Febrile seizures: Are they truly benign? Longitudinal analysis of risk factors and future risk of afebrile epileptic seizure based on the national sample cohort in South Korea, 2002–2013

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are one of the major health threats in the world. Thus, identifying the factors that influence NCDs is crucial to monitor and manage diseases. This study investigates the effects of social-environmental and behavioral risk factors on NCDs as well as the effects of social-environmental factors on behavioral risk factors using an integrated research model. This study used a dataset from the 2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. After filtering incomplete responses, 5462 valid responses remained. Items including one’s social-environmental factors (household income, education level, and region), behavioral factors (alcohol use, tobacco use, and physical activity), and NCDs histories were used for analyses. To develop a comprehensive index of each factor that allows comparison between different concepts, the researchers assigned scores to indicators of the factors and calculated a ratio of the scores. A series of path analyses were conducted to determine the extent of relationships among NCDs and risk factors. The results showed that social-environmental factors have notable effects on stroke, myocardial infarction, angina, diabetes, and gastric, liver, colon, lung, and thyroid cancers. The results indicate that the effects of social-environmental and behavioral risk factors on NCDs vary across the different types of diseases. The effects of social-environmental factors and behavioral risk factors significantly affected NCDs. However, the effect of social-environmental factors on behavioral risk factors was not supported. Furthermore, social-environmental factors and behavioral risk factors affect NCDs in a similar way. However, the effects of behavioral risk factors were smaller than those of social-environmental factors. The current research suggests taking a comprehensive view of risk factors to further understand the antecedents of NCDs in South Korea.

Download Full-text

Smoked Tobacco, Air Pollution, and Tuberculosis in Lao PDR: Findings from a National Sample

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16173059 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (17) ◽

pp. 3059 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Anne Berit Petersen ◽

Natassia Muffley ◽

Khamphithoun Somsamouth ◽

Pramil N. Singh

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Environmental Tobacco Smoke ◽

Tobacco Smoke ◽

Respiratory Health ◽

Lao Pdr ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Positive Association ◽

National Sample ◽

Treatment Programs

In 2017, more than half of the global burden of incident tuberculosis (TB) came from the Western Pacific region. In Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), the high rates of tobacco use and use of polluting biomass fuels for cooking (e.g., wood, charcoal, crop waste, dung) represent significant risk factors for TB. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between self-reported (1) smoking and TB; and (2) exposure to air pollution (from both cooking fires and environmental tobacco smoke) and TB among adults in Lao PDR. We analyzed data from the 2012 National Adult Tobacco Survey (NATSL) of Lao PDR—a multi-stage stratified cluster sample of 9706 subjects from 2822 households located in all 17 provinces. Utilizing a nationally representative sample and inferential, multivariable methods, we observed a significant increase in odds of self-reported TB among those who smoked tobacco (OR = 1.73, 95% CI = (1.00 to 2.98)). Larger multivariable models identified independent contributions from exposure to tobacco pipes (OR = 21.51, 95% CI = (6.34 to 72.89)) and communal outdoor fires (OR = 2.27, 95% CI = (1.15 to 4.49)). An index measuring combined exposure to smoked tobacco, environmental tobacco smoke in enclosed workspace, indoor cooking fire, trash fires, and other outdoor communal fires also showed a positive association (OR per added exposure = 1.47, 95% CI = (1.14 to 1.89)). The findings of this study underscore the need for multi-sectoral collaboration between tobacco control, environmental health, TB prevention and treatment programs, national authorities, policy makers, civil groups, and the private sector to address the convergence of potential risk factors impacting respiratory health in Lao PDR.

Download Full-text

Vitamin D status and associated metabolic risk factors among North Korean refugees in South Korea: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009140 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 (11) ◽

pp. e009140 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Kyeong Jin Kim ◽

Yoon Jung Kim ◽

Sun Hwa Kim ◽

Jee Hyun An ◽

Hye Jin Yoo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Vitamin D ◽

South Korea ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Metabolic Risk Factors ◽

Metabolic Risk ◽

Vitamin D Status ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

North Korean Refugees

Download Full-text

The Risk of Seizure Recurrence After a First Unprovoked Afebrile Seizure in Childhood: An Extended Follow-up

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.98.2.216 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 98 (2) ◽

pp. 216-225 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Shlomo Shinnar ◽

Anne T. Berg ◽

Solomon L. Moshe ◽

Christine O'Dell ◽

Marta Alemany ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Age Of Onset ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Cumulative Risk ◽

Febrile Seizures ◽

Recurrence Risk ◽

Early Recurrence ◽

Seizure Recurrence ◽

Unprovoked Seizure ◽

History Of

Objective. To assess the long-term recurrence risks after a first unprovoked seizure in childhood. Methods. In a prospective study, 407 children who presented with a first unprovoked seizure were then followed for a mean of 6.3 years from the time of first seizure. Results. One hundred seventy-one children (42%) experienced subsequent seizures. The cumulative risk of seizure recurrence was 29%,37%,42%, and 44% at 1,2,5, and 8 years, respectively. The median time to recurrence was 5.7 months, with 53% of recurrences occurring within 6 months, 69% within 1 year, and 88% within 2 years. Only 5 recurrences (3%) occurred after 5 years. On multivariable analysis, risk factors for seizure recurrence included a remote symptomatic etiology, an abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG), a seizure occurring while asleep, a history of prior febrile seizures, and Todd's paresis. In cryptogenic cases, the risk factors were an abnormal EEG and an initial seizure during sleep. In remote symptomatic cases, risk factors were a history of prior febrile seizures and age of onset younger than 3 years. Risk factors for late recurrences (after 2 years) were etiology, an abnormal EEG, and prior febrile seizures in the overall group and an abnormal EEG in the cryptogenic group. These are similar to the risk factors for early recurrence. Conclusions. The majority of children with a first unprovoked seizure will not have recurrences. Children with cryptogenic first seizures and a normal EEG whose initial seizure occurs while awake have a particularly favorable prognosis, with a 5-year recurrence risk of only 21%. Late recurrences do occur but are uncommon.

Download Full-text

Genotypes of Blastocystis sp. among elderly health checkup people in South Korea with a questionnaire on risk factors

Parasitology Research ◽

10.1007/s00436-021-07274-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Taehee Chang ◽

Bong-Kwang Jung ◽

Hyejoo Shin ◽

Sooji Hong ◽

Seungwan Ryoo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

South Korea ◽

Health Checkup ◽

Blastocystis Sp ◽

Elderly Health

Download Full-text

Deep Spinal Infection after Outpatient Epidural Injections for Pain: A Retrospective Sample Cohort Study Using a Claims Database in South Korea

Anesthesiology ◽

10.1097/aln.0000000000003770 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Chang-Soon Lee ◽

Young Jae Park ◽

Jee Youn Moon ◽

Yong-Chul Kim

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

South Korea ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Epidural Injection ◽

Spinal Infection ◽

Single Shot ◽

Epidural Injections ◽

Spinal Infections

Background Deep spinal infection is a devastating complication after epidural injection. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of deep spinal infection primarily after outpatient single-shot epidural injection for pain. Secondarily, this study assessed the national trends of the procedure and risk factors for said infection. Methods Using South Korea’s National Health Insurance Service sample cohort database, the 10-yr national trend of single-shot epidural injections for pain and the incidence rate of deep spinal infection after the procedure with its risk factors were determined. New-onset deep spinal infections were defined as those occurring within 90 days of the most recent outpatient single-shot epidural injection for pain, needing hospitalization for at least 1 night, and receiving at least a 4-week course of antibiotics. Results The number of outpatient single-shot epidural injections per 1,000 persons in pain practice doubled from 40.8 in 2006 to 84.4 in 2015 in South Korea. Among the 501,509 injections performed between 2007 and 2015, 52 cases of deep spinal infections were detected within 90 days postprocedurally (0.01% per injection). In multivariable analysis, age of 65 yr or more (odds ratio, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.62 to 5.5; P = 0.001), living in a rural area (odds ratio, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.57 to 5.0; P < 0.001), complicated diabetes (odds ratio, 3.18; 95% CI, 1.30 to 6.7; P = 0.005), multiple epidural injections (three times or more) within the previous 90 days (odds ratio, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.22 to 4.2; P = 0.007), and recent use of immunosuppressants (odds ratio, 2.90; 95% CI, 1.00 to 6.7; P = 0.025) were significant risk factors of the infection postprocedurally. Conclusions The incidence of deep spinal infection after outpatient single-shot epidural injections for pain is very rare within 90 days of the procedure (0.01%). The data identify high-risk patients and procedure characteristics that may inform healthcare provider decision-making. Editor’s Perspective What We Already Know about This Topic What This Article Tells Us That Is New

Download Full-text