Seonyoung Jeong, Yeani Choi, Hajin Kim, Sang Min Park
{"title":"One-year mortality disparities between infants of unmarried and married families in South Korea: a large scale retrospective cohort study.","authors":"Seonyoung Jeong, Yeani Choi, Hajin Kim, Sang Min Park","doi":"10.4082/kjfm.24.0226","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.24.0226","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study examined disparities in 1-year mortality rates between infants born to married and unmarried single-parent families, emphasizing the need for targeted health policies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data from 3,298,263 cases, obtained from the South Korea National Statistical Office (2010-2017), were analyzed. T-tests and chi-square tests were used to assess the demographic characteristics of the study group. The number of deaths per 1,000 live births was calculated, and logistic and multivariable logistic regressions were employed to compare infant mortality rates between family types. Additional stratified analyses, based on gestational age and birth weight, further elucidated the relationship between parental marital status and infant mortality.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Infants from unmarried families exhibited a 3.34-fold higher crude odds ratio (OR) for 1-year mortality (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.56-4.36; P<0.001) than that from married families. After adjusting for confounders, the adjusted OR was 1.40 (95% CI, 1.03-1.92). Stratification by gestational age and birth weight revealed crude ORs of 4.62 (95% CI, 3.34- 6.39) in non-preterm infants (≥37 weeks) and 4.76 (95% CI, 3.46-6.56) in non-low-birth-weight infants (≥2.5 kg), highlighting a more pronounced disparity in infants born at or above normal weight and full term. No significant difference (P>0.05) was found in the crude OR for 1-year mortality rates among low-birth-weight (<2.5 kg) or preterm (<37 weeks) infants between the two-family types. Conclusion: This study highlights the significant disparity in infant mortality rates based on parental marital status, underscoring the need for enhanced social support and tailored policies for unmarried single-parent families.</p>","PeriodicalId":17893,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Family Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144017524","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A case report of semaglutide induced sarcopenia: causes of fatigue in older adults.","authors":"Azwan Aziz Mohamad","doi":"10.4082/kjfm.25.0008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.25.0008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Semaglutide, a medication used for type 2 diabetes and weight loss, may have unexpected side effects such as sarcopenia and age-related loss of muscle mass and strength. A 74-year-old male patient with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia presented with progressive fatigue over 2 years. He experienced a significant decline in walking endurance and speed despite the absence of joint pain or other obvious causes. He had a history of ocular myasthenia gravis and localized prostate cancer, both of which were well-managed. Further investigation revealed a weight loss of 8 kg after starting semaglutide treatment for diabetes. Physical examinations revealed reduced muscle bulk and strength. Extensive investigations, including blood tests, imaging, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing, have ruled out other potential causes of fatigue. The patient's fatigue improved after reducing the semaglutide dose and implementing a tailored exercise program that focused on muscle strengthening. This case highlights the potential contribution of semaglutide to muscle mass loss and subsequent fatigue, particularly among older adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":17893,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Family Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144029764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Chiari malformation type I with extensive syringomyelia presenting as progressive bilateral foot drop: a case report.","authors":"Siti Anisah Jamaludin, Suraya Abdul-Razak, Shalini Bhaskar, Mimi Nashra, Nik Munirah Nik Mohd Nasir, Nordini Asri","doi":"10.4082/kjfm.25.0020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.25.0020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chiari malformation type I (CMI) is a structural abnormality characterized by cerebellar tonsil herniation through the foramen magnum, often leading to disrupted cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and syringomyelia. While CMI commonly presents with occipital headaches and neck pain, atypical manifestations, such as bilateral foot drops, are exceedingly rare. We describe a 37-year-old female patient presenting with bilateral foot drop, which was later established to be caused by syringomyelia secondary to CMI. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an 8 mm tonsillar descent and a syrinx extending to the conus medullaris. The patient refused surgical intervention and opted for conservative management; partial functional recovery was subsequently observed. This report emphasizes the importance of recognizing rare neurological presentations of CMI. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of CMI with syringomyelia presenting as a bilateral foot drop.</p>","PeriodicalId":17893,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Family Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144000334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The relationship between sleep duration and obesity among risky drinking workers: using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey.","authors":"Jion Kim, Sinyoung Cho, Young Ho Yun","doi":"10.4082/kjfm.24.0205","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.24.0205","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The association between sleep duration and obesity risk among risky drinkers remains controversial. This study aims to investigate the relationship between adequate sleep duration and both central and overall obesity among risky drinkers in Korea, with a focus on identifying potential interventions to reduce obesity rates.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed data from 978 individuals, selected from 1,356 risky drinkers-as defined by the World Health Organization criteria-who participated in the 2019-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants had no missing values and were engaged in economic activities. Demographic characteristics and key variables by obesity status were examined using frequency analysis and chi-square tests. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the association between sleep duration and obesity. To account for the stratified sampling design, we utilized complex sample analysis with weighted values.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Risky drinkers with adequate sleep duration (7-9 hours) were less likely to be obese based on waist circumference (≥90 cm in males; ≥85 cm in females) (odds ratio [OR], 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48-0.86) and body mass index (≥25 kg/m2) (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.41-0.76). Trend analysis revealed a significant inverse relationship between sleep duration and obesity likelihood (P for trend <0.05). Gender-stratified analysis demonstrated that the association was significant among males and more pronounced in risky drinkers compared to the general population.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study suggests that adequate sleep duration may play a key role in reducing obesity rates among Korean male risky drinkers. Further longitudinal studies are recommended to strengthen this finding.</p>","PeriodicalId":17893,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Family Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143803430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reflecting on progress and challenges: the Korean Journal of Family Medicine in 2024.","authors":"Seung-Won Oh","doi":"10.4082/kjfm.46.2E.1","DOIUrl":"10.4082/kjfm.46.2E.1","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17893,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Family Medicine","volume":"46 2","pages":"55-57"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11978433/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143730722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Health information quality of online newspaper articles in Korea.","authors":"Hangyeol Lee, Seung-Won Oh","doi":"10.4082/kjfm.23.0197","DOIUrl":"10.4082/kjfm.23.0197","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Web is an important source of health information, but the quality of such online information is highly variable. This study evaluates the quality of health articles published on Naver News, Korea's most popular portal, using the Health Information Quality Assessment Tool (HIQUAL).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We collected 712 health-related articles published on Naver News from May 1 to 7, 2023. After applying exclusion criteria, we selected 116 articles for analysis. Two clinicians independently assessed the quality of these articles using the HIQUAL, which scores articles based on five domains: \"reliability,\" \"usefulness,\" \"understandability,\" \"sufficiency,\" and \"transparency.\"</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall article quality was generally considered recommendable (mean±standard deviation: 7.52±2.00). \"Usefulness,\" one item of \"reliability,\" and \"understandability\" were the three items with the highest levels of satisfaction. \"Sufficiency\" criteria for costs, risks, and benefits received low scores. Quality scores for articles focused on health risk factors and intervention showed a statistically significant difference.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>While the overall quality of health information in Korean online newspaper articles is acceptable, room for improvement remains in some areas, particularly with regard to the fair presentation of costs, risks, and benefits. The study highlights the need for ongoing quality improvement and evaluation initiatives for online health information.</p>","PeriodicalId":17893,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Family Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"77-83"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11969175/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140049810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dominika Lorek, Krzysztof Łupina, Wiktoria Bisaga, Dominik Malicki, Weronika Stępień, Laura Kumor, Jakub Janczura
{"title":"The socioeconomic and environmental determinants of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: understanding inequalities in prevalence and outcomes.","authors":"Dominika Lorek, Krzysztof Łupina, Wiktoria Bisaga, Dominik Malicki, Weronika Stępień, Laura Kumor, Jakub Janczura","doi":"10.4082/kjfm.25.0027","DOIUrl":"10.4082/kjfm.25.0027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Metabolism-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver condition worldwide and affects nearly 30% of the global population. While traditionally associated with metabolic risk factors, such as obesity and insulin resistance, increasing attention is being directed toward socioeconomic and environmental determinants that contribute to disparities in MASLD prevalence and outcomes. Low-income populations often experience higher rates of MASLD owing to limited access to healthcare, poor diet quality, and reduced opportunities for physical activity. Conversely, high-income countries are witnessing a paradoxical rise in MASLD cases, driven by sedentary lifestyles and excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods. This review examined the effects of socioeconomic status, education, healthcare access, and environmental exposure on the epidemiology of MASLD. The findings revealed that individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and migrant populations experience a disproportionately higher burden of MASLD due to systemic healthcare barriers, dietary transitions, and occupational exposure. Children and adolescents face increasing susceptibility owing to rising obesity rates, and geographic disparities highlight Europe as the most affected region, followed by Asia and North America. Given the growing public health impact of MASLD, addressing both socioeconomic and environmental determinants is essential. Future efforts should prioritize policy-driven interventions, including equitable healthcare access, lifestyle modifications, and research into novel therapeutic approaches to mitigate the disease burden and improve patient outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":17893,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Family Medicine","volume":"46 2","pages":"61-69"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11969182/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143730724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Unlocking the potential of primary care: addressing systemic challenges in chronic disease prevention.","authors":"Jose Eric Mella Lacsa","doi":"10.4082/kjfm.24.0282","DOIUrl":"10.4082/kjfm.24.0282","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17893,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Family Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"120-121"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11969177/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143007954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yoo Jeong Lee, Soon-Young Hwang, Su Hyun Kim, Youn Seon Choi
{"title":"Low serum creatinine as well as high serum creatinine is associated with prognosis of patients with cancer in end-of-life.","authors":"Yoo Jeong Lee, Soon-Young Hwang, Su Hyun Kim, Youn Seon Choi","doi":"10.4082/kjfm.23.0116","DOIUrl":"10.4082/kjfm.23.0116","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The prognosis of end-of-life patients is challenging, and clinicians have attempted to predict survival more accurately. High serum creatinine (sCr) levels are associated with lower survival rates in patients with various cancers; however, low sCr levels are commonly expected in patients with terminal cancer because of muscle wasting and malnutrition. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of low and high sCr levels and their association with survival duration in patients with terminal cancer in a palliative care unit.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed the medical records of 280 patients admitted to a palliative care unit. Patients were divided into low (<0.5 mg/dL), normal (0.5-1.2 mg/dL), and high (>1.2 mg/dL) sCr groups. Kaplan-Meier survival curves using sCr levels were plotted and compared using the log-rank test. Using stepwise selection, a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify the significant prognostic factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The median survival durations in the high-, low-, and normal-sCr groups were 9.57 days, 22.26 days, and 27.51 days, respectively. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard model identified that males (hazard ratio [HR], 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-2.85), poor performance status (HR, 3.43; 95% CI, 1.12-10.54), total parenteral nutrition use (HR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.09-3.1), high sCr (HR, 2.74; 95% CI, 1.52-4.94), and low sCr (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.07-1.43) were significantly associated with a shorter survival time.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Low and high serum creatinine levels were significantly associated with poor survival in patients with cancer at the end-of-life stage. Therefore, readily available and simple biomarkers may help plan advanced care in palliative care settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":17893,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Family Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"70-76"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11969183/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"54229835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Retraction notice: Effect of curcumin on dysmenorrhea and symptoms of premenstrual syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Seung-Won Oh","doi":"10.4082/kjfm.23.0184.R","DOIUrl":"10.4082/kjfm.23.0184.R","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17893,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Family Medicine","volume":"46 2","pages":"124"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11978417/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143730723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}