Impact of unmet health-related need on suicidal behavior in Korean adults: a retrospective nationwide cohort study.

We aimed to evaluate the association of unmet health-related need with suicidal behaviors among Korean adults. We included 26,219 adults (13,937 men and 17,788 women) aged ≥ 19 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2015-2020). Suicidal behavior included suicidal plan and attempt. We analyzed the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of suicidal behaviors according to unmet health-related need via multivariable logistic regression analysis and performed stratified analyses according to sex, age, income, education, and type of insurance. Of the participants, 9.6% had unmet health-related need. Suicidal plans and attempts had 1.3% and 0.5% of the participants, respectively. The prevalence of suicidal plans and attempts was 0.9% and 0.4% among participants without unmet health-related need and 3.1% and 1.0% among those with such need, respectively. The odd ratios of suicidal plans and attempts increased significantly among participants with unmet health-related need compared to those without. In subgroup analysis, most subgroups showed similar results, except for suicidal plan and attempt in the 45-64 age group, high education, and medical care and suicidal attempt in 19-44 age group, low-income, and unmarried. Unmet health-related need was independently associated with suicidal plan and attempt. A policy alternative is needed for these associations.

Qigong and Tai Chi on Human Health: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.

Qigong and Tai chi are traditional methods of physical and mental training and exercises in East Asia. Their health-promoting effects against various diseases have been studied for a long time, and they have been the subject of many clinical trials and systematic reviews (SRs). The present study aimed to comprehensively evaluate all published SRs on Qigong and Tai chi and to summarize the supporting evidence. The following databases were searched: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Research Information Sharing Service, and Korean Studies Information Service System. The selection and extraction processes were performed by two independent reviewers, and a qualitative synthesis was conducted. There were 58 SRs of randomized controlled trials on Qigong and Tai chi. There have been many studies on patients with cardiovascular diseases and different cancers, and a number of other studies in which mobility, quality of life, blood lipids, and blood pressure were outcome measurements. Thus, Qigong and Tai chi for various diseases and medical conditions have been accumulated. Based on current evidence, the number of publications of Qigong and Tai chi-related articles showed an increasing trend, and most of them were performed in China. Qigong and Tai chi have shown beneficial effects in different age groups and health conditions, including decreasing blood lipid level, reducing blood pressure, facilitating mobility, preventing falls, and improving overall quality of life.

Effects of different definitions of low muscle mass on its association with metabolic syndrome in older adults: A Korean nationwide study.

AIM: We aimed to investigate the association between low muscle mass (LMM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) according to the definition of LMM. METHODS: This study used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 2008 to 2011. We used appendicular skeletal muscle adjusted for height (ASM/Ht2 ) and weight (ASM/Wt) as definitions of LMM. Class I and Class II LMM were defined as ASM/Ht2 or ASM/Wt from 1 to 2 standard deviations (SDs) or 2 SDs below the mean for young adults, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 6370 participants were included in analysis: 58.5% were women. The mean age of participants in this study sample was 72.3 ± 4.8 years. In the fully adjusted model, ASM/Ht2 was inversely related to MetS prevalence (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.770, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.600-0.988 for class I, aOR 0.473, 95% CI, 0.327-0.684 for class II). In contrast, MetS prevalence increased in class I (aOR 1.902, 95% CI 1.510-2.396) and class II LMM (aOR 2.831, 95% CI 2.194-3.655) using ASM/Wt. ASM/Ht2 was proportional to the waist circumference and the number of metabolic features, whereas ASM/Wt was inversely proportional in both sexes. Stratified analysis showed that the association was robust regardless of the cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSION: In Korean older adults, ASM/Wt is positively associated with MetS prevalence, whereas ASM/Ht2 is inversely associated, regardless of the cardiovascular risk factors. Waist circumference and the number of metabolic features were directly proportional to ASM/Ht2 , but inversely proportional to ASM/Wt. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 1003-1009.