Epidemiology and Health

Original article

Gender differences in awareness and practices of cancer prevention recommendations in Korea: a cross-sectional survey: Yoonjoo Choi, Naeun Kim, Jin-Kyoung Oh, Yoon-Jung Choi, Bohyun Park, Byungmi Kim; Epidemiol Health. 2025;e2025003. Published online January 15, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2025003 [Accepted]

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Abstract PDF: Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Gender is a major determinant of health behaviors that influences cancer prevention awareness and practices. This study investigated the relationship of the awareness and practice rates of cancer prevention recommendations with gender and socioeconomic status.
METHODS
We used data from the Korean National Cancer Prevention Awareness and Practice Survey (2023). The sample included 4,000 men and women aged 20-74 years. We conducted multiple logistic regression analyses to evaluate associations with the awareness and practices of cancer prevention, and a joinpoint regression analysis using age-standardized rates to analyze trends in awareness and practice rates from 2007 to 2023.
RESULTS
The awareness rates were 79.4% and 81.2% for men and women, respectively. The overall practice rates were substantially lower (43.1% for men and 48.9% for women). For men, awareness rates did not differ significantly by socio-demographic characteristics, but practice rates increased with age (20-29: 15.9%; 60-74: 53.8%). For women, both awareness (20-29: 73.0%; 60-74: 85.7%) and practice (20-29: 16.8%; 60-74: 67.5%) rates increased with age. The easiest recommendations to follow were “reducing salt intake and avoiding burnt or charred foods” (men: 29.9%; women: 28.4%), whereas the most difficult recommendation was “engaging in regular physical activity” (men: 32.5%; women: 34.4%).
CONCLUSIONS
While awareness of cancer prevention recommendations was high, the practice of these recommendations was low. Gender influenced changes in awareness and practice rates over time, reflecting a large gap in practice. Future research should explore appropriate intervention points for cancer prevention practices and the development of more effective cancer prevention policies.; Summary

Cohort profile

Cohort profile: a nationwide retrospective cohort of mortality in people living with HIV in the Republic of Korea, 1985-2020: Taeyoung Kim, Yoonhee Jung, Koun Kim, Jung Wan Park, Jeonghee Yu, Sung-il Cho; Epidemiol Health. 2025;e2025002. Published online January 2, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2025002 [Accepted]

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Abstract PDF: Abstract
The increasing number of people living with HIV in Korea has prompted interest in using the national surveillance system as a database for studying their health. To investigate the relationships between sociodemographic and epidemiological characteristics and mortality rates, a nationwide retrospective cohort was formed by integrating surveillance data with the Cause of Death Statistics from Statistics Korea. This integration included incidence reports, epidemiological investigations, and death reports from the surveillance data, enriched with detailed mortality information from the Cause of Death data. The cohort comprised 17,199 adult Korean individuals diagnosed with HIV infection from 1985 to 2020. By the end of 2020, 2,721 of these individuals were confirmed deceased. The sex ratio of the study participants was 14.3:1 (male to female), with 78.2% being under 50 years old at the time of diagnosis. Sexual contact was identified as the primary transmission route, accounting for 75.7% of cases. HIV disease emerged as the predominant cause of death, representing two-thirds (1,817 of 2,721) of the fatalities, followed by injuries and trauma, malignancies, and cardiovascular diseases. Recommendations for further cohort studies may be submitted to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.; Summary

Original article

Prospective association between handgrip strength in childhood and the metabolic syndrome score and insulin resistance indices in adolescence: an analysis based on the Ewha Birth and Growth Study: Seunghee Jun, Hyunjin Park, Hyelim Lee, Hye Ah Lee, Young Sun Hong, Hyesook Park; Epidemiol Health. 2025;e2025001. Published online January 2, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2025001 [Accepted]

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Abstract Summary PDF: Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Low handgrip strength in children and adolescents might be associated with the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and insulin resistance. This study prospectively evaluated the association between handgrip strength (HGS) in childhood and MetS in adolescence.
METHODS
Based on data from the Ewha Birth and Growth Study, this study analyzed handgrip strength at ages 7 to 9 and metabolic indices at ages 13 to 15. In total, 219 participants were analyzed. The risk of MetS was evaluated using the continuous MetS score (cMetS), and insulin resistance was assessed using fasting blood insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Relative handgrip strength in childhood was determined by dividing handgrip strength by body weight and categorized as sex-specific quartiles.
RESULTS
This study found an inverse association between relative handgrip strength levels in childhood and MetS and insulin resistance in adolescence. For each 1-group increase in relative handgrip strength quartiles, cMetS (Std. β=-0.64, p<0.01), HOMA-IR (Std. β=-0.21, p<0.01), and fasting blood insulin (Std. β=-0.21, p<0.01) all decreased on average. These associations remained significant even after adjusting for confounding factors.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed a prospective association between handgrip strength in childhood and the risk of MetS and insulin resistance in adolescence. It provides significant epidemiological evidence, emphasizing the importance of efforts to increase muscle strength from a young age to mitigate the risk of MetS and insulin resistance in adolescence.; Summary

Korean summary
본 연구는 소아기 악력 수준이 청소년기의 대사증후군 및 인슐린 저항성과 연관이 있음을 발견했음. 이러한 결과는 소아기 근력 향상이 향후 대사 위험을 완화하는데 중요함을 강조함.

Key Message
This study found that higher childhood relative handgrip strength was inversely associated with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in adolescence. The findings emphasize the importance of enhancing muscle strength early in life to mitigate metabolic risks.

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