We aimed to investigate the risks of Alzheimer’s (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) in the 10 years following diagnosis of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) using a nationwide cohort. This propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study included 1,025,340 subjects from the Korean National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort database. The OAG group (n = 1,469) included patients who were initially diagnosed with OAG between 2004 and 2007, and the subjects in the comparison group were matched in a 1:5 ratio using propensity scores. Cox regression analyses were performed to investigate the risks of developing AD or PD. The diagnosis of OAG was significantly associated with an increased incidence of AD (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.403, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.180–1.669, p < 0.001), but not PD (HR = 0.995, 95% CI 0.620–1.595, p = 0.983) after adjusting for possible confounding factors. In subgroup analyses, participants with OAG aged ≥65 years were more likely to develop AD compared with those aged <65 years, and female OAG patients had a greater risk of developing AD than males. Patients diagnosed with OAG have a higher risk of developing AD, but not PD, and the risk differed according to age and sex.
ObjectivesWe examined the trends in prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Korea as a basis for improving hypertension control programs.Methods12 598 participants of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included in this study. Weighted linear regression to test time trends from 2007 to 2011 was performed.ResultsThe prevalence of hypertension was 20.7% in 2007, 29.4% in 2009, and 26.2% in 2011. Awareness of hypertension was 64.8% in 2007 and 61.1% in 2011. Awareness in those aged 65 and over was greater than in younger groups (age 19 to 44 and 45 to 64; p<0.001). The treatment rates were 58.4% in 2007 and 56.8% in 2011. The treatment rate was greater for those 65 and over than for younger age groups (p<0.001). The percentage of controlled hypertension was 37.6% in 2011. The percentage of controlled hypertension in those 65 and over was higher than in younger age groups (p<0.001). The treatment-control rates were 65.9% in 2007 and 67.7% in 2011. The prevalence of hypertension was higher in the males (p<0.001), while the awareness (p<0.001), treatment (p<0.001), and control (p<0.001) rates were higher in the females.ConclusionsThe prevalence of hypertension was increasing and the hypertension awareness, treatment, and control rates were low in younger age groups and males.
Background Alcohol consumption in pregnancy has been associated with serious fetal health risks and maternal complications. While previous systematic reviews of digital interventions during pregnancy have targeted smoking cessation and flu vaccine uptake, few studies have sought to evaluate their effectiveness in preventing alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Objective This systematic review aims to assess (1) whether digital interventions are effective in preventing alcohol consumption during the pregnancy/pregnancy-planning period, and (2) the differential effectiveness of alternative digital intervention platforms (ie, computers, mobiles, and text messaging services). Methods PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched for studies with digital interventions aiming to prevent alcohol consumption among pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant. A random effects primary meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the combined effect size and extent to which different digital platforms were successful in preventing alcohol consumption in pregnancy. Results Six studies were identified and included in the final review. The primary meta-analysis produced a sample-weighted odds ratio (OR) of 0.62 (95% CI 0.42-0.91; P=.02) in favor of digital interventions decreasing the risk of alcohol consumption during pregnancy when compared to controls. Computer/internet-based interventions (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.38-0.93) were an effective platform for preventing alcohol consumption. Too few studies of text messaging (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.29-2.52) were available to draw a conclusion. Conclusions Overall, our review highlights the potential for digital interventions to prevent alcohol consumption among pregnant women and women planning to become pregnant. Considering the advantages of digital interventions in promoting healthy behavioral changes, future research is necessary to understand how certain platforms may increase user engagement and intervention effectiveness to prevent women from consuming alcohol during their pregnancies.
ObjectivesAllergic disease may be increased by climate change. Recent reports have shown that typhoon and heavy rain increase allergic disease locally by concentration of airborne allergens of pollen, ozone, and fungus, which are causes of allergic disease. The objective of this study was to determine whether typhoon and heavy rain increase allergic disease in Korea.MethodsThis study included allergic disease patients of the area declared as a special disaster zone due to storms and heavy rains from 2003 to 2009. The study used information from the Korea Meteorological Administration, and from the National Health Insurance Service for allergic diseases (asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis).ResultsDuring a storm period, the numbers of allergy rhinitis and atopic dermatitis outpatients increased [rate ratio (RR) = 1.191; range, 1.150–1.232] on the sixth lag day. However, the number of asthma outpatients decreased (RR = 0.900; range, 0.862–0.937) on the sixth lag day after a disaster period. During a storm period, the numbers of allergic rhinitis outpatients (RR = 1.075; range, 1.018–1.132) and atopy outpatients increased (RR = 1.134; range, 1.113–1.155) on the seventh lag day. However, the number of asthma outpatients decreased to RR value of 0.968 (range, 0.902–1.035) on the fifth lag day.ConclusionThis study suggests that typhoon and heavy rain increase allergic disease apart from asthma. More study is needed to explain the decrease in asthma.
ObjectivesStress is considered a causal factor in many diseases, allergic disease being one of them. The prevalence of allergic disease is increasing in Korea, but the relationship between allergic symptoms and stress is not empirically well known. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between allergy-related symptoms and stress in children and adolescents.MethodsWe investigated 698 children and adolescents living in Gwangyang Bay, Korea, using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood and the Psychosocial Well-being Index, these subjects were surveyed on allergy-related symptoms and psychosocial stressors in their lives, respectively. We used a multivariate logistic analysis for odds ratios for the complaint rate of allergic symptoms, after adjusting for age, gender, household income, body mass index, and residence.ResultsAfter adjustments, lifetime rhinitis (odds ratio [OR], 1.024), rhinoconjunctivitis (OR, 1.090), diagnosis of itchy eczema (OR, 1.040), treatment of itchy eczema (OR, 1.049), 12-month allergic conjunctivitis (OR, 1.026), diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis (OR, 1.031), and treatment of allergic conjunctivitis (OR, 1.034) were found to be significantly associated with stress.ConclusionsOur results support the notion that there is a relationship between stress and allergic symptoms in children and adolescents. Further research into any causal relationship between stress and allergies, as well as preventative public health plans for decreasing stress in children and adolescents are needed.
Purpose. To determine the incidence of keratoconus and to determine its possible association with common systemic diseases using a nationwide cohort. Methods. This retrospective nationwide cohort study included 1,025,340 subjects from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database from 2004 to 2013. Estimates for incidence rates of keratoconus were identified. After 1 : 5 matching using propensity scores, associations between keratoconus and certain systemic comorbidities were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results. The incidence during the same period was 15.1 cases per 100,000 person-years. Adjusted logistic regression analysis after propensity score matching revealed significant associations between keratoconus and allergic rhinitis (odds ratio (OR): 1.86; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.63–2.13; p<0.001), asthma (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.06–1.36; p<0.001), atopic dermatitis (OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.13–1.56; p<0.001), and diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.15–1.58; p<0.001). Conclusion. Estimates of the incidence of keratoconus may help in the planning of eye-care policies, and the results of this study determined the associations between allergic diseases and keratoconus. Conflicting results regarding the association between keratoconus and DM should be further evaluated.
Previous spectral analysis studies on insomnia have shown inconsistent results due to their heterogeneity and small sample sizes. We compared the difference of electroencephalogram (EEG) spectral power during sleep among participants without insomnia, insomniacs with no hypnotic use, hypnotic users with no insomnia complaints, and hypnotic users with insomnia complaints using the Sleep Heart Health Study data, which is large sample size and has good quality control. The fast Fourier transformation was used to calculate the EEG power spectrum for total sleep duration within contiguous 30-s epochs of sleep. For 1985 participants, EEG spectral power was compared among the groups while adjusting for potential confounding factors that could affect sleep EEG. The power spectra during total sleep differed significantly among the groups in all frequency bands (pcorr < 0.001). We found that quantitative EEG spectral power in the beta and sigma bands of total sleep differed (pcorr < 0.001) between participants without insomnia and hypnotic users with insomnia complaints after controlling for potential confounders. The higher beta and sigma power were found in the hypnotic users with insomnia complaints than in the non-insomnia participants. This study suggests differences in the microstructures of polysomnography-derived sleep EEG between the two groups.
<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Antiplatelet agents are usually discontinued to reduce hemorrhagic tendency during the acute phase of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, their use after ICH remains controversial. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This study investigated the effect of antiplatelet agents in ICH survivors. We used the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort 2002–2013 database for retrospective cohort modeling, estimating the effects of antiplatelet therapy on clinical events. Subgroup analyses assessed antiplatelet medication administered before ICH. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The prescription rate of antiplatelets after ICH was also examined. Of 1,007 ICH<i>-</i>surviving patients, 303 subsequent clinical events were recorded, 41 recurrences of nonfatal ICH recurrence, 26 incidents of nonfatal ischemic stroke, 6 nonfatal myocardial infarctions, and 230 incidents of all-cause mortality. The use of antiplatelet therapy significantly decreased the risk of primary outcomes (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] = 0.743, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.578–0.956) and all-cause mortality (AHR = 0.740, 95% CI = 0.552–0.991), especially in patients without a history of antiplatelet treatment. The use of antiplatelet medication after ICH did not significantly increase the recurrence of ICH. The prescription rate of antiplatelet therapy within 1 year was 16.6%. Among 220 patients with a history of using antiplatelet medication, the resumption rate was 0.5% at discharge, 5% after a month, 12.7% after 3 months, and 29.1% after a year. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Using antiplatelet treatment after ICH does not increase chances of recurrence, but lowers the occurrence of subsequent clinical events, especially mortality. However, the prescription and resumption rate of antiplatelet therapy after ICH remains low in South Korea.
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