Association Between Vitamin D Intake and Sarcopenia in Older Adults in South Korea: The Moderating Role of the Area Deprivation Index.

As the number of individuals with dementia and exposure to dementia increases, worrying about dementia may threaten individuals' health and lifestyle. This cross-sectional study compared dementia worry and related factors between middle-aged and older adults in South Korea. A self-reported descriptive survey or face-to-face interview was conducted with 154 middle-aged adults (mean age = 55.8 years; 64.3% women) and 51 older adults (mean age = 71.3 years; 52.9% women) in South Korea. Older adults were more worried about dementia than middle-aged adults. For middle-aged adults, compared to their counterparts, being a female, having less than a high school education, and having lower family function was associated with more dementia worry. Contrastingly, for older adults, having more diseases, having lower family function, and being economically dependent was associated with more dementia worry. Health care providers should consider individuals' age and family function to develop a program that addresses dementia worry in Asian cultures. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, 12(6), 299-310.].

Association of Race and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage with Incident Peripheral Artery Disease and Chronic Limb-threatening Ischemia

The present study examined whether geographic location (i.e., rural vs. urban areas) moderated the relationship between social capital and COVID-19 preventive behaviors among older adults in South Korea. Participants were a nationally representative sample of 61 075 Korean adults aged 65 years or older from the 2021 Community Health Survey by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The moderation analysis was conducted with PROCESS. After adjusting for covariates, the moderation analysis showed a significant moderation effect of geographic location on the relationship between social capital and COVID-19 preventive behaviors among older adults in South Korea. Specifically, in urban areas, older adults with higher social capital were more likely to adhere to COVID-19 preventive behaviors. However, social capital negatively impacted older adults' COVID-19 preventive behaviors in rural areas. Findings suggest that social capital is not always helpful for maintaining COVID-19 preventive behaviors among older adults in South Korea. The social characteristics of geographic location need to be considered when initiating COVID-19 prevention campaigns in South Korea. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 377-384.

ObjectiveLethality of the chosen method during a suicide attempt is a strong risk factor for completion of suicide. We examined whether annual changes in the pattern of suicide methods is related to annual changes in suicide rates among older adults in South Korea and Japan.MethodsWe analyzed annual the World Health Organization data on rates and methods of suicide from 2000 to 2011 in South Korea and Japan.ResultsFor Korean older adults, there was a significant positive correlation between suicide rate and the rate of hanging or the rate of jumping, and a significant negative correlation between suicide rate and the rate of poisoning. Among older adults in Japan, annual changes in the suicide rate and the pattern of suicide methods were less conspicuous, and no correlation was found between them.ConclusionThe results of the present study suggest that the increasing use of lethal suicide methods has contributed to the rise in suicide rates among older adults in South Korea. Targeted efforts to reduce the social acceptability and accessibility of lethal suicide methods might lead to lower suicide rate among older adults in South Korea.

Comparison of Trends in Suicide Methods and Rates Among Older Adults in South Korea and United States

Area deprivation index as a predictor of survival and treatment disparities in older adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A population-based Study

BackgroundThis study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and mortality among older adults in South Korea. MethodsUsing Korean National Health Insurance data from January 1, 2020, to March 31, 2022, we analyzed the impact of various factors, including age, comorbidity burden, and insurance type, on COVID-19 infection and mortality rates. ResultsAge was the most significant risk factor for mortality in older adults. A higher comorbidity burden was also associated with increased infection (odds ratio [OR]=1.33 for Charlson Comorbidity Index [CCI] ≥2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.321–1.339) and mortality (OR=1.537 for CCI ≥2, 95% CI 1.459–1.618) rates. While Medical Aid recipients exhibited lower infection rates (OR=0.898, 95% CI 0.89–0.906) than National Health Insurance beneficiaries, they had higher mortality rates (OR=1.692, 95% CI 1.623–1.763). ConclusionThese results emphasized the need to prioritize vaccination and allocate healthcare resources for older adults, particularly those with multiple comorbidities. Addressing socioeconomic disparities and ensuring equitable access to testing and healthcare services are crucial for mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on older adults.

Socioeconomic disparities in hypertension and diabetes among older adults in South Korea: a trend analysis from a national survey, 2011-2023.

BackgroundThis study examined the effect of depression on suicidal ideation among older adults in South Korea. Furthermore, this study investigated how social support, as a factor that reduces depression among older adults, mediates the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation.MethodsBased on a survey of 260 older adults in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, suicidal ideation, depression, and social support were evaluated using the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation, the Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the Measurement of Social Support in the Elderly, respectively.ResultsA multiple regression analysis confirmed that depression and social support were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. Based on path analysis, we found that social support mediated the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation.ConclusionsTherefore, this study provides concrete insights for policymakers and social workers about how suicidal ideation among older adults may be diminished. Particularly, the role of depression and social support in suicidal ideation is a matter of concern for older adults in South Korea.

Objectives: Mental health is the cornerstone of public health, particularly for older adults. There is a clear need to examine the impact of COVID-19 on mental health among older adults in South Korea, where the incidence of COVID-19 was relatively low and widespread transmission was controlled without a national lockdown. Methods: This analysis included a total of 1917 participants from the Experience Survey on Healthcare Use of Older Adults, which was conducted for adults aged 65 years or older by face-to-face interview. Results: The results showed that older adults with a good understanding of COVID-19 public health measures were less likely to experience mental health problems. In contrast, those with a greater risk perception of contracting COVID-19 had higher odds of experiencing tension and anxiety in addition to sadness and depression. Older adults who had a greater fear of COVID-19 and perceived higher-risk of contracting COVID-19 experienced more sleep problems. Conclusion: The findings provide new evidence on the factors that influence the mental health of older adults in South Korea during the pandemic and suggest the development of policy interventions.

Objectives:Patellofemoral instability (PFI) is a challenging disorder that disrupts the function and quality-of-life of affected patients. Although advances have been made in interventions that restore stability and protect the patellofemoral joint from early deterioration, it is not clear whether the diagnosis and treatment of PFI has been equitable between racial and socioeconomic groups. This study’s purpose was to determine the effects of race and socioeconomic disadvantage on the severity of patellar instability at initial presentation.Methods:A prospectively enrolled, multicenter cohort study (JUPITER: Justifying Patellar Instability Treatment by Results) database, with this question determined a priori, was queried for patients enrolled between December 2016 and September 2022 who had 5-digit zip code data available. Patients were excluded if zip code, race, history, treatment, or baseline patient-reported outcome (PROM) data was unavailable. Patients enrolled bilaterally were reduced to their first enrolled knee, and their contralateral knee excluded, to avoid duplicate counting of race or socioeconomic data. National percentile area deprivation index (ADI) rankings were calculated for each 5-digit zip code and stratified by ADI (low (Q1), medium (Q2-Q3), high (Q4)), where higher ADI indicates greater socioeconomic disadvantage. To improve power of analysis, race was categorized into White, Black, or Other race, which included subjects who were Asian, Hispanic, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Indian, Cape Verdean, and multiracial, as well as patients who selected “Other race” but did not specify (Table 1). ANOVA analysis was performed to analyze differences in means between the three ADI groups. Analysis was conducted using generalized linear mixed models incorporating age, gender, BMI, race/ethnicity, and ADI category as fixed effects. A random residual effect for organization was included to adjust for clustering by hospital. Interaction terms were considered between race/ethnicity and ADI in each model and included where significant. Outcomes analyzed in this model included first-time vs. recurrent dislocator status at time of intervention, number of dislocations at time of treatment, type of treatment (isolated medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFL-R) vs. MPFL-R + Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy (TTO), patellofemoral chondroplasty, osteochondral fracture treatment), presence and location of Outerbridge Grade III/IV chondral lesions, and baseline patient-reported outcome measures (KOOS Pain, KOOS QOL, Banff Patellar Instability Index 2.0, IKDC).Results:1215 unique patients (16.6 ± 4.12 years old, 61.7% female) had available zip code, race, ADI, history, treatment, and baseline PROM data. Mean national ADI percentile rank was 38.1 ± 7.6 (Q2-Q3). Patients in the high ADI group were more frequently Black (13% vs. 3.2% in the Low ADI group, p < 0.0001), and patients in the high ADI group had a significantly higher mean BMI than the Low ADI group (24.95 ± 8.5 vs. 23.04 ± 6.34, p = 0.0001). High ADI patients were less likely to undergo chondroplasty (33.8% vs. 45.1%, p = 0.0041) and less likely to undergo osteochondral fracture treatment (9.8% vs. 17.3%, p = 0.0099) than their low ADI counterparts (Table 2). High ADI patients also had a lower baseline KOOS Pain score than Low ADI patients (66.8 ± 22.4 vs. 71.1 ± 22.5, p = 0.0483) (p=0.0167). There were no significant differences in baseline KOOS QOL, IKDC, or BPII 2.0 based on ADI (p > 0.05) (Table 3). For the generalized linear mixed models (Table 4), Other race patients were more likely to be First-Time Dislocators, whereas Female patients and patients with a higher BMI where more likely to be a recurrent dislocator. Black race, high ADI, and being both of Black race and High ADI were predictive of an increased number of dislocations at the time of presentation. Being female and older age were each associated with a decreased KOOS Pain score at presentation. Race and ADI did not have a statistically significant association with any of the four baseline PROM scores.Conclusions:Patellar instability patients with greater socioeconomic disadvantage (higher ADI) were more often Black and had a higher mean BMI than those of lower ADI. Higher ADI was associated with worse pain scores at baseline and a lower likelihood of undergoing chondroplasty and osteochondral fracture treatment. Higher ADI was also associated with more dislocations before presentation. Understanding the role of race and socioeconomic status in the treatment of patients with patellar instability will be helpful to optimize the workup and treatment of this disorder among disadvantaged groups. Future studies are warranted to examine the short- and long-term outcomes of patients treated for patellar instability based on race and socioeconomic status.

This study aimed to investigate the association between frailty and hospitalization experience among older adults in South Korea, while also exploring potential gender differences in this association. We used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2018-2020). Frailty was assessed using the frailty instrument (weakness of grip strength, exhaustion, and social isolation) and divided into three groups: non-frail, pre-frail, and frail. Experience of hospitalization over the past two years was measured by self-reported. Multivariate logistic regression model was applied to examine the association between frailty and hospitalization experience after adjusting for potential confounders including age, education level, and physical activity. Among aged 65 and over older adults in South Korea, the prevalence of frailty was 14.4% (N=656), and the prevalence of hospitalization over the past two years was 9.6% (N=437). Compared to the non-frail group, the frail group had a statistically significantly higher risk of hospitalization (pre-frail OR:1.63 95% CI:1.28-2.08, frail OR:2.50 95% CI:1.85-3.39) after adjusting potential confounders. However, after stratification by gender, the relationship between frailty and hospitality was still statistically significant among older women (pre-frail OR:2.00 95% CI:1.45-2.75, frail OR:3.27 95% CI:2.22-4.80), but not in men. These findings suggest that understanding gender differences in the association between frailty and hospitalization would be beneficial for reducing the care burden among older adults in South Korea. Tailoring interventions and healthcare services to address the specific needs of frail older individuals, particularly focusing on gender-specific differences, may help in preventing hospitalizations and improving overall well-being.

Depressive symptoms, chronic medical illness, and health care utilization: findings from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA).

Migrant care workers from China are employed to care for older adults in adjacent South Korea. They are generally regarded as temporary workers who lack expertise in caring for older adults. However, understanding of their experiences is limited. In this qualitative descriptive study, we explored the experiences of 10 migrant care workers in South Korea through in-depth interviews. The findings revealed four themes: psychological rewards, professional recognition, duality of instrumental benefits, and lack of training systems tailored to migrant care workers. Furthermore, the study found that national long-term care licenced career pathways enhanced professionalism, contributing to reduced discrimination against migrant care workers.

Background: The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on 11 March 2020, due to the number of newly reported confirmed cases and the rapid increase in deaths. Therefore, countries around the world limited their population to policies such as “social distancing” or “staying at home” to prevent the spread of the virus. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in lifestyle pre and post the outbreak COVID-19 among older adults in South Korea and to identify the impact of lifestyle differences on depression and quality of life. Methods: An online single questionnaire covering sociodemographic data, lifestyle details, depression status, and quality of life level was distributed using mailing lists and social media. To assess lifestyles differences in older people pre and post the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the online single questionnaire was used post COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the participants’ memories, they responded lifestyles at two time points (pre and post COVID-19 pandemic). Results: The results showed that there was a significant decrease in physical activity and activity participation during the pandemic. In terms of nutrition, there was no statistically significant change pre and post the outbreak COVID-19, except for the intake of protein, fat, and vitamins. Additionally, the results showed that the resulting lifestyle differences seem to have had a negative impact on depression and quality of life among older adults in South Korea. Conclusion: There was a significant difference the lifestyle patterns among the participants in South Korea between the current period and pre COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it is observed that these differenced lifestyles were associated with depression and quality of life among the participants. Our findings may help to develop public health programs that support healthy lifestyles in pandemic conditions.