Narrative Review on the Trend of Childbirth in South Korea and Feasible Intervention to Reduce Cesarean Section Rate

In this study, we explored the current childbirth trend in South Korea to provide recent evidence on determinants of the cesarean section rate (CSR) and related policy interventions. We utilized national health insurance claim data to analyze the CSR. We also conducted a narrative review on factors associated with the CSR and examined evidence about interventions to reduce it. The CSR is rising in Korea; simultaneously, the overall number of births is declining. In 2012, 469,000 women gave birth, and 26.9% underwent a cesarean section. In 2021, 249,000 women gave birth, and 58.7% experienced a cesarean section. The CSR among women under age 25 was 26.7% in 2012, but by the first quarter of 2022, it was 51.6%. In 2012, the CSR in women aged 25–34 years was 34.9%; by the first quarter of 2022, it was 58.3%. We synthesized evidence on the determinants of CSR in three dimensions: users, providers, and systems. We also explored recent evidence on policy interventions to reduce the CSR, focusing on women and families, providers, and hospitals. Despite the rapid increase in the CSR in the last decade, efforts to investigate childbirth choice and women’s experiences have been insufficient. We could not locate systematic initiatives in the research community or government to lower the rate. More patient-centered efforts to reduce the high CSR rate are needed.

The effect of general health status, oral health behavior and status on quality of life in Korea adults / 대한구강보건학회지

Objectives@#The purpose of this study was to analyze the relations between general health status, oral health behavior, oral health status, and quality of life, as well as the mediating effects of oral health behavior and oral health status. @*Methods@#Subjects aged ≥19 years participated in a health questionnaire in the third year of the Japanese National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2015). @*Results@#Analysis of the overall path of periodontal disease showed that respiratory and circulatory diseases and oral health behaviors had statistically significant indirect effects on quality of life through the mediation of oral health behavior and oral health conditions, while analysis of the overall trend of the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index showed significant indirect effects on quality of life through mediation between oral and oral health conditions. As a result of these analyses, the association of general health status with quality of life, and its effect thereon, were confirmed through the intermediary of oral health behaviors and oral health conditions. @*Conclusions@#Therefore, further research is needed on the relation of general diseases to oral health management. Special oral health departments need to be established in both general and university hospitals, and dental hygienists in charge of oral care need to be deployed to improve oral health for general diseases. Manuals and systems for oral health management and oral health promotion need to be developed for certified dental hygienists in Japan, specifically for each systemic disease. For example, hygienists should have guidance on the oral health practices that help in the prevention of diabetes.

A study of the impact of dental hygienist concern on oral health care of the elderly / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: There is currently little research on dental hygienists' interest and need related to oral care. To perform elderly oral care effectively, dental hygienists must understand the features of aging in the elderly. The purpose of this study is to investigate how dental hygienists' interest affects oral care for the elderly.METHODS: 232 dental hygienists completed a self-reported questionnaire from March to April 2019. The questionnaires consisted of general characteristics of the subjects (6 items), elderly patient experience (11 items), and questions regarding aging (7 items). This study analyzed collected data by frequency analysis, ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis.RESULTS: Correlation analysis between concern, need, and participation in elderly oral care showed a significant amount of correlation among all variables. We found that gender (P=0.022), education level (P=0.029), workplace type (P=0.002), and the proportion of future elderly patients were statistically significant (P=0.001) factors affecting the level of concern.CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that experience in treating and caring for the elderly are essential factors for raising the interest and understanding of oral health care for elderly patients. Therefore, we should consider the development of various programs to raise interest in oral health for the elderly.

Impact of incivility experienced by dental hygienists on organizational achievement-as a mediating effect of emotional exhaustion / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: Workplace incivility is experienced by dental hygienists, who perform a variety of tasks and roles in dentistry. Therefore, to enhance the performance of dental and medical institutions, it is necessary to identify dental hygienists experiencing incivility that affects the organizational performance. METHODS: Over a two-month period from May 1 to June 30, 2015, dental hygienists from 30 dental and medical institutions in Busan, the North and South Gyeongsang Provinces, Daegu, Seoul, and the Gyeonggi Province were convenience sampled. Data, from a total of 344 participants, were analyzed using the SPSS and AMOS statistical analysis software. RESULTS: Emotional exhaustion had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between patient incivility and job performance, a full mediating effect in relation to job satisfaction, and a partial mediating effect on the association with turnover intention. Meanwhile, emotional exhaustion had a full mediating effect on the relationships between superior incivility and job performance, as well as turnover intention, while a partial mediating effect in relation to job satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: An in-depth review of interventions that can enable a mutually respectful working environment, and promote a healthy culture among dental hygienists in dental and medical institutions is needed.

Effects of plaque control according to professional toothbrushing and oral health education of orthodontic patients / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to contribute to the development of an oral health education program on organized professional toothbrushing by determining its effects on plaque control in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. METHODS: The subjects in the experimental group participated in the professional toothbrushing and oral health education weekly for 4 weeks, and those in the control group participated in the same program without professional toothbrushing education. RESULTS: The difference in knowledge, attitude, and behaviors on oral health was higher among the experimental group who underwent professional toothbrushing and oral health education program than those in the control group. The effects of toothbrushing time on the plaque index were significantly lower in experimental group than those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that adequate oral health and professional toothbrushing education program should be implemented to improve oral health.

Erratum: Effects of plaque control according to professional toothbrushing and oral health education of orthodontic patients / 대한구강보건학회지

The authors confirm that the author name and the title were incorrect in the last isuse of the journal.

Guidelines of cleaning and disinfection in gastrointestinal endoscope for clinicians

Gastrointestinal endoscopy plays an important diagnostic and therapeutic role in the field of gastrointestinal disease. As endoscopies have become more common due to the nationwide screening program for digestive cancer and an increasing interest in health among the general public, the risk of infection transmission between patients has emerged as a clinical challenge. Although endoscopes can become highly contaminated with secretions and blood during use, the thorough reprocessing of an endoscope before it is reused in subsequent patients can be difficult due to its complicated structure. Although the incidence of endoscopy-associated infections has been reported to be extremely low, compelling evidence suggests that the actual incidence is underestimated. It has been well established that endoscopes reprocessed appropriately, in accordance with standard guidelines, have no risk of infection transmission. Although revised guidelines for endoscope reprocessing were released in Korea in 2015, suboptimal infection prevention practices during endoscope reprocessing have been reported. Under these circumstances, the Korean Society of Digestive Endoscopy developed the ‘Guidelines of cleaning and disinfection in gastrointestinal endoscope for clinicians’ based on the currently available evidence. These guidelines provide accurate and updated information on reprocessing techniques, and can help improve the quality of reprocessing and compliance by health care personnel. As a result, infection control during gastrointestinal endoscopies can be expected to be achieved in Korea.

Guidelines of cleaning and disinfection in gastrointestinal endoscope for clinicians

Gastrointestinal endoscopy plays an important diagnostic and therapeutic role in the field of gastrointestinal disease. As endoscopies have become more common due to the nationwide screening program for digestive cancer and an increasing interest in health among the general public, the risk of infection transmission between patients has emerged as a clinical challenge. Although endoscopes can become highly contaminated with secretions and blood during use, the thorough reprocessing of an endoscope before it is reused in subsequent patients can be difficult due to its complicated structure. Although the incidence of endoscopy-associated infections has been reported to be extremely low, compelling evidence suggests that the actual incidence is underestimated. It has been well established that endoscopes reprocessed appropriately, in accordance with standard guidelines, have no risk of infection transmission. Although revised guidelines for endoscope reprocessing were released in Korea in 2015, suboptimal infection prevention practices during endoscope reprocessing have been reported. Under these circumstances, the Korean Society of Digestive Endoscopy developed the ‘Guidelines of cleaning and disinfection in gastrointestinal endoscope for clinicians’ based on the currently available evidence. These guidelines provide accurate and updated information on reprocessing techniques, and can help improve the quality of reprocessing and compliance by health care personnel. As a result, infection control during gastrointestinal endoscopies can be expected to be achieved in Korea.

A comparative analysis of micro-organism colonization of tooth-brushes in a public bath based on the storage technique / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: Bacterial colonization on toothbrushes can cause stomatitis and other oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontitis. In this study we tested 18 toothbrushes, of which six were left exposedto the air, six were stored in a plastic bag, and six in a toothbrush case. METHODS: ATP (RLU: relatively light unit) values measured by ATP Luminometer were compared with APC (CFU: colony forming unit) by swabbing culture method using 3M™ petrifilm™ aerobic count plates. RESULTS: Swabs from toothbrushes left exposed in the air developed an average of 651.67±261.94 CFU, while the “In plastic bag” and the “In toothbrush case” specimens developed 593.17±354.33 and 120.83±68.87 CFU, respectively. CONCLUSION: The best option is to rinse the toothbrush well with water and to keep them dry in a well-ventilated area in order to reduce the growth of bacteria in a public bath.

A study on oral health knowledge and the need for oral health education among industrial workers / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between oral health behaviors of workers by examining the oral health awareness and the need for oral health education. METHODS: After the institutional review board approval, we surveyed industrial workers in Seoul, Gwangju, Changwon, and Goksung, in Korea, from July 19 to August 29, 2016. The final questionnaires (287 in total) were assessed using the SPSS 24.0 software for Windows (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL, USA). The data were analyzed using frequency analysis, average, standard deviation, t-test, and the Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Through the response of “yes” for the question, “oral health education experience,” we can see the respondents have high level of interest (P<0.001). And through the response of “yes” for the question, “Periodic oral Examination” and “regular scaling” and “oral care product use” we can see the respondents have high level of interest (P<0.001) and high importance (P<0.001), there was a statistically significant difference. On analyzing the correlations between workers, there was positive correlation oral health ‘Interest’ and ‘Importance’ (r=0.598, P<0.001). Of the 287 participants, 80.1% indicated that they did not receive any previous oral health education, while 85.4% indicated a willingness to attend oral health education programs in the future. Of the 80.1% of participants with no prior oral health education, 60.0% indicated lack of oral health education because of few opportunities to participate in such programs. They most prefer “Oral Hygiene Management” 64.8% for education contents and choose “Direct-education by inviting Expert” as the best education method 75.6%. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to develop oral health education programs suitable for the industrial field characteristics for people in workplace, and to enhance and expand oral health education services in the workplace in order to maintain interest in oral health.

An assessment of smoking cessation counseling among dental hygienists / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess recognition of smoking cessation education among dental hygienists and knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to smoking cessation counseling as well as to obtain basic data on smoking cessation counseling for effective oral care in dental offices. METHODS: After approval was obtained from the institutional review board, this study was carried out dental hygienists working in dental hospitals and clinics in Busan City, Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk province, Korea. The final analysis captured information from 300 participants. Data were analyzed with SPSS 21.0. RESULTS: Of the 300 participants, 94.0% agreed that smoking cessation education is necessary, 17.5% reported smoking cessation education experience, and 65.7% reported intention to participate in smoking cessation education in the future. Dental hygienists' smoking cessation counseling activities showed a significant correlation between attitudes and practices (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Counseling for smoking cessation provided by dental hygienists was positively correlated with the presence of smoking cessation knowledge and with the intention of participating in smoking cessation education. For dental hygienists to effectively counsel patients regarding smoking cessation, it is essential to integrate smoking cessation education into the dental school curriculum and to offer continuing education post-graduation.

Characteristics of Advanced Gastric Cancer Undetected on Gastroscopy / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Stomach cancer can be easily diagnosed via endoscopy, but also possible to be missed. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and endoscopic characteristics of advanced gastric cancers that were not diagnosed based on endoscopic examination. METHODS: We evaluated patients who had newly diagnosed advanced gastric cancer that was undetected via endoscopy within the last six months. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were included in this study. The locations of the cancers were the cardia in six cases, the greater curvature side of the body in eight cases and the antrum in two cases. The histological findings were tubular type adenocarcinoma in 11 cases, with ten cases of moderately to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and five cases of signet ring cell type adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Even advanced gastric cancer lesions may not be detected during endoscopy. If a patient continues to complain of upper gastrointestinal symptoms, even though endoscopy does not find abnormal findings, repeated endoscopy and/or additional diagnostic studies should be considered.

Clinical impact of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease on other medical diseases / 대한내과학회지

Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been recognized as a hepatic manifestation of systemic metabolic disease associated with insulin resistance. Recent studies have reported that NAFLD is related with various systemic complications such as cardiovascular, renal, metabolic disease independent of obesity, other component of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Thus, NAFLD should be newly regarded as an early mediator of systemic metabolic disease as well as liver specific disease. The mechanisms of adverse effect of NAFLD on other medical diseases are not fully understood, so further study is needed for understanding and future management strategies of NAFLD.

Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding Due to Gastric Ectopic Pancreas in a Young Aged Person / 대한소화기내시경학회지

An ectopic pancreas is the presence of pancreatic tissue outside of its usual location. This condition rarely causes clinical symptoms, and the most commonly reported sites of these lesions are the stomach, the duodenum and jejunum. The presence of this ectopic tissue is not a rare condition, but its unusual locations, clinical symptoms, and complications are of clinical interest. We report a case of a gastric ectopic pancreas with recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding in a 20-year-old man.

Levofloxacin-Azithromycin Combined Triple Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Eradication / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Antibiotic resistance and poor compliance are the main causes of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication failure. This study evaluated the eradication rate, tolerability, and compliance of levofloxacin- azithromycin combined triple therapy for H. pylori eradication. METHODS: 1) First-line eradication: A total of 78 H. pylori-positive patients were enrolled. Seventeen military men in Armed Forces Capital Hospital were treated with 7 days of levofloxacin-azithromycin combined triple therapy (omeprazole 20 mg bid, levofloxacin 500 mg od, and azithromycin 500 mg od), and 61 patients in Kangbuk Samsung Hospital were treated with standard PPI-based triple therapy (omeprazole 20 mg bid, amoxicillin 1.0 g bid, and clarithromycin 500 mg bid) for 7 days. 2) Second-line eradication: A consecutive series of 59 patients who failed H. pylori eradication with standard PPI-based triple therapy in Kangbuk Samsung Hospital were randomized to two groups. Thirty patients were retreated with 7 days of bismuth-based quadruple therapy (omeprazole 20 mg bid, bismuth 120 mg qid, metronidazole 500 mg tid, and tetracycline 500 mg qid), and remaining 29 patients were retreated with levofloxacin-azithromycin combined triple therapy. Patient's compliance and tolerability were evaluated at the end of treatment. The status of H. pylori infection was assessed 8 weeks later then. The successful eradication of H. pylori was defined as negative results from histology and CLO test, or 13C-urea breath test. RESULTS: First-line eradication rate of levofloxacin-azithromycin triple therapy was lower than that of standard PPI-based triple therapy, but there was no statistically significant difference (70.6% vs. 80.3%, p=0.390). Second-line eradication rate of levofloxacin-azithromycin combined triple therapy was significantly lower than that of bismuth-based quadruple therapy (ITT/PP 65.5%/73.1% vs. 90%/90%, p<0.0001). The compliances of all patients were more than 85%. Two of patients with levofloxacin-azithromycin combined triple therapy complained self-limiting side effects (mild dizziness; mild insomnia with general weakness). CONCLUSIONS: Levofloxacin-azithromycin combined triple therapy should not be recommended as the first-line or second-line H. pylori eradication regimen in Korea.

Budd-Chiari syndrome associated with diaphragmatic hernia: A case report / 대한내과학회지

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a rare disease caused by the obstruction of the hepatic venous outflow or the inferior vena cava above the hepatic vein. It has been attributed to various etiologic factors. Including intrinsic vascular thrombosis, hepatic tumor invasion/compression, or associated with an idiopathic obstructing membrane. However, in most cases no definitive etiologic factors have been identified. Recently, we experienced a case of 21-year-old man who had Budd-Chiari syndrome associated with diaphragmatic hernia. Venous flow returned to normal on reintroduction of the liver into the abdominal cavity and closure of the defect in the diaphragm. To our knowledge, this is the rare report in our country. Here, we report this case with review of literatures.

Plasma uric acid concentrations represent the degree of metabolic control and diabetic complications in type 2 diabetes / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Several epidemiologic studies have shown that increased uric acid is a risk factor of cardiovascular mortality. Elevated serum uric acid is also a feature of insulin resistance. However, increased or decreased levels of uric acid have been variably reported in diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the relation between uric acid and metabolic parameters and chronic complications in type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Total 387 patients with type 2 diabetes were evaluated and divided according to their uric acid level in quartiles. Plasma glucose, lipid profiles, blood pressure, C-peptide levels and complications including nephropathy and retinopathy were compared between four groups according to plasma uric acid levels. Patients were divided as follows : Quartile 1 (or=3.7 mg/dL and or=4.5 mg/dL and or=5.4 mg/dL, n=96). RESULTS: Patients within the highest quartile showed significantly longer duration of diabetes, higher prevalence of retinopathy and higher blood pressure, higher level of triglyceride, creatinine and C-peptide (p<0.05). Patients within the lowest quartile showed significantly higher concentrations of fasting plasma glucose, postprandial glucose and HbA1c (p<0.05). In the multiple regression analysis after adjustment for age, sex, duration of diabetes, a positive correlation was found between uric acid levels and creatinine (beta=0.245, p<0.01), triglyceride (beta=0.127, p<0.05), diastolic blood pressure (beta=0.156, p<0.05) and percentage of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (beta=0.141, p<0.05). After readjustment for age, sex, duration of diabetes and creatinine, the strong predictor of uric acid was triglyceride levels (beta=0.161, p<0.05) and diastolic pressure (beta=0.227, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In type 2 diabetes, elevated uric acid level was related with the components of insulin resistance syndrome and the degree of microvascular complications.

Clinical Significance of Serum and Urinary Neopterin Levels in Some Renal Diseases / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND: Neopterin is a pyrazino-pyrimidine compound, produced by human monocytes or macrophages primarily upon stimulation with gamma interferon. Neopterin is a marker associated with cell- mediated immunity. The levels of neopterin in body fluids are elevated in allograft rejection, infections, autoimmune diseases, malignancies, cardiac and renal diseases. We hypothesized that the levels of serum and urine neopterin maybe elevated in some renal disease including nephrotic syndrome (NS), chronic renal failure (CRF) and end stage renal disease (ESRD). METHODS: We examnined the serum and urinary neopterin levels in 19 patients with NS underwent renal biopsy, 8 patients with CRF, 64 patients with ESRD undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Twenty-two healthy controls were enrolled to define the normal range of neopterin levels. Serum and urinary neopterin were measured by radiommunoassay method. We also correlated the levels of serum and urinary neopterin with many clinical parameters such as WBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, BUN, creatinine, total protein, albumin, triglyceride, iron, total iron binding capacity. RESULTS: The serum neopterin levels elevated in patients with NS (14.1+/-30.9 ng/mL), CRF (28.2+/-19.4 ng/mL) and ESRD (68.6+/-25.5 ng/mL) than control (1.6+/-0.3 ng/mL). Particularly the patients with CRF and ESRD showed statistically significant elevation (p<0.05, p<0.01). The urine neopterin levels elevated in patients with NS (203.2+/-349.6 microgramol/mol creatinine), CRF (319.2+/-107.7 microgramol/mol creatinine) and ESRD (407.9+/-256.9 microgramol/mol creatinine) than control (108.9+/-57.9 microgramol/mol creatinine). Particularly the patients with CRF and ESRD showed statistically significant elevation (p<0.05, p<0.05). The serum neopterin showed significantly positive correlation with serum creatinine levels, inverse correlation with total iron binding capacity and serum triglyceride levels among clinical parameters in all groups (respectively p<0.01). The urine neopterin showed significant inverse correlation with hemoglobin (p< 0.05). CONCIUSION: The serum and urinary neopterin levels elevated in patients with some renal diseases. And also neopterin levels showed clinical correlations with some renal parameters in these patients. We suggest that serum and urinary neopterin levels may be useful marker to predict disease acitivity and prognosis in some renal diseases. They should be confirmed by a prospective study during a long-lasting and in a higher number of patients.

The relationship between eosinophilia and serum cytokine concentrations in maintenance hemodialysis patients / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilia in hemodialysis (HD) patients has been associated with allergic reactions to dialyzers and exaggerated activation of complement during HD. Complement activation can lead to cytokine production. The cause of the eosinophilia is controversial and maybe multifactorial. Eosinophilia is stimulated by T lymphocytes and maybe related to the immune dysfunction of uremic patients. The aim of this study is to elucidate the relationship between the eosinophilia and serum cytokine concentrations in maintenance HD patients and to reveal whether the eosinophilia in HD patients reflects HD-associated cytokine production. METHODS: We examined 40 HD patients who were stable for a minimum of 3 months at our hemodialysis unit. We measured eosinophil count and eosinophil percent on peripheral blood smear. Eosinophilia was defined as >or=350 cells/mm3 or >or=5% on smear. The serum concentrations of Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), Interleukin-2 (IL-2), Interleukin-5 (IL-5), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by ELISA before (pre) and after (post) dialysis. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with eosinophilia were compared 27 patients without eosinophilia. In patients with eosinophilia, serum concentrations of IL-1beta and IL-2 were significantly elevated after dialysis than before dialysis (p<0.05). Post-HD IL-6 concentrations also were elevated, but statistically insignificant. IL-5 concentrations were not elevated after dialysis. In patients without eosinophilia, serum concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-2 and IL-6 were significantly elevated after dialysis (p<0.05). IL-5 concentrations were not elevated after dialysis. The eosinophil counts were not correlated to age, gender, underlying disease, serum levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, albumin, CRP and the levels of post dialysis cytokines. CONCLUSION: Independently on eosinophilia in HD, the serum concentrations of cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-2 and IL-6) were elevated after HD. IL-5 concentrations were not elevated after dialysis. But we could not reveal whether the eosinophilia in maintenance HD patients may be a surrogate marker for the reflection of exaggerated cellular cytokine production during HD or not by this study.

Relationship between body fat distribution and atherosclerotic risk factors in Korean populations / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Obesity is an independent risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease and associated with insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia and hypertension. In many studies, visceral adipose tissue is highly correlated with adverse coronary risk profile. Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy also is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. However, few data are available concerning the relations of LV hypertrophy to body fat composition, especially in Korean subjects. Therefore, this study was intended to evaluate the relation between body fat distribution and atherosclerotic risk factors including metabolic parameters and LV mass. METHODS: Total 138 subjects who visited the healthy promotion center in Kangbuk Samsung hospital (97 men, 41 women) were to recruited to the study. Body fat distribution was assessed by Abdomial CT (computer tomography) and Bioelectrical impedance analysis (Body Composition Analyzer Inbody 2.0, Biospace, Seoul, Korea) RESULTS: Visceral adipose tissue volume was higher in male subjects while subcutaneous adipose tissue volume and % body fat were higher in female subjects (p<0.05). Serum triglyceride and uric acid level were elevated in male subjects but HDL-cholesterol level was elevated in female subjects (p0.05). Increasing age was correlated with waist-hip ratio, visceral adipose tissue volume, abdominal fat/total body fat ratio, LV mass (p0.05). Visceral adipose tissue volume was positively correlated with body mass index, waist-hip ratio, blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, uric acid and negatively correlated with HDL-cholesterol (p0.05). After adjustment for age and sex, this correlation was significantly remained. LV mass was positively correlated with body mass index, waist-hip ratio, visceral adipose tissue volume, abdominal fat/total body fat ratio (p0.05). In the multiple regression analysis, the independent predictor for LV mass was visceral adipose tissue volume (beta=0.252, p0.05). CONCLUSION: Body fat distribution is associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Especially, visceral adipose tissue is correlated with the components of metabolic syndrome and LV mass which is independent risk factor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.