Health-Related Behaviours of Cancer Survivors: A Nationwide Korean Study.

This cross-sectional study investigated health-related behaviours in Korean cancer survivors by time after cancer diagnosis. The data of 50,532 subjects (aged 40 to 79 years) who participated in the 2007-2019 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) were subjected to analysis. Health-related behaviours included obesity, current smoking, frequent drinking, influenza vaccination, health screening, and cancer screening. The odds for these behaviours were estimated by multivariate logistic regression models with adjustment for potential covariates. Approximately 5% of subjects were cancer survivors, and among these three-fifths were long-term (≥5 years) survivors. Cancer survivors had healthier behaviours than non-survivors for almost all behaviours. However, these trends were attenuated in long-term survivors. In conclusion, healthy behaviour should be emphasised for long-term cancer survivors. Key Words: Cancer survivors, Cross-sectional studies, Health-related behaviours.

Inpatient Hospice Care in Korea during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Preliminary Study.

Purpose: This study examined the quality of life (QoL) and quality of care (QoC) in inpatient hospice settings in Korea before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Data were obtained from three institutions that participated in two prospective cohort studies. The primary outcomes measured were the QoL of patients with terminal cancer and their family caregivers (FCs), as well as the QoC as perceived by the FCs. Results: Multivariable regression analysis revealed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, both patients and FCs experienced better QoL than before the pandemic, and FCs reported a higher QoC. Conclusion: Health policymakers should consider our findings when planning for future pandemics.

Association between neck circumference and pulmonary function in Korean adults.

Neck circumference (NC) is associated with various diseases. However, its association with pulmonary diseases remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between NC and pulmonary function in Korean adults. Data from the 2019 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used, including forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). A total of 3818 adults aged 40 to 79 years were included in the analysis. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine factors associated with low pulmonary function (<80% of the predicted value) and calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for decreased lung function per 1-cm increase in NC. A negative correlation was observed between the NC and pulmonary function in both sexes. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, in contrast to men, women exhibited a notable relationship between increased NC and impaired pulmonary function, with a more pronounced effect observed in FVC (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.24). Central obesity may play a role in pulmonary function decline. Understanding this relationship can inform preventive strategies and interventions to improve the respiratory health of individuals with central obesity.

Attitudes toward Social Issues Related to Opioid Use among Palliative Care Physicians.

Purpose: This study investigated palliative care physicians' attitudes regarding social issues related to opioid use. Methods: An email survey was sent to 674 physicians who were members of the Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care (KSHPC). Results: Data from 66 physicians were analyzed (response rate, 9.8%). About 70% of participants stated that their prescribing patterns were not influenced by social issues related to opioid use, and 90% of participants thought that additional regulations should be limited to non-cancer pain. Under the current circumstances, pain education for physicians is urgently needed, as well as increased awareness among the public. Half of the respondents identified the KSHPC as the primary organization responsible for providing pain education. Conclusion: Palliative care physicians' prescribing patterns were not influenced by social issues related to opioid use, and these issues also should not affect cancer pain control.

Association Between Oral Health Status and Survival Time in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with terminal cancer often experience various oral problems. Whether oral health status is associated with the survival of terminally ill cancer patients receiving palliative care remains unclear. METHODS: We analyzed the data of 59 Korean patients with terminal cancer receiving palliative care, including their oral health status, using a modified Korean version of the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT). Patients were categorized into "Good," "Moderate," or "Poor" groups based on OHAT scores. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the median survival time, and the prognosis between groups was estimated using Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: The most common oral symptoms observed were xerostomia (69.5%) and mucositis (17.0%). Significantly shorter survival times were observed in patients with hyperbilirubinemia, elevated creatinine levels, and no use of dentures. The "Poor" group had a shorter survival than the "Good" oral group (P = .010). A multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed that the "Poor" group was significantly associated with poor survival compared to the "Good" group (hazard ratio, 2.05; P = .047). CONCLUSION: Terminally ill cancer patients with poor oral health may have a higher risk of shorter survival. Palliative care professionals should pay attention to oral health. Further research is needed to determine the effects of oral care on survival.

Association between neck circumference and depressive mood among Korean adults.

The relationship between central obesity and depression remains of debate. From the 2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, data of 3768 adults with available information on neck circumference and depressive mood were analyzed. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that a small neck circumference was significantly associated with depressive mood among men, but not among women. Our findings indicate that assessing neck circumference among men would help detect depression early.

Renal Insufficiency According to Time after Cancer Diagnosis: Findings of a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Little is known about the relationship between renal insufficiency and time after cancer diagnosis. Methods: The data of 71,302 individuals (aged 19 to 79 yr) that participated in the 2007-2019 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were subjected to analysis. Renal insufficiency was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate of < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Odds ratios of renal insufficiency were estimated using multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for potential covariates. Results: Of the 71,302 study subjects, 3.7% were cancer survivors and 2.2% were long-term (≥ 5 yr) survivors. Renal insufficiency was significantly more prevalent among short-term survivors, but not among long-term survivors, than among subjects without cancer. Conclusion: A cancer history of ≥ 5 yr is not an independent risk factor of renal insufficiency.

The effect of depression on cognitive decline among Korean retirees.

Background: Little information is available on the characteristics of cognitive ability among retirees. This study aimed to identify factors associated with cognitive impairment among Korean retirees. Materials and Methods: We used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing survey. A total of 1755 retirees aged 45 years or older who had normal cognition were followed up for 12 years to identify cognitive impairment. Stepwise multivariate logistic models were used to assess odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cognitive decline. Results: Well-known risk factors, such as age (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.06-1.09), female sex (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.08-2.04), low education (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.91-3.14), and depressive mood (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.16-1.97), remained significantly associated with cognitive decline. Sex-stratified analysis revealed that depressive mood was significantly associated with cognitive decline in male retirees only (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.31-2.75). Conclusion: Our finding indicates that screening male retirees for depressive mood is required to retard cognitive aging.

Health-Related Habits and Health Promotion Behaviors in People With Alcohol Flushing.

There is limited investigation on health-related behaviors by alcohol flushing. A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Korea Community Health Survey. The final analysis included 130 192 adults with available information on alcohol flushing assessed by a self-reported questionnaire. About a quarter of participants were classified into alcohol flushers. After considering demographics, comorbidities, mental health, and perceived health status, multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that flushers smoked or drank less and received vaccination or screening more than nonflushers. In conclusion, flushers have healthier behaviors than nonflushers.

The association between oxidative balance score and lung function: A nationwide cross-sectional survey.

Purpose: Given the impact of oxidative imbalance on the development of airway pathologies, this study was undertaken to investigate the association between oxidative balance (OB) scores and lung function in the adult Korean population. Methods: Data of 17,368 adults with available OB scores and pulmonary function test results were extracted from the 2013-2019 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) per 1-point decrease in OB score. Dose dependent association of reduced lung function with OB scores was also investigated. Results: Males, low-income subjects, individuals with comorbidities, and those with reduced pulmonary function had lower OB scores (representing oxidative balance). Overall, the association between oxidative imbalance and reduced lung function was remarkable in FVC than FEV1 (OR [95% CI], 1.06 [1.04-1.07] vs. 1.03 [1.02-1.04]; both p < 0.001). Linear relationships between the level of reduced lung function and OB scores were significantly noted (p for trend<0.001 in both FEV1 and FVC). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that oxidative imbalance is associated with reduced pulmonary function.