
    Bahram Armoon, Neda SoleimanvandiAzar, Marie-Josée Fleury, Alireza Noroozi, Amir-Hossein Bayat, Rasool Mohammadi, Elahe Ahounbar, Ladan Fattah Moghaddam
    Journal of Addictive Diseases.2021; 39(4): 550.     CrossRef
  • The Burden of Premature Mortality Related to Suicide in West Azerbaijan From 2014 to 2016
    Javad Aghazadeh-Attari, Rasool EntezarMahdi, Jamal Ahmadzadeh, Kazhal Mobaraki, Behnam Mansorian, Hasan Karimi, Shamsi Mirghaffarzadeh, Mahnaz Hajimohammadian, Iraj Mohebbi
    Crisis.2019; 40(6): 407.     CrossRef
  • The global burden of premature mortality due to the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) using standard expected years of life lost, 2012 to 2019
    Maryam Salamatbakhsh, Kazhal Mobaraki, Sara Sadeghimohammadi, Jamal Ahmadzadeh
    BMC Public Health.2019;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Substance use disorder and risk of suicidal ideation, suicide attempt and suicide death: a meta-analysis
    Jalal Poorolajal, Tahereh Haghtalab, Mehran Farhadi, Nahid Darvishi
    Journal of Public Health.2016; 38(3): e282.     CrossRef
  • Smoking and Suicide: A Meta-Analysis
    Jalal Poorolajal, Nahid Darvishi, Osama Ali Abulseoud
    PLOS ONE.2016; 11(7): e0156348.     CrossRef
  • Alcohol-Related Risk of Suicidal Ideation, Suicide Attempt, and Completed Suicide: A Meta-Analysis
    Nahid Darvishi, Mehran Farhadi, Tahereh Haghtalab, Jalal Poorolajal, Martin Voracek
    PLOS ONE.2015; 10(5): e0126870.     CrossRef
  • ESTIMATION OF ECONOMIC LOSS DUE TO MORTALITY EXTERNAL CAUSES AS ELEMENT OF POPULATION VITAL ACTIVITY SAFETY IN ARKHANGELSK REGION
    Zh L Varakina, A M Vyazmin, A L Sannikov
    Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology).2014; 21(11): 31.     CrossRef
Association Between Earlobe Crease and the Metabolic Syndrome in a Cross-sectional Study
Eun Hee Kang, Hee Cheol Kang
Epidemiol Health. 2012;34:e2012004.   Published online August 31, 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2012004
  • 15,571 View
  • 111 Download
  • 11 Citations
AbstractAbstract PDF
Abstract
OBJECTIVES

Several studies found a significant association between earlobe crease (ELC) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a group of high-risk factors that are a collection of cardiovascular risk factors. Scant data are available about the relationship between ELC and MS. The purpose of the current study was to examine the correlation between ELC and MS.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed on 3,835 subjects (1,672 females, 43.6%) aged 20 to 79 years who visited a health promotion center. To increase the reliability of the diagnosis of MS, both the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria were applied. Independent association between ELC and MS was assessed using multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting for confounding variables.

RESULTS

The frequency of ELC was 20.89% and the prevalence of MS was 11.03% (NCEP criteria) and 9.75% (IDF criteria). The prevalence of both ELC and MS significantly increased with age. The modified Framingham risk score was significantly higher in subjects with ELC than without. After adjusting for conventional risk factors for CVD, the risk of MS increased significantly in the presence of ELC.

CONCLUSION

The current study showed that the odds ratio for MS increased in the presence of ELC in Korean adults. ELC is an auxiliary indicator of MS, although prognostic value might be limited. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the clinical significance of ELC.
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Citations

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    Yasufumi Ueda, Tomohiro Matsuo, Ken Kawada, Hidenori Ito, Kensuke Mitsunari, Kojiro Ohba, Ryoichi Imamura
    Medicina.2023; 59(3): 476.     CrossRef
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    Jiaping Xu, Lixuan Wang, Chunqing Zhang, Jiayun Wang, Danni Zheng, Yaqian Huang, Xia Zhang, Shoujiang You, Yongjun Cao, Chun-Feng Liu
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    Minako Wakasugi, Masaaki Nagai, Saori Yokota, Kentaro Omori, Hirokazu Fujikawa, Ikuo Aoike, Tsukasa Omori, Junichiro James Kazama, Ichiei Narita
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    Nalan Ogan, Ersin Gunay, Berkay Ekici, Ayse Baha, Esen Sayin Gulensoy, E. Eylem Akpinar, Aycan Yuksel
    Heart & Lung.2020; 49(3): 331.     CrossRef
  • Prevalence and clinical characteristics of earlobe crease in systemic sclerosis: Possible association with vascular dysfunction
    Akiko Sekiguchi, Yuta Inoue, Sahori Yamazaki, Akihiko Uchiyama, Osamu Ishikawa, Shiko Kuribayashi, Toshio Uraoka, Kenichiro Hara, Kouichi Yamaguchi, Toshitaka Maeno, Mitsuo Uchida, Hiroshi Koyama, Sei‐Ichiro Motegi
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    Saleh Nazzal, Arnon Blum
    Southern Medical Journal.2018; 111(8): 504.     CrossRef
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    K.E. Kim, W.J. Song, D.K. Kim
    HOMO.2018; 69(6): 377.     CrossRef
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    Jin San Lee, Seongbeom Park, Hee Jin Kim, Yeshin Kim, Hyemin Jang, Ko Woon Kim, Hak Young Rhee, Sung Sang Yoon, Kyoung Jin Hwang, Key-Chung Park, Seung Hwan Moon, Sung Tae Kim, Samuel N. Lockhart, Duk L. Na, Sang Won Seo
    Scientific Reports.2017;[Epub]     CrossRef
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    Mette Christoffersen, Anne Tybjærg-Hansen
    Ageing Research Reviews.2016; 25: 24.     CrossRef
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    Marta Aligisakis, Pedro Marques-Vidal, Idris Guessous, Peter Vollenweider
    BMC Cardiovascular Disorders.2016;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Earlobe Crease Shapes and Cardiovascular Events
    Claudia Rodríguez-López, Hugo Garlito-Díaz, Raquel Madroñero-Mariscal, Pablo Jesús Sánchez-Cervilla, Auxiliadora Graciani, José Luis López-Sendón, Esteban López-de-Sá
    The American Journal of Cardiology.2015; 116(2): 286.     CrossRef
Socioeconomic and Employment Status of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Korea
Jeong-Mi Kwon, Jinnie Rhee, Hyemin Ku, Eui-Kyung Lee
Epidemiol Health. 2012;34:e2012003.   Published online May 7, 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2012003
  • 13,789 View
  • 116 Download
  • 14 Citations
AbstractAbstract PDF
Abstract
OBJECTIVES

This study investigates the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by gender and socio-economic characteristics. It also explores the differences in the employment status between RA patients and the general population without RA in Korea.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV) conducted from 2007 to 2009. Prevalence rates were estimated for female and male patients with RA in terms of age, residence, education, income level, and occupation type. The female respondents aged 45 to 64 were divided into the RA population and the non-RA population in order to compare the employment status between the two groups.

RESULTS

The annual physician-diagnosed RA prevalence rate was 1.45%. The prevalence rate was 2.27% for women and 0.62% for men. Individuals with RA had a significantly lower employment rate than individuals without RA (41.7 vs. 68.1%). The main reason for non-employment among RA patients was health-related problems (47.1%). There was statistically significant difference in employment type among the two groups. The experience rates for sick leave and sick-in-bed due to RA were 1.7 and 3.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Middle- and old-aged women accounted for the majority of the Korean RA population, which had a significant lower employment rate compared to the population without RA for both sexes. RA resulted in considerable productivity loss in Korea.
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Commentary
Persistent Organic Pollutants and Obesity-Related Metabolic Dysfunction: Focusing on Type 2 Diabetes
Duk-Hee Lee
Epidemiol Health. 2012;34:e2012002.   Published online January 27, 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2012002
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Abstract

Even though obesity is a well-established risk factor of type 2 diabetes, there is emerging evidence that persistent organic pollutants (POPs), a variety of lipophilic chemicals accumulated in adipose tissue, may be critically involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Among various POPs, serum concentrations of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were the most strongly and consistently linked to type 2 diabetes in both cross-sectional and prospective studies. In particular, obesity did not seem to be related to type 2 diabetes among persons with very low serum concentrations of POPs, suggesting a more fundamental role of chlorinated POPs in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. These POPs were also associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and adverse lipid profiles like high triglyceride and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol among persons without diabetes, all metabolic dysfunctions commonly observed before developing type 2 diabetes. Recent animal studies supported the findings from epidemiological studies. If all these findings on POPs are true, it suggests that any effort to reduce the external and internal exposure to POPs would be necessary to decrease the social burden of type 2 diabetes.

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Original Article
Case Series of Mycobacterium Abscessus Infections Associated with a Trigger Point Injection and Epidural Block at a Rural Clinic
Jun Young Song, Jung Bin Son, Min Ki Lee, Jin Gwack, Kil Soo Lee, Ji Young Park
Epidemiol Health. 2012;34:e2012001.   Published online January 25, 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2012001
  • 13,168 View
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Abstract
OBJECTIVES

The aim of this report is to investigate Mycobacterium abscessus infections at a rural clinic and carry out a surveillance program to determine the extent and source of these infections.

METHODS

The authors conducted an active surveillance investigation of 36 patients who had visited the clinic since 1 July 2008. Clinical specimens were collected from the patients and an envirnmental investigation. Pulsed-field gel elctrophoresis (PFGE) was performed for comparing with M. abscessus isolates from the patients.

RESULTS

Six specimens were obtained from the 6 patients respectively and 22 environmental samples were obtained. M. abscessus was isolated from the wounds of two patients, and various nosocomial pathogens, but not M. abscessus, were isolated from the surrounding environment. Two strains of M. abscessus from patients were identical as a result of PFGE.

CONCLUSION

Infection control education including proper hand hygiene should be emphasized for physicians performing invasive procedures. There also needs to be more attention for invasive procedures management, including trigger point injection and epidural block in rural clinics.
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