Epidemiology and Health

COVID-19: Original Article

Awareness of and practice toward cancer prevention recommendations: results of the Korean National Cancer Prevention Awareness and Practice Survey in 2021: Jin-Kyoung Oh, Eunjung Park, Byungmi Kim, Yoon-Jung Choi, E Hwa Yun, Min Kyung Lim, Jeong-Soo Im, Eun Young Park; Epidemiol Health. 2022;44:e2022068. Published online August 26, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2022068

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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study reports data regarding the awareness and practice of cancer prevention among Koreans in 2021 and behavioral changes during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

METHODS

We collected Cancer Prevention Awareness and Practice Survey data through face-to-face interview surveys using a structured questionnaire completed by 4,000 randomly selected men and women aged between 20 years and 74 years in 17 provinces. We examined the awareness and practice of 10 cancer prevention recommendations and evaluated their associations with potential risk factors through multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, residence, marital status, education, and income.

RESULTS

Eighty percent of participants knew that cancer is preventable, while 45% practiced cancer prevention. Cancer prevention practice tended to be more common among older participants (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.39 per 10-year increment; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29 to 1.49) and less common among rural inhabitants (aOR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.86) than among urban residents and among single people (aOR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.66) than among married people. Practices were the highest for avoiding burned or charred foods (87.6%) and lowest for vaccination against human papillomavirus (14.5%). Refusal to follow recommendations was most common for avoiding alcohol consumption (7.9%). The most difficult recommendations to follow were (1) regular exercise (57.7%); (2) maintaining a healthy body weight (46.1%); and (3) avoiding alcohol (40.1%). The most significant COVID-19-related changes were less exercise (32.5%) and increased body weight (25.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

The awareness of cancer prevention was high, but the practice was low. Recommendations targeting awareness and practice need to be further promoted.

Summary

Korean summary
2021년 국민 암예방 인식 및 실천행태 조사에 따르면, 국민의 80%는 암이 예방 가능하다는 사실을 알고 있으나, 45%만이 암예방을 위한 건강생활을 실천하고 있음. 암예방수칙 중 가장 지키기 어려운 항목으로는 ‘운동하기’(57.7%)를 꼽았고, 그 다음으로 ‘건강체중 유지하기’(46.1%)와 ‘소량음주도 피하기’(40.1%)순으로 나타났음. 코로나19 유행으로 인한 가장 흔한 변화는 운동 감소(32.5%)와 체중 증가(25.6%)로 나타났음.

Key Message
According to the data collected from the Cancer Prevention Awareness and Practice Survey in 2021, 80% of participants knew that cancer is preventable, while 45% practiced cancer prevention. The most difficult recommendations to follow were (1) regular exercise (57.7%); (2) maintaining a healthy body weight (46.1%); and (3) avoiding alcohol (40.1%). The most significant COVID-19-related changes were less exercise (32.5%) and increased body weight (25.6%).

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Risk Factors of Gastric Cancer and Lifestyle Modification for Prevention
Kwang-Pil Ko
Journal of Gastric Cancer.2024; 24(1): 99. CrossRef
Factors Affecting Adherence to National Colorectal Cancer Screening: A 12-Year Longitudinal Study Using Multi-Institutional Pooled Data in Korea
Dae Sung Kim, Jeeyoung Hong, Kihyun Ryu, Sang Hyuk Lee, Hwanhyi Cho, Jehyeong Yu, Jieun Lee, Jong-Yeup Kim
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Imposing stragies for health promotion fund for alcohol
Kwang Wook Koh, Hye Sook Kim, Seong Hyun Koh
Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion.2023; 40(4): 45. CrossRef
Cancer risk based on alcohol consumption levels: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis
Seunghee Jun, Hyunjin Park, Ui-Jeong Kim, Eun Jeong Choi, Hye Ah Lee, Bomi Park, Soon Young Lee, Sun Ha Jee, Hyesook Park
Epidemiology and Health.2023; 45: e2023092. CrossRef

COVID-19: Original Article

The age-standardized incidence, mortality, and case fatality rates of COVID-19 in 79 countries: a cross-sectional comparison and their correlations with associated factors: Dongui Hong, Sohyae Lee, Yoon-Jung Choi, Sungji Moon, Yoonyoung Jang, Yoon-Min Cho, Hyojung Lee, Sukhong Min, Hyeree Park, Seokyung Hahn, Ji-Yeob Choi, Aesun Shin, Daehee Kang; Epidemiol Health. 2021;43:e2021061. Published online September 8, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2021061

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359 Download
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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, crude incidence and mortality rates have been widely reported; however, age-standardized rates are more suitable for comparisons. In this study, we estimated and compared the age-standardized incidence, mortality, and case fatality rates (CFRs) among countries and investigated the relationship between these rates and factors associated with healthcare resources: gross domestic product per capita, number of hospital beds per population, and number of doctors per population.

METHODS

The incidence, mortality, and CFRs of 79 countries were age-standardized using the World Health Organization standard population. The rates for persons 60 years or older were also calculated. The relationships among the rates were analysed using trend lines and coefficients of determination (R<sup>2</sup>). Pearson correlation coefficients between the rates and the healthcare resource-related factors were calculated.

RESULTS

The countries with the highest age-standardized incidence, mortality, and CFRs were Czechia (14,253 cases/100,000), Mexico (182 deaths/100,000), and Mexico (6.7%), respectively. The R<sup>2</sup> between the incidence and mortality rates was 0.852 for all ages and 0.945 for those 60 years or older. The healthcare resources-related factors were associated positively with incidence rates and negatively with CFRs, with weaker correlations among the elderly.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to age-standardized rates, crude rates showed greater variation among countries. Medical resources may be important in preventing COVID-19-related deaths; however, considering the small variation in fatality among the elderly, preventive measures such as vaccination are more important, especially for the elderly population, to minimize the mortality rates.

Summary

Korean summary
국가별 발생률, 사망률, 치명률을 WHO 표준 인구로 연령표준화하였고, 의료자원과 관계된 지표와의 상관관계를 파악하였다. 2021년 4월 6일 기준, 연령표준화 발생률, 사망률, 치명률이 가장 높은 나라는 각각 체코 (10만명당 14,253명), 멕시코 (10만명당 182명), 멕시코 (6.7%)이며, 60세 이상 노인은 사망률과 치명률이 더 높은 것으로 나타났다. 1인당GDP, 인구당 의사 수, 인구당 병상 수는 발생률과 양의 상관관계가, 치명률과는 음의 상관관계가 있었고 노인에게서는 상관관계가 약하게 나타났다. 코로나바이러스감염증-19로 인한 피해를 최소화하기 위해서 의료자원의 투입과 더불어 노인의 감염예방이 중요할 것이다.

Key Message
The incidence, mortality, and case fatality rates of 79 countries were age-standardized using the WHO standard population. The correlations between the rates and the healthcare resource-related factors were investigated. As of April 6, 2021, the countries with the highest age-standardized incidence, mortality, and case fatality rates were Czechia (14,253 cases/100,000), Mexico (182 deaths/100,000), and Mexico (6.7%), respectively; the mortality and case fatality rates were higher among the elderly. GDP per capita, number of hospital beds per population, and number of doctors per population were associated positively with incidence rate, and negatively with case fatality rates: the correlations were weaker among the elderly. To minimize the burden caused by COVID-19, preventing the elderly from infection is important as well as supply of medical resources.

Citations

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Anna K. Porter, Sarah E. Kleinschmidt, Kara L. Andres, Courtney N. Reusch, Ryan M. Krisko, Oyebode A. Taiwo, Geary W. Olsen, Matthew P. Longnecker
Global Epidemiology.2024; 7: 100137. CrossRef
Should we ignore SARS-CoV-2 disease?
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The First Wave of COVID-19 in Forensic Psychiatry: A Rapid Review Series
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Age-standardization and Standard Population
Dongui Hong, Sohyae Lee, Kyu-Won Jung, Aesun Shin
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Iván de Jesús Ascencio-Montiel, Oscar David Ovalle-Luna, Ramón Alberto Rascón-Pacheco, Victor Hugo Borja-Aburto, Gerardo Chowell
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Jiaye Yu, Zhuo Wang, Qinyi Bao, Shuxin Lei, Yayu You, Zhehui Yin, Xiaojie Xie
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Is it possible to prepare for a pandemic?
Robert Tucker Omberg, Alex Tabarrok
Oxford Review of Economic Policy.2022; 38(4): 851. CrossRef
Time-series comparison of COVID-19 case fatality rates across 21 countries with adjustment for multiple covariates
Yongmoon Kim, Bryan Inho Kim, Sangwoo Tak
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Cause-specific mortality in Korea during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic
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Original Article

Association between weekly fruit and vegetable consumption and depressive symptoms: results from the Korean Elderly Environmental Panel study: Youjeong Yuk, Chae-Rin Han, Yoonyoung Jang, Yun-Chul Hong, Yoon-Jung Choi; Epidemiol Health. 2021;43:e2021029. Published online April 20, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2021029

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383 Download
5 Web of Science
5 Crossref

Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Although previous studies have investigated the correlation between fruit and vegetable consumption and depression, the results remain inconclusive. The present study aimed to investigate the association between weekly fruit and vegetable consumption and depressive symptoms in elderly Koreans.

METHODS

A multiple covariate linear regression analysis was performed using the data of 1,226 elderly individuals ≥ 60 years of age who participated in the Korean Elderly Environmental Panel II study from 2012 to 2014. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Korean version of the Short form Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS-K). Generalized linear mixed-effects models were constructed to analyze the repeated measurements of 305 people who participated in the survey every year.

RESULTS

After adjusting for confounders, SGDS-K scores were negatively associated with the frequency of weekly fruit consumption as follows (β [95% confidence interval; CI]: -0.17 [-0.28 to -0.05], -0.17 [-0.27 to -0.07], -0.42 [-0.54 to 0.29], and -0.33 [-0.44 to -0.21]) for less than 1 time/wk, 1-3 times/wk, 4-6 times/wk, and daily, respectively, compared to no consumption. The SGDS-K scores were also negatively associated with the frequency of vegetable consumption (β [95% CI]: -0.86 [-1.18 to -0.55], -0.18 [-0.35 to -0.01], -0.36 [-0.53 to -0.18], and -0.15 [-0.29 to 0.00]) in the above order, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Fruit consumption was inversely associated with depression levels in a dose-dependent manner. Although there was no dose-response relationship between vegetable consumption and the level of depression, it was negatively associated with SGDS-K scores.

Summary

Korean summary
KEEP-II 데이터를 활용하여 한국 노년층의 주간 과일 및 채소 섭취 빈도와 우울증상 간의 상관관계를 알아보았다. 주중 과일을 섭취하는 빈도와 우울증상의 정도 및 우울증 이환 간에서 음의 상관관계가 있었으며 양반응관계가 나타났다. 채소 섭취 빈도의 경우에는 양반응관계가 나타나지 않았으나 채소 섭취 빈도와 우울증상의 정도 간에 음의 상관관계가 있었다.

Key Message
Weekly fruit consumption frequency was inversely associated with the level of depression in a dose-dependent manner in Korean elderly population who participated in KEEP-II study. Although there was no dose-response relationship between vegetable consumption and the level of depression, vegetable consumption frequency was negatively associated with the level of depression.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Bidirectional associations between dietary diversity and depressive symptoms in Chinese adult women: A retrospective cohort study
Xiaoqian Dong, Ying Li, Xingxing Wang, Yinglong Duan, Min Liu, Sha Wang, Xue He, Pingting Yang, Yaqin Wang, Jianfei Xie, Andy S.K. Cheng
Journal of Affective Disorders.2024; 351: 683. CrossRef
Regional differences in the effects of healthy aging on depressive symptoms: a Korean longitudinal study of aging (2006–2020)
Soo Jin Kang, Jinseub Hwang, Dohyang Kim, Bongjeong Kim
Frontiers in Public Health.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Neuroprotective Effects of Polyphenols—Polyphenols as an Element of Diet Therapy in Depressive Disorders
Anna Winiarska-Mieczan, Małgorzata Kwiecień, Karolina Jachimowicz-Rogowska, Janine Donaldson, Ewa Tomaszewska, Ewa Baranowska-Wójcik
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Genetic and environmental influences on fruit and vegetable consumption and depression in older adults
Annabel P. Matison, Anbupalam Thalamuthu, Victoria M. Flood, Julian N. Trollor, Vibeke S. Catts, Margaret J. Wright, David Ames, Henry Brodaty, Perminder S. Sachdev, Simone Reppermund, Karen A. Mather
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Longitudinal correlates of fruit and vegetable consumption with depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults in South Africa
Supa Pengpid, Karl Peltzer
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