Elderly Korean Women Research Articles

Positive influence of aqua exercise and burdock extract intake on fitness factors and vascular regulation substances in elderly.

Health issues in elderly individuals are often complex and tend to lead to chronic diseases; such issues can be due to a decline in fitness resulting from lack of physical activity. Aqua exercise and burdock are positive effects on cardiovascular disease and vascular health. This study investigated the changes due to aqua exercise and burdock extract intake in senior fitness, prostaglandin I2 (PGI2), and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) in elderly women. Forty elderly women (65–80 years) volunteered for this study. After baseline measurements, participants were randomized into control (n = 8), aqua exercise (n = 11), aqua exercise and burdock extract intake combination (n = 11), and burdock extract intake groups (n = 10). The variables of senior fitness tests, PGI2 and TXA2 were measured in all participants before and after the 12-week study. Blood collections were carried out at the beginning- and the end of aqua exercise training. Muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory endurance of aqua exercise and burdock extract intake group at post-test significantly increased compared to pre-test (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in PGI2 and TXA2 between pre- and post-training programs. In conclusion, our findings indicated that the aqua exercise and burdock extract intake improves senior fitness factors in elderly Korean women. Also, the program participation led to a balance between PGI2 and TXA2. Additionally, burdock extract intake may be useful in vascular health by playing a secondary role in disease prevention and health promotion.

Role of regular physical activity in modifying cardiovascular disease risk factors among elderly Korean women.

This study examined physical activity (PA) participation rates and the role of PA in the modification of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors according to types of PA in elderly Korean women using data from 2007 to 2012 from a nationally representative South Korean database. In total, 3,456 elderly women aged ≥65 years, without CVD, were included in the study. CVD risk was evaluated using both the 10-year Framingham risk score (FRS) and atherogenic index (AI), as well as well-known CVD risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and hypercholesterolemia. The PA participation rates were 4.7%, 33.9%, and 61.4% for the regular PA, regular walking, and no PA groups, respectively. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that regular PA and regular walking were associated with a favorable lipid profile and lower AI, after controlling for socio-demographic factors and types of PA PA did not significantly affect the FRS. This study suggests that regular PA and walking are important in the modification of CVD risk factors among elderly Korean women.

Association between alcohol consumption and bone mineral density in elderly Korean men and women.

Alcohol is a risk factor of osteoporosis but previous studies on its effect on bone health has been controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between alcohol intake and bone mineral density in Korean elderly men and women. Based on the Fourth and Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES), 2657 men and 2080 women 50 to 79years of age were included. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Alcohol consumption was determined by self-administered questionnaires and classified into four groups according to sex: non-drinkers (0g/day), light drinking (1-19g/day men, 1-9g/day women), moderate drinking (20-39g/day men, 10-29g/day women), and heavy drinking (≥ 40g/day men, ≥ 20g/day women). The adjusted mean values calculated by linear regression analysis for BMD were determined according to the amount of alcohol consumed. Light drinkers had the highest whole-body BMD for both men (mean 1.164, SD 0.047-1.281) and women (mean 1.046, SD 0.912-1.180). Among men, mean whole-body BMD for heavy drinkers was significantly lower than that among light drinkers (P = 0.031). Among women, BMD for light drinkers was significantly higher in the whole body, lumbar, and total femur than that for non-drinkers (P < 0.001, P = 0.026, P = 0.040, respectively). Heavy alcohol intake may be associated with lower BMD in men while light alcohol intake may associate with higher BMD among women. Future longitudinal studies investigating the effect of alcohol consumption on bone mineral density are needed to validate the findings of this study.

The impact of osteoporosis on health-related quality of life in elderly women

Objective of this study was to assess the impact of osteoporosis on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in elderly Korean women. Sociodemographic characteristics, medical history of osteoporosis, and the EuroQol-5 dimension questionnaire scores for 1,000 female participants aged 60 years or older were obtained from the 2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Demographic variables, including age, educational level and income, were significantly associated with HRQoL. Furthermore, osteoporosis had a significant effect on HRQoL in elderly Korean women. In the osteoporosis group, the adjusted odds ratios for disability on the ED-5Q dimensions were 1.92 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.44-2.58, p<0.001) for mobility, 1.90 (95% CI=1.45-2.51, p<0.001) for pain/ discomfort, and 1.89 (95% CI=1.36-2.61, p=0.001) for usual activities. These findings indicate that osteoporosis has a significant impact on HRQoL and suggest that the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis may significantly improve quality of life in elderly women.

Association between Female Urinary Incontinence and Geriatric Health Problems: Results from Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2006).

BackgroundUrinary incontinence (UI) is highly prevalent in the aging population. UI is one of the most common geriatric syndromes and affects overall health, quality of life, and economical burden in patients. The aims of this study were to investigate the characteristics of patients with UI and to assess its association with other geriatric health problems.MethodsWe used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing obtained in 2006. Among the 10,254 individuals aged 45 years and older, we analyzed data from 2,418 women aged 65 years and older. Data were obtained using questionnaires for UI, comorbidities, and lifestyle factors.ResultsAmong the 2,418 women aged 65 years and older, 506 (20.9%) had UI. Cerebrovascular disease (odds ratio [OR], 2.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26 to 3.23), arthritis (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.18 to 1.77), and fear of falling (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.18 to 2.22) were significantly associated with UI, while chronic lung disease, psychiatric disease, difficulty in daily living due to visual and hearing problems, and experiencing a fall in the last 2 years were not associated with UI.ConclusionCerebrovascular disease, arthritis, and especially fear of falls were significantly associated with UI in elderly Korean women.

Deeper Wrinkle Formation and Less Melanin Production in Aged Korean Women with B Blood Type.

Deeper Wrinkle Formation and Less Melanin Production in Aged Korean Women with B Blood Type.

Sarcopenic Obesity in Elderly Korean Women: A Nationwide Cross-sectional Study.

BackgroundSarcopenia causes loss of muscle mass in the elderly and is associated with development of metabolic syndrome in those with obesity. This study evaluated the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity (SO) in healthy Korean elderly women.MethodsThis study was based on data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV and V, 2008–2011. Whole body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and body mass index measurement were performed for all patients. Women aged 65 years or older were included in this study. Total appendicular extremity muscle mass was used to determine the skeletal muscle mass index.ResultsOf 2,396 women aged 65 years or older, a total of 1,491 (62.2%) were underweight, normal weight, or overweight, while 905 (37.8%) were obese. The prevalence of sarcopenia using a cut-off value of 5.4 kg/m2 was 64.9% (63/97) in underweight women, 38.2% (320/838) in normal weight women, 17.1% (95/556) in overweight women, and 6.1% (55/905) in obese women.ConclusionsThe prevalence of sarcopenia was different among groups. The prevalence rate in obese women was lower than that in non-obese women. SO is a new category of obesity in older adults with high adiposity coupled with low muscle mass. The prevalence of SO was lower than that in previous studies because of differences in the definition. A consensus definition of SO needs to be established.

Effects of aquarobic exercise and burdock intake on serum blood lipids and vascular elasticity in Korean elderly women

BackgroundThe elderly's health issues are often complex and tend to lead to chronic diseases; such issues can be due to a fitness decline resulting from a lack of physical activities. The burdock root is a blood purifier, lymphatic system strengthener, and natural diuretic. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of aquarobic exercise and burdock intake on serum blood lipids and vascular elasticity in elderly women by implementing a 12-week program with these interventions. MethodsForty elderly female volunteer subjects aged 70 to 80years comprised the control group (n=8), aquarobic exercise group (n=11), aquarobic exercise and burdock intake combination group (n=11), and burdock intake group (n=10). The variables of serum blood lipids, and vascular elasticity were measured in all participants before and after the 12-week study. ResultsTotal cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels significantly decreased in the aquarobic exercise group and aquarobic exercise and burdock intake combination group (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001). No statistically significant changes in pulse wave velocity were also found within or between the groups before and after participation in the 12-week program. ConclusionsOur findings indicate that aquarobic exercise and burdock intake improved the serum blood lipid levels and vascular elasticity of Korean elderly women. Additionally, burdock extract intake may be useful in vascular health by playing a secondary role in disease prevention and health promotion.

The role of education on the relationship between verbal episodic memory and gray matter volumes in Korean elderly women

The role of education on the relationship between verbal episodic memory and gray matter volumes in Korean elderly women

Associations between fruits, vegetables, vitamin A, β-carotene and flavonol dietary intake, and age-related macular degeneration in elderly women in Korea: the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the principal causes of blindness. This study investigated the association between diet and the prevalence of AMD in elderly Korean women. Study subjects were women aged ⩾65 years (n=1008) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2012). The presence of early- and late-onset AMD was determined on the basis of a fundus photograph from a health examination survey. Food intake was estimated using 24 h recall. The prevalence of AMD was 18.8% in elderly women in Korea. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed a significant negative association between vegetable intake and AMD (odds ratio (OR) 0.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.25, 0.77, P for trend=0.002) after adjusting for age, body mass index, postmenopausal period, duration of hormone replacement therapy, residential area, education level, family income, smoking status, alcohol consumption, dietary supplement use and total energy intake. After adjusting for potential confounders, the ORs between extreme quartiles were 0.55 (95% CI 0.29, 1.05, P for trend=0.070) for fruit and vegetable intake, 0.38 (95% CI 0.21, 0.68, P for trend=0.001) for vitamin A, 0.36 (95% CI 0.19, 0.67, P for trend<0.001) for β-carotene and 0.45 (95% CI 0.25, 0.82, P for trend=0.008) for flavonols. These results suggest that higher consumption of fruits and vegetables containing antioxidant nutrients and phytochemicals may provide some protection against AMD.

The “Jolly Fat” Effect in Middle-Aged Korean Women

It has been hypothesized that depression and obesity are bi-directionally associated, and when overweight people appear to show a lower risk of depression, this supports the "Jolly Fat" hypothesis. The aim of this study was to examine the "Jolly Fat" hypothesis in middle-aged women in Korea, by different perceived stress levels. We performed a cross-sectional study of 44 to 56 aged Korean women (n = 2201) who underwent a health check-up program at the healthcare centers of Kangbuk Samsung Hospital (Seoul and Suwon centers) in Korea. General and abdominal obesity were defined as body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 and waist circumference ≥85 cm, respectively. Depressive symptoms were measured by a Korean version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale. The association between obesity and depressive symptoms was investigated by using multiple logistic regression analyses by different levels of perceived stress, with adjustment for potential confounding factors. The prevalence of general and abdominal obesity and depressive symptoms were 23.7%, 21.4%, and 16.5%, respectively. Women with general obesity were less likely to have depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR]: 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.25-1.00; p-value: 0.049) in the low-stress group. We also found that women with abdominal obesity had a 60% decrease in the odds of having depressive symptoms (OR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.18-0.87; p-value: 0.02) in the low-stress group. No significant association was found in the high-stress group. These findings indicate that the relationship between obesity and depressive symptoms in the Korean middle-aged women supports the "Jolly Fat" hypothesis. Further, our results underscore the role of stress as an important potential mediator exerting effects on the association between obesity and depressive symptoms.

한국형 DASH 교육 프로그램이 여성노인의 산화스트레스, 항산화능력과 호모시스테인 농도에 미치는 효과

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the Korean Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) education program on oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, and serum homocysteine (Hcy) level in elderly Korean women. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study employing non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The DASH group (n=27) underwent the DASH education program for 12 weeks, whereas the control group (n=21) was provided one education session. The survey was conducted before and after the intervention period. Results: In DASH group, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intakes significantly increased after the intervention as compared to prior to the intervention. No significant differences were found in the control group. After the intervention, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and Hcy levels significantly decreased in the DASH group but not in the control group. Conclusion: The DASH education program was effective in reducing oxidative stress and Hcy levels in elderly Korean women. Key Words: Diet; Oxidative stress; Antioxidants; Homocysteine; Women Key Words: DASH 식이; ì‚°í™”ìŠ¤íŠ¸ë ˆìŠ¤; í•­ì‚°í™”ëŠ¥ë ¥; í˜¸ëª¨ì‹œìŠ¤í Œì¸; ì—¬ì„±ë ¸ì¸

Contingent association between the size of the social support network and osteoporosis among Korean elderly women.

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between the number of personal ties (or the size of the social support network) and the incidence of osteoporosis among older women in Korea.MethodsData from the Korean Urban Rural Elderly Study were used. Bone density was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar spine (L1–L4) and femur neck. T-score, the standardized bone density compared with what is normally expected in a healthy young adult, was measured and the presence of osteoporosis was determined, if the T-score was < -2.5. The social support network size was measured by self-responses (number of confidants and spouse).ResultsOf the 1,846 participants, 44.9% were diagnosed with osteoporosis. The association between the social support network size and the incidence of osteoporosis was curvilinear in both bivariate and multivariate analyses. Having more people in one’s social support network size was associated with lower risk of osteoporosis until it reached around four. Increasing the social support network size beyond four, in contrast, was associated with a higher risk of osteoporosis. This association was contingent on the average intimacy level of the social network. At the highest average intimacy level (“extremely close”), increasing the number of social support network members from one to six was associated with linear decrease in the predicted probability of osteoporosis from 45% to 30%. However, at the lowest average intimacy level (“not very close”), the predicted probability of osteoporosis dramatically increased from 48% to 80% as the size of the social network increased from one to six.ConclusionOur results show that maintaining a large and intimate social support network is associated with a lower risk of osteoporosis among elderly Korean women, while a large but less-intimate social relationship is associated with a higher risk.

High prevalence of sarcopenia among binge drinking elderly women: a nationwide population-based study

BackgroundAlcohol consumption is considered a risk factor for sarcopenia, but the association between alcohol consumption and the prevalence of sarcopenia has not been evaluated in detail. This study was to identify the relationship between alcohol drinking patterns and the prevalence of sarcopenia in the elderly Korean population.MethodsThe cross-sectional study was performed using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants were excluded if they were under the age of 65, or if data was not available regarding skeletal muscle mass or dietary intake. After these exclusions, a total of 4020 participants (men: 1698; women: 2322) were analyzed in the present study. Sarcopenia is defined according to the criteria for the Asia Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS). Binge drinking was defined as consuming ≥5 standard alcoholic drinks (≥4 drinks for women) consecutively on one occasion. This data was subcategorized into two groups based on presence of binge drinking: Social drinking (≤1 time/month) and binge drinking (>1 time/month).ResultsWomen binge drinkers with weekly or daily consumption had 2.8 times higher prevalence of sarcopenia than social drinkers (Odds Ratio [OR] = 2.84; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.12–7.29). However, there were no associations between binge drinkers and sarcopenia in men. After adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), energy intake, moderate physical activity, and energy intake, women binge drinkers with weekly or daily alcohol consumption had 3.9 times higher prevalence of sarcopenia than social drinkers (OR = 3.88; 95% CI = 1.33–11.36).ConclusionsThe prevalence of sarcopenia in elderly women was related to binge drinking frequency and amounts of drinking after adjusting for covariates. Elderly Korean women who binge drink once or more per week may be associated with sarcopenia, as seen with the observed 3.9 times higher prevalence compared to social drinkers.

Hirsutism in reproductive aged Korean women

Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)

Effects of Aquarobic Exercise on Senior Fitness, Prostaglandin I2, And Thromboxane A2 in Elderly Korean Women

Effects of Aquarobic Exercise on Senior Fitness, Prostaglandin I2, And Thromboxane A2 in Elderly Korean Women

Isotemporal Substitution Models For Associations Between PA And Health Outcomes In Overweight/obese Adults

PURPOSE: Purpose: To examine the effects of reallocating sitting time to moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activity on health outcomes in a population-representative sample of overweight/obese Korean adults. METHODS: Data were retrieved from a subsample (N=1,420; Age=52.35±16.64yrs; BMI=27.57±2.37) of the KNHANES 2014. Time spent on moderate-intensity physical activity (MPA), vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA), and sitting (ST) were measured utilizing the GPAQ. Health outcomes were 1) the metabolic syndrome (having 3+ risk components: elevated fasting glucose, central obesity, systemic hypertension, elevated triglycerides, and low HDL-C, defined according to AHA/NHLBI criteria), and 2) self-reported health measured by the EuroQol-5D Questionnaire (EQ5D; count variable). Age-group-specific (i.e., middle-age vs. older adults) Logistic and Poisson regression models were used to determine the associations when substituting a specific amount of ST with an equal amount of MPA, and VPA, respectively on metabolic and self-reported health outcomes. Analyses were adjusted for gender, smoking, drinking, education, and household incomes. RESULTS: In middle aged (30-64yrs), replacing ST with an equal amount of time in VPA was significantly associated with reduced odds for self-reported health problems (OR=0.86, 95%CI:0.76-0.98). Similarly, in older adults (65+yrs), substituting sitting time with MPA was significantly associated with lower odds for self-reported health problems (OR=0.96, 95%CI:0.92-0.99). In opposite, replacing ST with MPA or VPA was not associated with the metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Substituting sitting time with VPA or MPA appears beneficially associated with self-reported health in overweight/obese middle-aged and elderly Korean men and women, respectively. The different associations between age groups may be explained by low participation in VPA in the older age-group. *This study was supported by NRF-2014R1A1A3049992. Corresponding: Miyoung Lee

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN KOREAN WOMEN AGED 50 YEARS AND OVER

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Korean women.Methods: Participants (n=2068) aged 50 years or older were selected from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2005-2008. Sociodemographic characteristics, medical history of RA, and EuroQol-5 dimension were obtained from the KNHANES dataset.Results: The results revealed that demographic variables, including age, education level, income, exercise, smoking, and alcohol drinking, were important factors associated with HRQoL. In this study, RA was an important factor affecting HRQoL in Korean women. The adjusted odds ratio for HRQoL in participants with RA was 2.15 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.46-3.18, p=0.001) in mobility, 2.30 (95% CI: 1.60-3.32, p&lt;0.001) in usual activities, and 3.41 (95% CI: 2.20-5.28, p&lt;0.001) in pain/discomfort.Conclusion: These findings suggest that there is a strong associationbetween RA and HRQoL and preventing and controlling RA may significantly improve the quality of life for elderly Korean women. Keywords: Demographic factor, EuroQol-5 dimension, Health-related quality of life, Rheumatoid arthritis.

Relations between Gratitude Disposition and Ego-Integrity of Korean Elderly Men and Women: Mediating Effects of Generativity and Relatedness

This study investigated the relations between gratitude disposition and the ego-integrity of elderly men and women, focused on generativity and relatedness toward spouse, children, and friends as well as examined gender differences for each path. The subjects were 341 Korean elderly men and women over the age of 60 living in the Busan, Daegu, and Gyeongsang areas. Collected data were analyzed by PASW ver. 18.0 and AMOS 20.0 programs; in addition, frequency, Cronbach a1 Pearson`s correlation coefficients, t -test and structural equation modeling were also used for data analysis. The results were as follows. First, the Korean elderly`s gratitude disposition had a positive influence on ego-integrity and generativity as well as on relatedness toward spouse, children, and friends. In addition, the relatedness toward spouse, children, and friends of Korean elderly had direct influences on generativity and indirect influences on ego-integrity by mediating generativity. Second, it showed that there was a gender difference in the structural model that explained the relations among the variables. Korean elderly men`s relatedness toward spouse, children, and friends had direct effects on generativity. However, in case of Korean elderly women, only relatedness toward children and friends had effects on generativity. The results were discussed in terms of elderly education.

Relationships among Disability, Quality of Life, and Physical Fitness in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: An Investigation of Elderly Korean Women.

Study DesignA cross-sectional, case-control study.PurposeTo investigate associations between physical fitness measures and disabilities related to back pain and quality of life (QOL) by the presence of symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) in elderly Korean women.Overview of LiteratureLSS leads to decreased functioning and reduced QOL. However, correlations among physical fitness, disability, and QOL have not been investigated in elderly women with LSS.MethodsParticipants included women aged 65 years and older (n=192), divided into a study group (n=38) and a control group (n=154) based on the presence/absence of LSS. All participants underwent physical function and fitness tests. Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores and EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) scores were used to assess disability and health-related QOL.ResultsThe results for the handgrip strength, sit-and-reach, functional reach, and timed up and go (TUG) tests were significantly higher in the control group than the LSS group. ODI scores were significantly higher and EQ-5D-5L scores significantly lower in the LSS group. TUG and functional reach test scores were significantly correlated with ODI scores, and handgrip strength was strongly interrelated with ODI and EQ-5D-5L scores in the LSS group. No other physical fitness measures showed statistically significant relationships with ODI or EQ-5D-5L scores.ConclusionsIn elderly Korean women with LSS, back pain-related disability and QOL are significantly associated with some physical fitness parameters such as handgrip strength. Handgrip strength reflects general muscle strength, which is significantly interrelated with the level of disability and QOL. Our results suggest that enhancing generalized muscle strength helps to reduce disability due to back pain and improve QOL in patients with LSS.