Low Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Is Prevalent among North Korean Refugees in South Korea

Abstract

BackgroundThe number of North Korean refugees entering South Korea is rising. Few studies have investigated the risk of non-communicable disease in North Korean refugees. Moreover, kidney insufficiency, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, has not been studied in this population. We compared the prevalence of non-communicable disease and kidney function in North Korean refugees and South Koreans.MethodsOur study was conducted using a case-control design. We enrolled 118 North Korean refugees from the Hana Center and selected 472 randomly sampled South Korean individuals as controls, who were age- and sex-matched with the North Korean refugees in a ratio of 1:4, from the 2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database.ResultsThe prevalence of non-communicable disease did not differ significantly between the groups; however, a low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; <90 mL/min per 1.73 m2) was more prevalent in the North Korean refugees than in the South Korean population (52.1% vs. 29.9%, P<0.001). After adjusting for covariates and weight gain after escape, the prevalence of a low eGFR was associated with the length of residence in South Korea (odds ratio, 2.84; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–7.89).ConclusionThe prevalence of non-communicable disease did not differ between North Korean refugees and the South Korean population, while a low eGFR was more prevalent in North Korean refugees than in South Koreans. Moreover, after adjusting for other covariates, the prevalence of a low eGFR in North Korean refugees was associated with the length of residence in South Korea.

Promoting health behaviors for preventing and controlling noncommunicable disease among North Korean defectors: A systematic review

“…Our results are similar with another study wherein the excess weight gain after defection was associated with metabolic syndrome with similar prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome between NKR and SKN (men, 19.7% vs. 26.2%, p = 0.134; and women, 17.2% vs. 16.6%, p = 0.757, respectively) [11]. Another study showed no group difference in the prevalence of NCDs, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia; however, general obesity of NKR was higher (NKR vs. SKN, 36.8% vs. 26.7%, p = 0.031, respectively) and abdominal obesity of NKR was lower than that of South Korean counterparts (NKR vs. SKN, 7.7% vs. 18.4%, p = 0.005, respectively) [14].…”

“…The summary of the characteristics of selected studies is presented in Table 1. It includes 18 quantitative studies [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] and 4 qualitative studies [28][29][30][31]; among the quantitative studies, 5 studies report comparisons with South Korean people [11,[13][14][15]22]. The number of participants in these studies varied from 8 to 932 participants, and 54.6%-100% of them were women.…”

“…The survey using questionnaires was the most popular research method. Data from objective measurement such as body weight, waist circumference, blood test, and urine analysis were used in a few studies [12][13][14]19] Table 2 shows the variables that were investigated in the selected studies by classifying them into 4 categories: non-communicable disease, health promotional lifestyle, self-rated health status, and others. was related w women (p < 0.00 elderly (p < 0.00 or had low ann household inco (p = 0.017), a chronic diseases < 0.001).…”

“…The health behaviors of North Korean defectors are summarized in terms of smoking, drinking, exercise, and nutrition in Table 2. The rate of current smokers among NKRs was 11.9% [14], 26.2% [19], and 84.2% [23]. The rate of current smokers in men was 48.0% [13] and 44.6% [11].…”

“…The current drinkers comprised of 72.1% [14] and 37.7% [19].Two studies reported that the current drinkers among men were 70.8% [13] and 87% [11].The rate of alcohol consumption more than once a month was 56.8% [17]. The score of health behavior for reducing alcohol consumption was 2.8 (HPLP, range 1-4) [21].…”