Health Screening Program Research Articles

Dose-response Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Kidney Cancer Risk Differs According to Glycemic Status: A Nationwide Cohort Study of 9.4 Million Individuals.

Previous studies suggested an association between alcohol consumption and reduced kidney cancer risk. Given a potential interaction between alcohol's insulin-sensitizing effect and hyperglycemia-related insulin resistance, we aimed to assess whether the dose-response association between alcohol intake and kidney cancer risk varies based on glycemic status. This nationwide cohort study analyzed data from 9,492,331 adults who underwent a national health screening program in 2009 and were followed until 2018. Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression models were applied to estimate the hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Over a median follow-up period of 8.3 years, 12,381 participants were diagnosed with kidney cancer. A U-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and kidney cancer risk was observed among individuals with normoglycemia (light-to-moderate; HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.89-0.99 and heavy; HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.91-1.09, respectively). In prediabetic individuals, alcohol consumption was not significantly associated with kidney cancer risk. In individuals with diabetes, a dose-dependent increase in kidney cancer risk was noted with higher alcohol consumption (light-to-moderate consumption: HR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03-1.22; heavy consumption: HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.09-1.42; P for trend <0.01). A modest U-shaped dose-response association between alcohol consumption and kidney cancer risk was observed exclusively in individuals with normoglycemia. Individuals with diabetes demonstrated a dose-dependent increased risk of kidney cancer with higher alcohol consumption. Tailored patient education and personalized risk assessments regarding alcohol consumption and kidney cancer risk should be emphasized over a generalized 'one-size-fits-all' approach.

The impact of weight change on suicide mortality: a nationwide population-based cohort study of 2 million Koreans

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that weight change has a reverse J-shape association with all-cause mortality. However, its association with suicide mortality remains undetermined. In this study, we investigated the association between weight change and suicide mortality using a large-scale, population-based cohort from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database.MethodsA total of 2,103,525 subjects aged ≥ 20 years who underwent a general health screening program twice in the 2-year interval between 2007 and 2009 were included. Subjects were categorized into five groups according to the percent weight change during this period: severe weight loss (< − 15.0%), moderate weight loss (− 15.0 to < − 5.0%), weight stable (− 5.0 to < 5.0%), moderate weight gain (5.0 to < 15.0%), and severe weight gain (≥ 15.0%).ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 11.3 years, 6,179 cases (0.3%) of suicide mortality occurred. Weight change was associated with increased suicide mortality in a reverse J-shaped curve, even after adjustment for covariates. In particular, those with severe weight loss or gain showed 1.8-fold or 1.6-fold increased risk of suicide mortality, respectively. This reverse J-shaped association was consistently observed in subgroup analyses considering age, sex, depression, cancer, and BMI category.ConclusionsModerate to severe weight change within a 2-year interval is associated with increased risk of suicide mortality. To better understand the mechanisms through which weight change affects suicide mortality, studies incorporating information on weight change intentions, medications, weight change-related medical conditions are needed.

Periodontitis and the incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Periodontitis and other oral health indicators are reportedly related to systemic inflammation. Our study aimed to investigate a possible association of oral health status (periodontitis and number of missing teeth) and oral hygiene behaviors (frequency of tooth brushing, dental visit, and dental scaling) with the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) incidence. Utilizing the Korean National Health Insurance Database, we conducted a nationwide, population-based cohort study involving participants from the 2003 national health screening program. We followed these individuals until December 2020 or the occurrence of censoring events. Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) were defined by disease classification codes from the International Classification of Diseases-10 and national codes for rare intractable disease. The occurrence of IBD was analyzed using the Cox proportional hazard model, with propensity score matching (PSM) performed to balance baseline characteristics between participants with and without periodontitis. Our analysis involved a total of 2,272,012 participants with a median follow-up period of 17.0 years. The incidence rates for CD and UC were 11.6 and 32.4 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. In multivariable analysis after PSM, the presence of periodontitis was associated with an increased risk of both CD (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-1.52, p<0.001) and UC (aHR 1.21, 95% CI 1.10-1.32, p<0.001). Conversely, frequent tooth brushing ≥3 times a day was associated with a reduced risk of CD (aHR 0.81, 95% CI 0.65-0.99, p=0.049) but no significant association was observed with UC. Periodontitis may augment the risk of incidence for CD and UC. This association underscores the potential significance of periodontal health in the context of IBD, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive oral hygiene practices and potential preventive strategies to reduce the risk of CD and UC incidence.

Nationwide cohort study of primary open angle glaucoma risk and cardiovascular factors among in Korean glaucoma suspects

This retrospective study investigated the risk of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) among individuals identified as glaucoma suspects and examined associated cardiovascular risk factors. We conducted a longitudinal, nationwide cohort study using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (KNHIS) and included 362,285 participants aged ≥ 40 years from the Korean National Health Screening Program (NHSP) without pre-existing POAG in 2009 and 2010. Of these, glaucoma suspects (n = 32,220) were defined as individuals with at least two recorded instances of the KCD code H400 for glaucoma suspect and no prior antiglaucoma medication prescriptions before health screening. The primary outcome was the diagnosis of POAG and the prescription of antiglaucoma medications. Over a 6-year follow-up, 4.92% of glaucoma suspects developed POAG. Through multivariate Cox regression analysis, glaucoma suspects with diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, or coronary heart disease exhibited a greater risk of conversion to POAG than those without these comorbidities ([HR, 1.354; 95%CI, 1.201 to 1.527] for diabetes, [HR, 1.139; 95%CI, 1.019 to 1.273] for systemic hypertension, [HR, 1.128; 95%CI, 1.013 to 1.26] for dyslipidemia, [HR, 1.124, 95%CI, 1.007 to 1.254] for coronary heart disease).This nationwide study observed that among glaucoma suspects, having cardiovascular risk factors/disease was associated with higher risk of developing POAG.

Patient Awareness of Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Need for Regular Fundal Examinations

Purpose: To evaluate degree of insight, accessibility to medical care, and availability of regular ocular screening examinations before diagnosis for Korean patients with wet age-related macular degeneration.Methods: Data were collected from 95 patients by questionnaire and analyzed at Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center.Results: Although 80.0% of the patients considered themselves old, only 2.1% thought they were susceptible to wet age-related macular degeneration. Of the overall patients, 48.4% thought their disease was serious despite treatment with intravitreal injections. A majority (71.6%) thought that medical care was easily accessible, 67.4% answered that hospitals were located close by, and 90.5% answered that it was easy to make appointments and they had time to visit the hospital. However, only 15.8% answered that they had undergone regular ocular examinations before being diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration.Conclusions: Although most patients believed that they had easy access to medical care, only 15.8% underwent regular ocular examinations. Therefore, regular ocular examinations, including fundal examinations, are required in national health screening programs. It is also important to raise public awareness of wet age-related macular degeneration by educating the general population.

Association Between Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease and Thyroid Cancer.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) represents a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. This study investigated the association between newly developed nomenclature MASLD and the risk of thyroid cancer in the Korean population. Methods: After excluding individuals with a history of liver disease or malignancy, we analyzed a cohort of 214,502 Korean adults aged 40 years and above who participated in the National Health Screening Program from 2009 to 2010. Participants were categorized into four groups: no steatotic liver disease (SLD) without a cardiometabolic risk factor (CMRF), no SLD with at least one CMRF, MASLD, and metabolic and alcohol-related/associated liver disease (MetALD). SLD was diagnosed using a fatty liver index threshold of ≥30. The primary outcome was the diagnosis of new thyroid cancer during the follow-up period. We examined the relationship between CMRF/SLD and thyroid cancer incidence using the multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model. Results: A total of 2761 participants (1.3%) were newly diagnosed with thyroid cancer over an average follow-up of 9.61 years. Compared with participants without CMRF and SLD, those with CMRF (hazard ratio [HR] 1.33, confidence interval [CI] 1.16-1.52), those with MASLD (HR 1.36, CI 1.17-1.58), and the MetALD group (HR 1.40, CI 1.04-1.88) exhibited a significantly higher risk of thyroid cancer. In addition, MetALD is significantly associated with thyroid cancer incidence solely in men. Conclusions: In addition to CMRF, MASLD and MetALD were associated with a higher incidence of thyroid cancer in the Korean population. This study is the first to demonstrate the association between thyroid cancer and the CMRF-MASLD-MetALD continuum.

A calibrated model for lung cancer natural history: the case for New Zealand

ABSTRACT A microsimulation model is an ideal tool to evaluate the impact of the new health screening programme. Health policymakers in New Zealand are reviewing international evidence on lung cancer screening with the aim of reducing lung cancer mortality through early detection. In this study, we developed and calibrated a New Zealand specific microsimulation model for the natural history of lung cancer. This is the first time a lung cancer microsimulation model has been developed for New Zealand. We adapted simulation steps devised for the MIcrosimulation Lung Cancer (MILC) model (Chrysanthopoulou, 2017). The simulation steps include a Gompertz tumour growth component, disease progression based on log-normal distributions and a survival component. Simulated lung cancer rates at different disease stages (i.e. local, regional, and distant) and at diagnosis were used to calibrate and validate model parameters to data from the New Zealand (NZ) lung cancer registry. We used the Bayesian approach to calibrate the model parameters using the Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC) approach, which is not commonly employed in the field of cancer modelling. The calibrated model was able to predict general trends in lung cancer incidence by age group when compared to lung cancer incidence in NZ.

Association Between Age-Related Macular Degeneration With Visual Disability and Risk of Dementia: A Nationwide Cohort Study

ObjectivesTo investigate the prospective association between the risk of dementia and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in patients with related visual disability (VD). DesignA nationwide population-based cohort study used authorized data provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Setting and ParticipantsA total of 1,788,457 individuals aged >50 years who participated in the Korean National Health Screening Program were enrolled. MethodsFrom January 2009 to December 2019, participants were tracked for a diagnosis of dementia using registered diagnostic codes from claims data. Participants with VD were defined as those registered in a national disability registration established by the Korean government. The prospective association of AMD and related VD with new-onset dementia was investigated using a multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazard model adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, income level, systemic comorbidities, psychiatric diseases, and behavioral factors. ResultsDuring the average follow-up period of 9.7 ± 2.16 years, 4260 of 21,384 participants in the AMD cohort and 137,166 of 1,662,319 participants in the control cohort were newly diagnosed with dementia, respectively. Participants diagnosed with AMD showed a higher risk of new-onset dementia than those in the control group in the fully adjusted model [hazard ratio (HR) 1.11, 95% CI 1.07–1.14]. The risk of dementia was higher in participants diagnosed with AMD and associated VD (HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.15–1.43) compared to those without VD (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.06–1.13). Conclusions and ImplicationsA diagnosis of AMD was associated with an increased risk of all-cause dementia and its major subtypes. Close monitoring of cognitive function in AMD patients, especially those with VD, may help in early detection of all-cause dementia, which could reduce the socioeconomic burden and improve the quality of life of patients.

The effect of the expansion of the Personal Assistance Service Program on the uptake of the National Health Screening in people with severe disability.

Korea operates the Personal Assistance Service (PAS) program, a social service program that assists with the daily activities and coping needs of individuals with disabilities. In January 2013, the eligibility to enroll in the PAS program was expanded to include all individuals with severe disabilities. As supporting individuals with disabilities is important in reducing disparities related to the uptake of health screening, this study investigated whether eligibility expansion of the PAS program was associated with increased participation in the National Health Screening Program (NHSP) among adults with severe disabilities. Nationwide data from Korea that included 24 701 individuals were used. The treatment group included individuals with severe disabilities, while the control group included those with mild disabilities. The difference-in-difference approach was used to estimate differences in participation in the NHSP between the two groups before and after the intervention period. A negative binomial distribution model was applied in the analysis with adjustment for all independent variables. The expansion of the PAS program was directly related to an increase in NHSP uptake by people with severe disabilities (increase by 0.044 times compared to the control group following the implementation of the policy). Expanding the eligibility for the PAS program was associated with an increase in NHSP participation among individuals with severe disabilities. These findings suggest the importance of supporting individuals with disabilities by increasing participation in health screenings to reduce potential related health disparities.

Knowledge and perception of cancer screening tests among Indian community

Health authorities can enhance the success of health screening programs and promotional campaigns by measuring the level of community awareness about cancer screening. Therefore, the primary purpose of this research was to evaluate the general population's understanding of cancer and its prevention in India. From January to June of 2023, a large-scale cross-sectional survey was conducted in India to gauge the general population's opinion on cancer screening. Researchers used a computerised, pre structured questionnaire to collect data after reviewing the primary sources extensively. Digital surveying was used to disseminate the questionnaire, protecting the confidentiality and anonymity of all respondents. The Pearson chi-square test and the exact probability test were used to analyse the data in this study to uncover any underlying links in the study's sparse frequency distributions. The study's findings underscore the urgent need for increased education on cancer, cancer screening, and risk reduction initiatives. Participants with chronic diseases and a cancer history in their families showed significantly higher levels of awareness, highlighting the potential for targeted education and screening programs to improve public health.

Aggregation of cardiovascular risk factors in a cohort of 40-year-olds participating in a population-based health screening program in Sweden

BackgroundIt is important to identify and evaluate cardiovascular risk factors at an early stage to address them accordingly. Among the younger population, the metabolic syndrome is less common than in older ages. However, each separate metabolic risk factor still has an additive effect on cardiovascular risk factor burden. Non-metabolic risk factors that occur in the younger population include family history, smoking, psychological distress and socioeconomic vulnerability. In 2021 a voluntary health intervention program was introduced in an urban area in Sweden where a cohort of 40-year-olds was invited for cardiovascular risk identification. The aim of this study was to identify how cardiovascular risk factors tend to aggregate in individuals participating in a voluntary health screening program and how the metabolic risk factors associate with non-metabolic cardiovascular risk factors.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study with 1831 participants. Data from questionnaires and baseline measurements were used to calculate the prevalence of metabolic- (blood pressure, lipids, fasting plasma glucose, BMI, waist-hip ratio) and non-metabolic risk factors (family history of CVD, smoking, psychological distress, socioeconomic vulnerability) for CVD. SCORE2 was calculated according to the algorithm provided by the SCORE2 working group and ESC (European Society of Cardiology) Cardiovascular Risk Collaboration. Associations among each of the metabolic risk factors and non-metabolic risk factors were estimated using logistic regression and presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsMore than half of the study population had at least one metabolic risk factor, and more than 1/3 was considered to be suffering from psychological distress. Furthermore, obesity or central obesity demonstrated individual associations with all of the non-metabolic risk factors in the study; smoking (1.49; 1.32–2.63), family history of CVD (1.41; 1.14–1.73), socioeconomic vulnerability (1.60; 1.24–2.07), and psychological distress (1.40; 1.14–1.72). According to SCORE2 25% of the men were at moderate risk (2.5–7.5%) of developing a cardiovascular event within 5–10 years, but only 2% of the women.ConclusionsObesity/central obesity should be a prioritized target in health screening programs. The non-metabolic risk factors, socioeconomic vulnerability, and psychological distress should not be ignored and addressed with adequate guidance to create health equity.

Measuring improvements in occupational health and safety in the artificial stone benchtop industry.

Workers in the stone benchtop industry in Australia are at high risk of silicosis due to exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) from the dry processing of artificial stone. In Victoria, Australia, a multifaceted response including education, regulatory changes, inspection site visits, and occupational health screening programme began in 2019. We aimed to review the success of this approach to safety practices in the industry. Data were available from 2 sources: first, responses provided by workers during their occupational health screening (2019 to 2024), which included a systematic occupational history. Jobs examined included roles in the stone benchtop industry with RCS exposure and were analysed in relation to reported safety practices pre and postregulatory changes in August 2019, which prohibited unrestricted dry cutting. Second, data were obtained from the Regulator describing the numbers of visits to industry worksites and the numbers and types of compliance notices issued between 2018 and 2024. In total, 1921 jobs from 1007 workers were eligible for analysis, of which 869 were prior to the 2019 regulatory change and 557 commenced after. The proportion of workers reporting "never" dry cutting rose from 17.3% to 67.2% (P < 0.001), use of recommended ventilation and respirator increased from 26.0% to 36.5% (P < 0.001), and 44.9% to 86.5% (P < 0.001), respectively. Of the 543 worksites visited (2757 site visits in total), 352 (64.8%) received at least one compliance notice and the types of notices varied over time. Administrative controls/housekeeping and health monitoring notices were the most common in 2019 to 2021 but tools/equipment notices increased substantially in 2022 onwards. Prior to the changes, a large proportion of jobs involved unrestricted dry processing of artificial stone with inadequate protection. After the changes, practices improved although some jobs continued to involve dry processing without adequate control of dust. This multifaceted approach vastly improved safety practices in the stone benchtop industry over 5 years. These data are relevant to occupational health and safety professionals and regulators in countries where artificial stone is used and potentially for implementation of new measures in response to a new workplace hazard in future.

Prevalence of Elevated Blood Triglycerides and Associated Risk Factors: Findings from a Nationwide Health Screening in Mongolia.

This study aims to assess the demographic, lifestyle, and clinical characteristics associated with varying levels of triglycerides (TGs) in a large population sample. This cross-sectional study utilized data from a nationwide health screening program in Mongolia. A total of 125,330 participants (mean age: 43.8 ± 15.3 years) were included. TG levels were categorized into normal, borderline high, high, and very high. Due to the small number of participants in the very high TG group, they were combined with the high TG category for analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of elevated TG levels. The majority of participants (80.3%) had normal TG levels, while 10.3% had borderline high, 8.7% had high, and 0.7% had very high TG levels. Significant predictors of elevated TG levels included age (OR 1.013, 95% CI 1.012-1.014), male (OR 2.328, 95% CI 2.251-2.408), obesity (OR 1.920, 95% CI 1.855-1.987), central obesity (OR 1.866, 95% CI 1.801-1.933), smoking (OR 1.399, 95% CI 1.347-1.453), alcohol use (OR 1.233, 95% CI 1.176-1.292), and non-regular exercise (OR 1.144, 95% CI 1.118-1.171). Sex-specific analysis revealed that elevated TG levels were more prevalent among males, regardless of other risk factors such as obesity and smoking. Male sex, obesity, and smoking were the strongest predictors of elevated TG levels.

A Comprehensive Health Screening Program Reveals the Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Background/Objectives: We investigated the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and associated risk factors in Korean subjects who underwent comprehensive health screening examinations. Methods: This single health screening center-based cross-sectional study included a total of 73,574 consecutive participants older than 30 years who underwent a health screening examination, including fundus photography, between October 2003 and December 2010. Weighted prevalence and risk factors for AMD were evaluated. Logistic regression was used to identify AMD risk factors. Results: The weighted prevalence of AMD was 15.42%, with a prevalence of 3.34% among people in their 30s. Advanced age significantly increased the risk for both early/intermediate AMD (p &lt; 0.001 across the age groups of 40, 50, 60, and 70+ years) and advanced AMD (p &lt;0.001 for the age groups of 60 and 70+ years). The male sex was strongly associated with an increased risk of both early/intermediate and advanced AMD (p &lt; 0.001 for both). Retinal arteriosclerosis, whether low- or high-grade, was linked to early/intermediate AMD (p &lt; 0.001 for both grades), whereas only high-grade arteriosclerosis was linked to advanced AMD (p &lt; 0.001). Additionally, hypertension (p &lt; 0.001), the hepatitis B carrier status (p &lt; 0.001), elevated mean corpuscular volume (p &lt; 0.001), and lower serum uric acid levels (p = 0.014) were associated with early/intermediate AMD. Higher education levels protected against early/intermediate AMD (p = 0.004 for high school graduates, p &lt; 0.001 for ≥college graduates). Higher serum inorganic phosphate levels (p = 0.002) and lower total serum ALB levels (p = 0.005) were significant risk factors for advanced AMD. Conclusions: Korean individuals as young as 30 years old are at risk of AMD. This study newly identified associations between retinal arteriosclerosis and both early/intermediate and advanced AMD, as well as associations between serum inorganic phosphate levels and total ALB levels with advanced AMD.

Empowering vulnerable populations: the intersection of personal assistance services and telehealth in the National Health Screening Program.

Empowering vulnerable populations: the intersection of personal assistance services and telehealth in the National Health Screening Program.

The Strategies to Improve Primary Health Care Services: A Scoping Review

Context: Evaluation of health policies and identification of their challenges are vital for improving and implementing reforms in the healthcare system. The present study was conducted to identify interventions aimed at improving primary healthcare (PHC) services in Iran. Evidence Acquisition: This research utilizes a scoping review to examine reform interventions in PHC services across 10 selected countries: Qatar, Oman, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, and Kuwait. The study covers areas such as the PHC delivery system, human resource management, financial mechanisms, and the framework of community participation and intersectoral collaboration from 2010 to 2022. Results: The main reform strategies for PHC systems in the reviewed countries included the establishment of family medical centers with nurse support as a comprehensive strategy for service provision in public health centers; providing comprehensive and quality healthcare service packages including maternal and child health, infectious disease immunization, chronic disease monitoring, and dental care services; health education; access to essential medications; improvement of electronic health services; implementation of health promotion and continuous prevention programs; capacity enhancement; and a greater focus on health screening programs and grading of healthcare centers. Conclusions: The major findings from the reviewed countries indicate that healthcare policymakers focus on providing preventive care services, reducing maternal and child mortality, and increasing life expectancy. Programs such as referral systems, service grading, and the adoption of electronic health services are part of their reform agenda.

Advancing clinical MRI exams with artificial intelligence: Japan's contributions and future prospects.

In this narrative review, we review the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) into clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams, with a particular focus on Japan's contributions to this field. In the first part of the review, we introduce the various applications of AI in optimizing different aspects of the MRI process, including scan protocols, patient preparation, image acquisition, image reconstruction, and postprocessing techniques. Additionally, we examine AI's growing influence in clinical decision-making, particularly in areas such as segmentation, radiation therapy planning, and reporting assistance. By emphasizing studies conducted in Japan, we highlight the nation's contributions to the advancement of AI in MRI. In the latter part of the review, we highlight the characteristics that make Japan a unique environment for the development and implementation of AI in MRI examinations. Japan's healthcare landscape is distinguished by several key factors that collectively create a fertile ground for AI research and development. Notably, Japan boasts one of the highest densities of MRI scanners per capita globally, ensuring widespread access to the exam. Japan's national health insurance system plays a pivotal role by providing MRI scans to all citizens irrespective of socioeconomic status, which facilitates the collection of inclusive and unbiased imaging data across a diverse population. Japan's extensive health screening programs, coupled with collaborative research initiatives like the Japan Medical Imaging Database (J-MID), enable the aggregation and sharing of large, high-quality datasets. With its technological expertise and healthcare infrastructure, Japan is well-positioned to make meaningful contributions to the MRI-AI domain. The collaborative efforts of researchers, clinicians, and technology experts, including those in Japan, will continue to advance the future of AI in clinical MRI, potentially leading to improvements in patient care and healthcare efficiency.

Presence of diabetic risk factors within a sample of community members in Windhoek, Namibia

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) continue to pose a significant challenge to global healthcare systems. In African contexts, diabetes ranks among the top four NCDs. The disease often goes undetected because patients are commonly asymptomatic in the early stages. Screening, early diagnosis and patient education may prolong life and reduce costs associated with managing the disease.Aim: To identify risk factors for diabetes among community members in Windhoek.Setting: Data were gathered during a health-screening outreach programme in Otjomuise, a peri-urban settlement near Windhoek, Namibia.Methods: An observational analytical cross-sectional study design was used, measuring weight, height, abdominal girth, random blood glucose (RBG) levels, lipid counts, and blood pressure in 342 participants. Descriptive analysis determined the percentage of participants with abnormal measurements indicating diabetes risk.Results: Analysis showed that 77% of participants had multiple risk factors for diabetes. Specifically, 67% had elevated RBG levels, 58% had elevated blood pressure, 45% had elevated body mass index, and 26% had raised lipid counts.Conclusion: These findings align with existing literature, which shows a significant portion of community members have undetected risk factors that may predispose them to the development of diabetes. Early detection, targeted interventions and ongoing monitoring for individuals with risk factors can save lives and reduce costs. Larger-scale research is necessary to better quantify the prediabetic population across various African contexts.Contribution: This study highlights the urgent need for early diabetes detection and intervention strategies in diverse African communities.

Abstract 4137975: 9-Year Longitudinal Assessment of the 12-lead Electrocardiogram of Volunteer Firefighters

Introduction: In the US, the most common cause of death among active-duty firefighters is sudden cardiac death (SCD). Underlying heart diseases are important propagator of ventricular tachyarrhythmias that cause SCD. The objective of this abstract is to assess the incidence of underlying heart disease, identified on 12-lead electrocardiograph (ECG), that may place firefighters at greater risk of SCD. Methods: We digitalized 12-lead ECGs recorded among firefighters who visited a firefighter health screening program at least 4 times from 2011-2019. We extracted the interval measurements (Heart Rate, T-axis, QRS-axis, QRS duration, QTc duration) and interpretation statements from each of the 12-lead ECGs and grouped potential propagators of ventricular tachyarrhythmias including left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), coronary artery disease (CAD), and cardiac conduction disease. We used simple mean imputation to handle missing data. Descriptive statistics including means and frequencies were used to analyze the sample. Results: Among 465 firefighters (90.1% male) with a mean age of 47.1 (±13.6) whom 1,296 12-lead ECGs were analyzed, 21.5% (n=278) of Heart Rate, 0.39% (n=5) T-axis, 26.4% (n=342) QRS-axis, 40.0% (n=518) QRS duration, 5.40% (n=70) QTc duration were abnormal. In addition to intervals, the 12-lead ECGs generated 1,970 interpretation statements of which 28.2% (n=555) were deemed possible pathoanatomical substrates including 3.1% (n=34) LVH, 24.7% (n=137) CAD, and 69.2% (n=384) cardiac conduction diseases. Among cardiac conduction diseases, intraventricular conduction disease was the most prevalent (n=204, 36.8%), followed by vertical axis (n=70, 12.6%), right bundle branch block (n=59, 10.6%), left anterior fascicular block (n=34, 6.1%), and left bundle branch block (n=17, 3.1%). Interestingly, we did not observe a temporal relationship regarding the number of pathoanatomical substrates over the screening period. Conclusions: Nearly 30% of the interpretation statements generated from 12-lead ECGs were indicative of possible pathoanatomical substrates that cause SCD, which reflects the apparently negative effect of fire suppression activity on one’s cardiopulmonary health. Our result justifies the imperative need of effective prevention method for cardiac conduction diseases among firefighters. Further research is needed to collect 12-lead ECG systematically amongst other measures such as diet and BMI which reflect work culture and lifestyle of firefighters.

Early onset and increasing disparities in neurodevelopmental delays from birth to age 6 in children from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

To analyze the complex relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and neurodevelopmental achievements by investigating the temporal dynamics of these associations from birth to age 6. This retrospective cohort study was conducted over 6 years using population-based data from the National Health Insurance Service and integrated data from the National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children. Participants were children born between 2009 and 2011 in Korea without neurodevelopmental delays with potential developmental implications. We analyzed results from the Korean Developmental Screening Test, administered at age 6, which covered overall assessment and six domains of gross and fine motor function, cognition, language, sociality, and self-care. The secondary outcome was to determine when neurodevelopmental outcomes began after birth and how these differences changed over time. Of 276,167 individuals (49.2% males), 66,325, 138,980, and 60,862 had low, intermediate, and high SES, respectively. Neurodevelopmental delays observed across all developmental domains were more prevalent in the low-SES group than in the high-SES group. Disparities in neurodevelopment according to these statuses were apparent as early as age 2 and tended to increase over time (interaction, P < 0.001). The cognition and language domains exhibited the most substantial disparities between SES levels. These disparities persisted in subgroup analyses of sex, birthweight, head circumference, birth data, and breastfeeding variables. Low SES was significantly associated with an increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in preschool children, particularly those affecting cognitive and language domains. These differences manifested in early childhood and widened over time.