Yu-Jin Kwon

High-risk drinking is associated with dyslipidemia in a different way, based on the 2010-2012 KNHANES.

BACKGROUND The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire is a simple and useful method for the early detection of hazardous and harmful drinking. In this study, we examined the association between alcohol drinking pattern and dyslipidemia in Korean adults. METHODS This cross-sectional study included 14,308 participants who took part in the 2010-2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We categorized alcohol drinking patterns into three groups. We classified dyslipidemia into hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia, hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia, and hyper-non-HDL-cholesterolemia. RESULTS Of those who participated, 25.1% of men and 4.8% of women were high-risk drinkers. Compared with the low-risk group, Odd Ratios for hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia in the high-risk group were 1.198 (1.001-1.434) and 1.979 (1.622-2.413) for men. Odd Ratios for hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia in the high-risk group was 0.351 (0.279-0.441) in men and 0.413 (0.291-0.586) in women. Compared with the low-risk participants, the high-risk group was associated with higher prevalence and increased risk for hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia in both sexes (1.541 [1.467-1.913] for men and 1.631 [1.034-2.575] for women). CONCLUSIONS High-risk drinking was associated with higher risk for hypertriglyceridemia and hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia in both sexes and hypercholesterolemia in men but lower risk for hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia in both sexes.

Long Sleep Duration is Associated With Sarcopenia in Korean Adults Based on Data from the 2008–2011 KNHANES

STUDY OBJECTIVES Sarcopenia, or loss of muscle mass, occurs with aging and results in frailty, disability, cardiovascular disease, and insulin resistance. Recently, researchers have asserted that sarcopenia is not an inevitable process, but is a modifiable condition. Adequate sleep duration is also important to maintain good physical and mental health. Therefore, the aim of our study was to examine the association between sleep duration and sarcopenia in Korean adults. METHODS Data from 16,148 participants (7,158 men and 8,990 women) were analyzed from the 2008-2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). We defined sarcopenia as one standard deviation below the sex-specific means of the appendicular skeletal muscle/height-squared values of a young reference group. Participants were categorized into 5 groups according to sleep duration. The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for sarcopenia according to sleep duration were calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS The prevalence of sarcopenia was 14.3% in the total population (males 18.7%, females 9.7%). Compared to the 7 hours of sleep group, the OR (95% CI) for sarcopenia of the long sleep duration group (9 hours or more) was 1.589 (1.100-2.295) after controlling for confounding factors. From the results of subgroup analysis, high-risk groups for sarcopenia are as follows: 40-64 years old (OR = 1.868), normal body mass index (OR = 1.516), smoking (OR = 2.219), no regular exercise (OR = 1.506) in long sleepers. CONCLUSIONS Long sleep duration (9 hours or longer) is independently associated with sarcopenia in Korean adults.

Total serum bilirubin and 8-year incident type 2 diabetes mellitus: The Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study

AIM In this study, the impact of serum bilirubin on new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Korean adults was investigated. METHODS Data were obtained from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES), a population-based prospective cohort study. The study enrolled 8650 adults (4015 men and 4635 women), aged 40 to 69 years, who underwent a mean follow-up of 8.4 years. The study population was divided into quartiles (Q) of serum bilirubin levels, with cut-off points at 0.46, 0.61 and 0.82mg/dL for men, and 0.35, 0.47 and 0.61mg/dL for women. T2DM was defined based on the following data: fasting blood glucose≥7.0mmol/L, HbA1c level≥6.5% or 2-h plasma glucose≥11.1mmol/L during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. RESULTS Over the mean 8.4-year follow-up, 786 participants (9.1%) developed T2DM. Compared with Q1, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for T2DM incidence were 0.52 (0.36-0.74) in men and 0.56 (0.38-0.83) in women aged ≥50 years, respectively, in the highest Q group after adjusting for possible confounding factors. These significant results persisted in those with impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose. CONCLUSION The results of this study reveal a protective role for serum total bilirubin on new-onset T2DM in Korean men and women. In addition, serum total bilirubin had favourable effects on new-onset T2DM in those with impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose.

Relationship between Coffee Consumption and Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Adults: Data from the 2013–2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background The gradually increasing demand for coffee worldwide has prompted increased interest in the relationship between coffee and health issues as well as a need for research on metabolic syndrome in adults. Methods Data from 3,321 subjects (1,268 men and 2,053 women) enrolled in the 2013–2014 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. The subjects were divided into three groups according to their daily coffee consumption. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for metabolic syndrome in the coffee-drinking groups were calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis by adjusting for confounding variables. Results The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 15.5%, 10.7%, and 9.7% in men and 3.0%, 7.1%, and 6.5% in women according to their coffee consumption (less than one, one or two, or more than three cups of coffee per day), respectively. Compared with the non-coffee consumption group, the ORs (95% CIs) for metabolic syndrome in the group that consumed more than three cups of coffee was 0.638 (0.328–1.244) for men and 1.344 (0.627–2.881) for women after adjusting for age, body mass index, household income, education, smoking, alcohol, regular exercise, and daily caloric intake. Conclusion The OR of metabolic syndrome was not statistically significant in both men and women.

Association between the Eating Family Meal and the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome Using Data from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2012)

Background Several studies have shown that family meals promote a well-balanced and healthier diet and weight status. Metabolic syndrome is related to eating behavior. This study investigated the association between eating family meals and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Methods This cross-sectional study included 4,529 subjects who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV and V (2007–2012). A self-reported questionnaire was used to assess dietary status. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the guidelines of the modified version of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. We compared the overall quality of dietary intake in family meal. Results Nutritional adequacy ratios for energy, protein, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, niacin, and potassium, and the mean adequacy ratio were significantly higher in the family meal group (P<0.05). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was lower in the family meal group (P<0.05). However, we observed no significant association between eating family meals and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Conclusion This study demonstrated that eating family meals appeared to be associated with nutrient adequacy. However, we observed no significant differences in prevalence of metabolic syndrome between the 2 groups.

Derivation and validation of a new visceral adiposity index for predicting visceral obesity and cardiometabolic risk in a Korean population

Objectives The visceral adiposity index (VAI), an indirect marker of visceral adipose tissue, serves as a model associated with cardiometabolic risk, but has limitations regarding the Asian population. We sought to develop a new VAI (NVAI) for the Korean population and compare it to VAI for prediction of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk and development of major cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and stroke. Methods Patients (969) who underwent visceral fat area measurement were analyzed. After exclusion, 539 patients (142 men, 397 women) were randomly divided into internal (n = 374) and external validation (n = 165) data set. The NVAI was developed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression with backward selection of predictors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and comparison of the area under the curve (AUC) verified the better predictor of ASCVD risk score. Additionally, nationwide population-based cross-sectional survey data (Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [KNHANES] 2008–2010, n = 29,235) was used to validate the NVAI’s ability to predict ASCVD risk and major CVD and stroke. Results The NVAI better reflected visceral fat area in internal and external data sets, with AUCs of 0.911 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.882–0.940) and 0.879 (95% CI: 0.828–0.931), respectively. NVAI better discriminated for ASCVD risk (AUC = 0.892, 95% CI: 0.846–0.938) compared to VAI (0.559, 95% CI: 0.439–0.679). The NVAI also better predicted MI or angina, and stroke with AUCs of 0.771 (95% CI: 0.752–0.789), and 0.812 (95% CI: 0.794–0.830), respectively, compared with waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), TG to HDL ratio, and VAI via KNHANES, in a statistically significant manner. Conclusions The NVAI has advantages as a predictor of visceral obesity and is significantly associated with ASCVD risks and development of major CVD and stroke in the Korean population. The NVAI could be a screening tool for improved risk estimation related to visceral obesity.

Platelet count and 8-year incidence of diabetes: The Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study

AIMS The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of platelet count on the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in the overall Korean adults and in participants with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) at baseline. METHODS A total of 7502 participants (3528 men and 3974 women) aged 40-69 years were enrolled in this study. The study population was divided into tertiles (T) of serum platelet counts. We used Cox regression to analyse the relationship between baseline platelet count and new-onset type 2 DM. RESULTS A total of 602 (8.0%) subjects developed type 2 DM during a mean follow-up of 8.4 years. Compared to the lowest tertile, the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) for the incidence of type 2 DM was 1.28 (1.04-1.57) for T3 after adjusting for possible confounding factors. In subjects with IGT at baseline, the hazard ratio (95% CI) for the incidence of type 2 DM in T3 compared with T1 was 1.45 (1.05-2.00) after adjusting for the same confounders. CONCLUSION This prospective longitudinal study demonstrated that the incidence of type 2 DM increased as the serum platelet count at baseline increased within the normal range. This positive association was more prominent in subjects with IGT.

Association of platelet count with sarcopenic obesity in postmenopausal women: A nationwide population-based study

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between platelet count and sarcopenic obesity in postmenopausal women. METHOD This cross-sectional study was conducted using nationally representative data. A total of 2810 postmenopausal women who participated in the 2008-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included in this study. Sarcopenic obesity was defined by a sarcopenia criterion and an obesity criterion. Platelet counts were divided into quartiles as follows: Q, 150-222; Q2, 223-257; Q3, 258-294, and Q4, 295-450 (103/μl). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between platelet count quartile and sarcopenic obesity after adjusting for confounding factors. RESULTS The prevalence of sarcopenic obesity in postmenopausal women was 14.8%. Compared to the lowest platelet quartile, the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for sarcopenic obesity in the highest quartile were 1.98 (1.36-2.89) in the unadjusted model; 1.93 (1.31-2.83) after adjusting for age; and 1.65 (1.23-2.65) after adjusting for age, systolic blood pressure, homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglyceride, total cholesterol, total calorie intake, regular exercise, current smoking status, and education level. CONCLUSIONS Elevated platelet count (i.e. towards the upper end of the normal range) was significantly associated with sarcopenic obesity in postmenopausal women.

Uric Acid Level Has a J-Shaped Association with Arterial Stiffness in Korean Postmenopausal Women

Background Uric acid has been reported to function both as an oxidant or antioxidant depending on the context. A previous study in the Korean population reported a positive linear association between serum uric acid level and arterial stiffness in men, but little is known about how serum uric acid level is related to the risk of increased arterial stiffness in Korean postmenopausal women. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study of 293 subjects who participated in a health examination program run by the health promotion center of Gangnam Severance Hospital between October 2007 and July 2010. High brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity was defined as a brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity of more than 1,450 cm/s. The odds ratios (ORs) for high brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity were calculated using multivariate logistic regression analysis across uric acid quartiles after adjusting for other indicators of cardiovascular risk. Results The 293 postmenopausal women were divided into quartiles according to uric acid level. The mean brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity values of each quartile were as follows: Q1, 1,474 cm/s; Q2, 1,375 cm/s; Q3, 1,422 cm/s; Q4, 1,528 cm/s. The second quartile was designated as the control group based on mean brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity value. Multivariate adjusted ORs (95% confidence intervals) for brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity across the uric acid quartiles were 2.642 (Q1, 1.095–6.3373), 1.00, 4.305 (Q3, 1.798–10.307), and 4.375 (Q4, 1.923–9.949), after adjusting for confounding variables. Conclusion Serum uric acid level has a J-shaped association with arterial stiffness in Korean postmenopausal women.