Kyu-Il Lee, Woo-Sung Kim, Seung-Kyu Han, Kyung-Chul Moon, Sik Namgoong, Seong-Ho Jeong, Eun-Sang Dhong
{"title":"Predicting Major Amputation Rates in Diabetic Hindfoot Ulcers With Critical Infection and Ischemia: A Risk-Factor-Based Model.","authors":"Kyu-Il Lee, Woo-Sung Kim, Seung-Kyu Han, Kyung-Chul Moon, Sik Namgoong, Seong-Ho Jeong, Eun-Sang Dhong","doi":"10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e247","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e247","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Diabetic hindfoot ulcers pose a substantially greater risk of progressing to major amputation than forefoot or midfoot ulcers. Patients with these ulcers often experience severe psychological distress at the prospect of major limb loss. Consequently, patients, their families, and healthcare professionals prioritize understanding the actual risk of major amputation based on the patient's current clinical status. However, practical tools addressing this critical and common concern remain limited. In a previous preliminary study, we proposed a model for predicting major amputation rates in diabetic hindfoot ulcers. Nonetheless, that model, which relied solely on ischemia and infection, demonstrated limited accuracy. The present study aimed to refine the prediction of major amputation in diabetic hindfoot ulcers by 1) identifying additional risk factors and 2) evaluating amputation rates according to these factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective analysis was conducted involving 1,663 hospitalized patients diagnosed with diabetic foot ulcers. From this group, 50 patients with hindfoot ulcers presenting with critical ischemia and infection were included. A total of 88 baseline clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated to determine key risk factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Chronic kidney disease (CKD) ≥ stage 3, hemoglobin < 10.35 g/dL, and albumin < 3.75 g/dL emerged as independent predictors of major amputation (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Univariable logistic regression demonstrated a strong positive correlation between the number of identified risk factors and the rate of major amputation. Patients without these three risk factors did not undergo major amputation, even in the presence of critical infection and ischemia. Conversely, amputation risk increased to 6% for individuals with one risk factor, 27% for those with two, and 67% for patients with all three (<i>P</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>CKD, low serum hemoglobin, and low serum albumin were identified as significant risk factors for major amputation in patients with diabetic hindfoot ulcers complicated by critical infection and ischemia. The risk of major amputation increases substantially with the presence of multiple risk factors, from 6% amputation rate with one factor to 67% with three factors. Nevertheless, prospective studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to validate this risk-factor model.</p>","PeriodicalId":16249,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Korean Medical Science","volume":"41 40","pages":"e247"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149227975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tae Jung Kim, Yoon Sun Jung, Ye Sul Jeung, Woo Hyun Cho, Shin Hye Yoo, Jae Young Moon
{"title":"Intensivists' Perspectives and Practices on Palliative Care in the ICU: A Nationwide Survey in Korea.","authors":"Tae Jung Kim, Yoon Sun Jung, Ye Sul Jeung, Woo Hyun Cho, Shin Hye Yoo, Jae Young Moon","doi":"10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e119","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e119","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>While many countries have made progress in integrating palliative care into intensive care units (ICUs), implementation remains highly context-dependent. In Korea, palliative care integration within ICUs remains limited, and intensivists' perspectives on its role and applicability have not been well studied.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a nationwide, cross-sectional online survey of certified intensivists and fellows registered with the Korean Society of Critical Care Medicine between April and May 2024. The questionnaire explored knowledge and confidence in palliative care, current ICU practices, referral patterns, perceived barriers, and preferred strategies for integration.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 241 intensivists responded (response rate, 23.9%). Most agreed that palliative care should be incorporated into ICU care (97.1%) and were willing to make referrals (98.3%). Advance care planning, symptom management, and family decision-making were the most expected domains of support. However, fewer reported involvement in psychological support, end-of-life care, or bereavement services. Referral practices were more frequent in institutions with palliative care teams, while lack of resources, unsupportive institutional culture, and unclear processes were commonly cited barriers. Clinical guidelines, professional education, and reimbursement reform were identified as priority strategies for integration.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Korean intensivists widely recognize the need for palliative care in the ICU but apply it within a limited scope. To strengthen integration, consensus on definitions, clear referral criteria, and supportive institutional and policy frameworks are required.</p>","PeriodicalId":16249,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Korean Medical Science","volume":"41 40","pages":"e119"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149227927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hye-Ri Jang, Chloe Jooan Lee, Ju Hyun Back, Eun Young Kim, Jaeso Cho, Hunmin Kim
{"title":"Discrepancy Between Clinical Suspicion and Legal Outcomes in Suspected Child Abuse: A 10-Year Single-Center Study.","authors":"Hye-Ri Jang, Chloe Jooan Lee, Ju Hyun Back, Eun Young Kim, Jaeso Cho, Hunmin Kim","doi":"10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e338","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e338","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite mandatory reporting, many suspected child abuse cases never proceed to formal investigation in Korea. We retrospectively reviewed 83 pediatric patients evaluated for suspected child abuse at a tertiary hospital between 2015 and 2025, screened using the Finding Instrument for Non-accidental Deeds score, and analyzed clinical characteristics, injury severity, and investigative outcomes. The mean age was 4.3 years, and mechanical injury was the most common abuse type (n = 68). Twenty-four patients (28.9%) were severe cases requiring surgery or intensive care or resulting in death. Overall, 33 patients (39.8%) were determined as 'no suspicion,' including 11 of 24 severe cases (45.8%); this proportion decreased from 45.7% to 37.8% after the 2021 policy reform. A critical gap persists between medical recognition of child abuse and the legal response, warranting closer integration of clinical assessment with child protection and investigative systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":16249,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Korean Medical Science","volume":"41 40","pages":"e338"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149227849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Seong-Hae Jeong, Eun Ji Kim, Eunjin Kwon, Eunice Hong Lim Lee, Sukyoung Jung
{"title":"Dietary Inflammation and Chronic Dizziness With Imbalance in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Nationally Representative Study.","authors":"Seong-Hae Jeong, Eun Ji Kim, Eunjin Kwon, Eunice Hong Lim Lee, Sukyoung Jung","doi":"10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e257","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e257","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic dizziness and imbalance, which can significantly impact an individual's quality of life and even mortality, are prevalent conditions with multifactorial etiologies, including inflammation. We examined the association between dietary inflammatory potential and chronic dizziness with imbalance.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study included 7,562 Korean adults aged ≥ 40 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019-2022. The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) was calculated from 24-hour dietary recall, with higher scores indicating more pro-inflammatory diets. Chronic dizziness was categorized as isolated or accompanied by imbalance. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Prevalence was 3.8% for isolated dizziness and 1.4% for dizziness with imbalance. Higher DII scores were associated with higher odds of chronic dizziness with imbalance (tertile 3 vs. tertile 1; OR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.54-5.43; <i>P</i> trend = 0.016), but not with isolated dizziness. The association was stronger among participants without hearing loss (OR per 1-point increase, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.19-1.77; <i>P</i> interaction = 0.047) than in those with hearing loss.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A higher dietary inflammatory potential was associated with increased odds of chronic dizziness accompanied by imbalance, suggesting that dietary inflammation may be relevant to vestibular-related symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":16249,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Korean Medical Science","volume":"41 40","pages":"e257"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149227810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sung Min Lim, Raeseok Lee, Se Yoon Park, Jinnam Kim, Ji Young Park, Choseok Yoon, Song Mi Moon, Yong Chan Kim, Hong Bin Kim, Myung Jin Lee, Bongyoung Kim
{"title":"Nationwide Survey of Antimicrobial Stewardship in Korean Hospitals: Insights From the Early Stage of the 2024 National Pilot Implementation.","authors":"Sung Min Lim, Raeseok Lee, Se Yoon Park, Jinnam Kim, Ji Young Park, Choseok Yoon, Song Mi Moon, Yong Chan Kim, Hong Bin Kim, Myung Jin Lee, Bongyoung Kim","doi":"10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e253","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e253","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) are essential for optimising antibiotic use and mitigating antimicrobial resistance. In Korea, antimicrobial consumption exceeds the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average, and ASP activities remain fragmented, particularly in smaller hospitals. In November 2024, the National Health Insurance Service introduced a pilot reimbursement scheme to support ASPs in hospitals with ≥ 300 beds. This study aimed to provide baseline data to evaluate its impact.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A nationwide web-based survey was conducted between January and February 2025 among 297 hospitals with ≥ 300 beds. The questionnaire was designed to allow comparison with the 2020 national survey and to assess the ASP infrastructure, resources, and practices.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 153 responding hospitals, 71 participated in the pilot programme. Participating hospitals were typically large, university-affiliated, and metropolitan-based; non-participants were smaller, non-teaching, and regional. Participating hospitals employed more infectious disease specialists (2.96 vs. 0.63) and paediatric infectious disease specialists (0.66 vs. 0.12) and allocated more full-time equivalent staff to ASP activities. Participants had stronger institutional support, including financial (46.5% vs. 1.2%) and workforce (52.1% vs. 2.4%) support. Guidelines, interventions, monitoring, and information technology-based decision support systems were more common in participating hospitals, which were all registered with the Korea National Antimicrobial Use Analysis System. Non-participating hospitals frequently lacked guidelines (62%) and interventions (48%). Both groups reported workforce shortages and insufficient incentives as major barriers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The Korean ASP pilot programme strengthened the stewardship infrastructure in participating hospitals, even early on. However, substantial disparities with non-participating hospitals persist, underscoring the need for tailored support for resource-limited institutions.</p>","PeriodicalId":16249,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Korean Medical Science","volume":"41 40","pages":"e253"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149227884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kang Seo, Yujeong Kim, Sang Hyuk Park, Nam-Joon Yi, Jeong Hee Yoon, Goh Eun Chung, Jeong-Moo Lee, Seoung Yoon Rho, Min Su Park, Eun Kyung Choe, Aesun Shin
{"title":"Hepatic Cysts in Korea: Prevalence, Incidence, and Risk Factors Based on a 5.8-Year Follow-up Health Screening Cohort.","authors":"Kang Seo, Yujeong Kim, Sang Hyuk Park, Nam-Joon Yi, Jeong Hee Yoon, Goh Eun Chung, Jeong-Moo Lee, Seoung Yoon Rho, Min Su Park, Eun Kyung Choe, Aesun Shin","doi":"10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e265","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e265","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hepatic cysts are fluid-filled liver lesions that are mostly asymptomatic, but fewer than 15% of patients present clinically significant symptoms. Reported prevalence ranges from 2.5% to 71%, yet prior studies have been limited by small populations and incomplete assessment of risk factors. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors using data from a large health screening cohort in Korea.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of 78,676 participants in the Health and Prevention Enhancement cohort who underwent abdominal ultrasound at the Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center from 2003 and 2014. Hepatic cysts were identified using a validated rule-based text-mining algorithm applied to ultrasound reports. Prevalence was estimated from baseline data. Incidence was assessed in 41,179 participants initially negative for hepatic cysts. Risk factors were determined through Cox proportional hazards modeling.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of hepatic cysts at baseline was 8.54% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 8.34-8.73). The incidence was 23.4 per 1,000 person-years at risk (95% CI, 22.8-24.0). Cox regression identified hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBs-Ag) positivity (hazard ratio [HR], 1.20; 95% CI, 1.00-1.45) and renal cyst presence (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.31-1.64) as independent risk factors, whereas diabetes mellitus (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.54-0.77) and high physical activity (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81-0.97) appeared protective.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study provides the prevalence of 8.54%, incidence, and risk factors of hepatic cysts. Renal cyst presence and HBs-Ag positivity are significant risk factors, whereas high physical activity and diabetic status are protective.</p>","PeriodicalId":16249,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Korean Medical Science","volume":"41 40","pages":"e265"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149227852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Seungwoo Cha, Wi-Sun Ryu, Bokgi Hwang, Dae Yul Kim, Seung Hak Lee
{"title":"Imaging-Enhanced Prediction of Upper Limb Motor Function After Stroke Using Automated Segmentation and Cluster Analysis.","authors":"Seungwoo Cha, Wi-Sun Ryu, Bokgi Hwang, Dae Yul Kim, Seung Hak Lee","doi":"10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e263","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e263","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, and early prediction of motor outcomes is critical for guiding individualized rehabilitation strategies. Although neuroimaging offers prognostic insights, its clinical integration remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate whether explainable imaging-derived features can improve the prediction of upper limb motor impairment and to identify distinct recovery profiles through cluster analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed 242 patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging and motor function assessment. Clinical and imaging variables-including infarct volume, motor tract involvement, and subtype classification-were extracted using automated software. Predictive models for Fugl-Meyer Assessment upper extremity (FMA-UE) scores were developed using hierarchical regression, and K-means clustering was applied to standardized baseline data. Cluster characteristics were compared, and recovery profiles were visualized.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Incorporating imaging variables improved prediction of FMA-UE scores (adjusted R²: 0.595), with motor tract lesion volume emerging as a key predictor. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct patient subgroups: Cluster 1 (mild impairments, younger age), Cluster 2 (older patients with multiple comorbidities), and Cluster 3 (severe neurological deficits, large infarcts). Functional outcomes differed significantly across clusters, with Cluster 3 showing the greatest disability (76% with follow-up modified Rankin Scale 4-6, <i>P</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Imaging-derived features from early magnetic resonance imaging improve the prediction of upper limb motor outcomes after stroke. Cluster-based stratification identifies clinically meaningful subgroups, supporting precision rehabilitation through personalized care planning and targeted secondary prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":16249,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Korean Medical Science","volume":"41 40","pages":"e263"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149227972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Correction: Text and Table 2 in \"Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory-II in a Psychiatric Outpatient Population\".","authors":"Kounseok Lee, Daeho Kim, Yongrae Cho","doi":"10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e342","DOIUrl":"10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e342","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This corrects the article on p. e128 in vol. 33, PMID: 29651821.</p>","PeriodicalId":16249,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Korean Medical Science","volume":"41 39","pages":"e342"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13659110/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149168169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Letter to the Editor: Methodological and Statistical Concerns Regarding the Reported Exploratory Factor Analysis of the BAI and BDI-II.","authors":"Naci Murat","doi":"10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e341","DOIUrl":"10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e341","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16249,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Korean Medical Science","volume":"41 39","pages":"e341"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13659109/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149165635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jun-Il Yoo, Yonghan Cha, Deog-Yoon Kim, Young-Kyun Lee, Yong-Chan Ha
{"title":"Prevalence of Sarcopenia in Korean Adults Based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2025 Criteria: Analysis of the 2024 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.","authors":"Jun-Il Yoo, Yonghan Cha, Deog-Yoon Kim, Young-Kyun Lee, Yong-Chan Ha","doi":"10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e256","DOIUrl":"10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e256","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) updated its diagnostic guideline in 2025 to incorporate body mass index (BMI)-adjusted cut-off values for muscle mass and extended diagnostic criteria to middle-aged adults (50-64 years). Using nationally representative data from the 2024 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), we examined how the new AWGS 2025 criteria influence the prevalence of sarcopenia among Korean adults and characterized age- and sex-specific patterns.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study population comprised 2,366 adults aged ≥ 50 years (876 men and 1,490 women) who participated in the 2024 KNHANES. Participants were stratified by sex and age group (50-64 years and ≥ 65 years). Low muscle mass was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and bioimpedance analysis (BIA) according to AWGS 2025 criteria, which incorporate both height-adjusted (kg/m²) and BMI-adjusted (kg/m² per BMI) thresholds. Prevalence estimates were weighted to account for the complex sampling design.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among adults ≥ 80 years, sarcopenia prevalence increased sharply (35.4% in women and 28.8% in men by DEXA). Age-specific prevalence was low in the 50-54 year group (men 2.7%, women 3.2%), rose gradually through the seventies, and increased steeply thereafter. Women exhibited higher prevalence than men in the oldest age group. Comparison between BIA and DEXA measurements showed divergence with age: at 50-54 years, BIA yielded higher appendicular skeletal muscle mass than DEXA (23.77 kg vs. 23.10 kg); at ≥ 80 years, BIA yielded lower values (18.65 kg vs. 20.35 kg).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Application of the AWGS 2025 BMI-adjusted criteria identifies a substantial proportion of Korean older adults at risk of sarcopenia, with women aged ≥ 80 years particularly vulnerable. The divergence between BIA and DEXA measurements in very old adults suggests that measurement modality should be carefully considered in clinical practice. These findings provide timely evidence for public health planning as Korea enters a super-aged society.</p>","PeriodicalId":16249,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Korean Medical Science","volume":"41 39","pages":"e256"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13659108/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149165028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}