Epidemiology and Health

Original Articles

A comparison of the outcomes of families with children aged less than 2 who received universal versus sustained nurse home visiting services in Korea: a cross-sectional study: Yu-Mi Kim, Sun Hwa Park, Kyung Ja June, Sung-Hyun Cho, Ji Yun Lee, Hong-Jun Cho, Young-Ho Khang; Epidemiol Health. 2025;47:e2025004. Published online February 6, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2025004

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Abstract Summary PDF: Abstract
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to compare maternal outcomes and the home environment between non‑vulnerable families with children under 2 receiving universal home visiting services and vulnerable families receiving sustained home visiting services.
METHODS
This study was conducted in Seoul, Korea, where the country’s first nurse‑led early childhood home visiting program was introduced. A total of 551 mother‑child dyads participated in cross‑sectional surveys conducted at various child ages (6±2 weeks, 6±1 months, 12±1 months, and 24±1 months). Universal home visiting services were provided within six weeks postpartum to non‑vulnerable families, while vulnerable families received sustained services consisting of 25 visits over 24 months. Maternal knowledge of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and childcare, maternal distress, and the Korean Infant‑Toddler Home Observation for Measurement of Environment (K‑IT‑HOME) were assessed.
RESULTS
Overall, the universal home visitation group demonstrated higher levels of maternal knowledge regarding SIDS and childcare compared to the sustained home visitation group (all p-values <0.05), while the sustained home visitation group reported higher levels of maternal distress (p<0.001). The total K‑IT‑HOME score was 1.47 points higher in the universal home visitation group than in the sustained home visitation group (p<0.001). No significant differences were observed in the acceptance, organization, or involvement subscales of the K‑IT‑HOME (all p-values >0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that disparities in maternal outcomes and home environments persisted in early childhood between the sustained and universal home visitation groups.; Summary

Korean summary
이 연구는 단면 조사로, 보편방문 가족(취약하지 않은 가정)과 지속방문 가족(취약한 가정)을 네 시점(출산 후 6±2주, 6±1개월, 12±1개월, 24±1개월)에서 엄마의 결과 지표와 가정환경 지표를 비교하였다. 이 연구의 결과는 조기 아동기 지속적 가정 방문 프로그램만으로는 엄마의 결과 지표와 가정환경 지표의 격차를 완전히 없애기에 충분치 않다는 점을 시사한다.

Key Message
This study is a cross-sectional survey comparing outcomes between universal home visitation group (non-vulnerable families) and sustained home visitation group (vulnerable families) at four time points: 6±2 weeks postpartum, 6±1 months postpartum, 12±1 months postpartum, and 24±1 months postpartum. Study results suggest that merely implementing a maternal and early childhood sustained home-visiting program is insufficient to close the gap in maternal outcomes and home environments.

Contrasting income-based inequalities in incidence and mortality of breast cancer in Korea, 2006-2015: Jinwook Bahk, Hee-Yeon Kang, Young-Ho Khang, Kyunghee Jung-Choi; Epidemiol Health. 2024;46:e2024074. Published online September 11, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2024074

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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material: Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Breast cancer incidence and mortality rates in Korea are increasing. This study analyzed income-based inequalities in the incidence and mortality of women breast cancer from 2006 to 2015, using national data that covered all Korean women.
METHODS
We used the National Health Information Database from 2006 to 2015. For women aged 20 and older, the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer per 100,000 by income quintile per year were calculated using the direct method. The rate ratio and rate difference (RD) of the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer per 100,000 between the top and bottom income quintiles were calculated as relative and absolute measures for inequalities.
RESULTS
When comparing 2006 and 2015, both the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer increased. The lowest income quintile experienced higher mortality rates despite having lower incidence rates. In 2015, the income-based RD in incidence and mortality rates between the highest and lowest income quintiles (Q1-Q5) was -19.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], -24.3 to -15.5) and 4.4 (95% CI, 2.9 to 5.8), respectively. Throughout this period, there was no statistically significant trend in income-based disparities in breast cancer incidence and mortality. The age-specific contributions to the absolute magnitude of inequality (RD) in incidence and mortality were more pronounced among middle-aged women than among older women.
CONCLUSIONS
This study found that breast cancer in Korea exhibited pro-rich inequalities in mortality despite pro-poor inequalities in incidence. More equitable policies for screening and treatment of breast cancer are needed.; Summary

Korean summary
2006년부터 2015년 한국의 유방암 불평등 추세를 분석하면, 소득수준이 낮은 여성의 발생률은 상대적으로 낮음에도 불구하고 사망률은 높은 양상을 보였다. 유방암 검진과 치료에 있어 보다 형평성을 고려한 정책이 요구된다.

Key Message
This study found that breast cancer in Korea exhibited pro-rich inequalities in mortality despite pro-poor inequalities in incidence. More equitable policies for screening and treatment of breast cancer are needed.

Brief Communication

Occupational inequalities in mortality in Korea: an analysis using nationally representative mortality follow-up data from the late 2000s and after: Eunjeong Noh, Young-Ho Khang; Epidemiol Health. 2022;44:e2022038. Published online April 6, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2022038

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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Abstract

Many Korean and international studies have found higher mortality rates and poorer health conditions among manual workers than among non-manual workers. However, a recent study using unlinked data argued that since the economic crisis in Korea in the late 2000s, the mortality estimates of male Korean non-manual workers have been higher than those of manual workers. Our work using individually linked data from the late 2000s and after aimed to examine mortality inequality by occupational class. We analyzed Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data that were individually linked to cause-of-death data. Cox regression analysis was used to identify the hazard ratios for mortality by occupational class. Of 11,766 males aged between 35 and 64, 397 died between 2007 and 2018: 142 died from cancer, 68 from cardiovascular disease, 88 from external causes, and 99 from other causes. After controlling for age, the mortality estimates for manual workers were 1.85 times higher than those for upper non-manual workers (p<0.05). We observed no evidence of reversed mortality inequality among occupational classes in Korea since the 2000s; this previously reported finding might have been due to numerator-denominator bias arising from the use of unlinked data.

Summary

Korean summary
개인 단위 연계자료가 아닌 분모(센서스)-분자(사망신고) 집합 자료를 사용하여 2000년대 후반 경제위기 이후 한국 남성 비육체직의 사망률이 육체직보다 높게 나타난다고 기존의 한 연구가 주장했다. 이 연구는 2000년대 이후 개인 단위로 연계된 코호트 자료를 활용하여 여전히 한국에서 육체직의 사망위험이 비육체직보다 높다는 점을 보임으로써, 기존 연구가 비연계자료의 사용으로 인한 분자-분모 바이어스(numerator-denominator bias) 때문에 그와 같은 결과를 보였다고 지적하였다.

Key Message
This paper using individually linked data from the late 2000s and after observed no evidence of reversed mortality inequality among occupational classes in Korea since the 2000s. The previously reported finding showing reversed occupational mortality inequality might have been due to numerator-denominator bias arising from the use of unlinked data.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Insurance Types and All-Cause Mortality in Korean Cancer Patients: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study
Jinyoung Shin, Yoon-Jong Bae, Hee-Taik Kang
Journal of Personalized Medicine.2024; 14(8): 861. CrossRef
Mortality of Suicide and Cerebro-Cardiovascular Diseases by Occupation in Korea, 1997–2020
Jungwon Jang, Inah Kim
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(16): 10001. CrossRef

Original Article

Income gaps in self-rated poor health and its association with life expectancy in 245 districts of Korea: Ikhan Kim, Jinwook Bahk, Sung-Cheol Yun, Young-Ho Khang; Epidemiol Health. 2017;39:e2017011. Published online March 15, 2017; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2017011

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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To examine the income gaps associated with self-rated poor health at the district level in Korea and to identify the geographical correlations between self-rated poor health, life expectancy, and the associated income gaps.

METHODS

We analyzed data for 1,578,189 participants from the Community Health Survey of Korea collected between 2008 and 2014. The age-standardized prevalence of self-rated poor health and the associated income gaps were calculated. Previously released data on life expectancy and the associated income gaps were also used. We performed correlation and regression analyses for self-rated poor health, life expectancy, and associated income gaps.

RESULTS

Across 245 districts, the median prevalence of self-rated poor health was 15.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.6 to 16.8%), with interquartile range (IQR) of 3.1 percentage points (%p). The median interquintile gaps in the prevalence of self-rated poor health was 11.1%p (95% CI, 8.1 to 14.5%p), with IQR of 3.6%p. Pro-rich inequalities in self-rated health were observed across all 245 districts of Korea. The correlation coefficients for the association between self-rated poor health and the associated income gaps, self-rated poor health and life expectancy, and income gaps associated with self-rated poor health and life expectancy were 0.59, 0.78 and 0.55 respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Income gaps associated with self-rated poor health were evident across all districts in Korea. The magnitude of income gaps associated with self-rated poor health was larger in the districts with greater prevalence of self-rated poor health. A strong correlation between self-rated poor health and life expectancy was also observed.

Summary

Korean summary
본 연구에서는 우리나라 245개 시군구의 자가평가 불건강 유병률의 소득수준 간 격차 크기를 규명하고, 시군구 단위 자가평가 불건강 유병률과 그것의 소득수준 간 격차, 기대수명 및 기대수명의 소득수준 간 격차의 상관성에 대하여 분석하였다. 연구 결과, 우리나라 245개 모든 시군구에서 자가평가 불건강 유병률에서의 저소득층에 불리한 불평등이 존재하였다. 또한, 자가평가 불건강 유병률과 그것의 소득수준 간 격차, 기대수명 그리고 자가평가 불건강 유병률의 소득수준 간 격차와 기대수명의 소득수준 간 격차는 높은 상관성이 나타났다. 이 연구는 지방정부 차원에서 건강 형평성 현황에 관한 유의미한 정보를 제공하여 지역별 보건정책 수립의 근거로 활용할 수 있다는데 의의를 찾을 수 있다.

Citations

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BMJ Open.2024; 14(5): e080976. CrossRef
The effect of body mass index on self-rated health in middle-aged and older adults: evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study
Jingyi Wang, Yingying Cai, Xiaohe Ren, Bin Ma, Ou Chen
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research.2023; 35(12): 2929. CrossRef
Health status and public health education for internal older migrants in China: Evidence from a nationally representative survey
Wen Zeng, Cui Wang, Hongbo Chen, Beibei Tong, Dan Li, Ziqiu Zou, Peiyuan Liu, Yuanrong Yao, Shaomei Shang
Frontiers in Public Health.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Spatio-temporal Analysis of District-level Life Expectancy from 2004 to 2017 in Korea
Hwa-Kyung Lim, Hee-Yeon Kang, Ikhan Kim, Young-Ho Khang
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
Self-rated health status in relation to aircraft noise exposure, noise annoyance or noise sensitivity: the results of a cross-sectional study in France
Clémence BAUDIN, Marie LEFÈVRE, Patricia CHAMPELOVIER, Jacques LAMBERT, Bernard LAUMON, Anne-Sophie EVRARD
BMC Public Health.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
The Effects of Social Support and Morbidities on Self-Rated Health among Migrant Elderly Following Children to Jinan, China
Suqing Wei, Fanlei Kong, Shixue Li
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Statin use for primary prevention in patients with type 2 diabetes: Can it benefit all ages? – A nationwide propensity-matched cohort study
Ji Eun Jun, In-Kyung Jeong, Kyu Jeung Ahn, Ho Yeon Chung, You-Cheol Hwang
Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.2021; 180: 109044. CrossRef
Cancer-free Life Expectancy in Small Administrative Areas in South Korea and Its Associations with Regional Health Insurance Premiums
Eunjeong Noh, Hee-Yeon Kang, Jinwook Bahk, Ikhan Kim, Young-Ho Khang
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2020; 17(23): 8956. CrossRef
A publicly well-accepted measure versus an academically desirable measure of health inequality: cross-sectional comparison of the difference between income quintiles with the slope index of inequality
Young-Ho Khang, Dohee Lim, Jinwook Bahk, Ikhan Kim, Hee-Yeon Kang, Youngs Chang, Kyunghee Jung-Choi
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Methods

The causality between smoking and lung cancer among groups and individuals: addressing issues in tobacco litigation in South Korea: Young-Ho Khang; Epidemiol Health. 2015;37:e2015026. Published online May 31, 2015; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2015026

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4 Web of Science
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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Abstract

This article discusses issues on the causality between smoking and lung cancer, which have been raised during the tobacco litigation in South Korea. It should be recognized that the explanatory ability of risk factor(s) for inter-individual variations in disease occurrence is different from the causal contribution of the risk factor(s) to disease occurrence. The affected subjects of the tobacco litigation in South Korea are lung cancer patients with a history of cigarette smoking. Thus, the attributable fraction of the exposed rather than the population attributable fraction should be used in the tobacco litigation regarding the causal contribution of smoking to lung cancer. Scientific evidence for the causal relationship between smoking and lung cancer is based on studies of individuals and groups, studies in animals and humans, studies that are observational or experimental, studies in laboratories and communities, and studies in both underdeveloped and developed countries. The scientific evidence collected is applicable to both groups and individuals. The probability of causation, which is calculated based on the attributable fraction for the association between smoking and lung cancer, could be utilized as evidence to prove causality in individuals.

Summary

Korean summary
이 글에서는 우리나라 담배소송 과정에서 제기된 흡연과 폐암의 인과성에 대하여 논하였다. 질병 발생의 개인 간 변이에 대한 위험 요인의 설명력과 질병발생에 미치는 위험요인의 인과적 기여도는 다르다는 점을 지적하였다. 개인에서의 흡연과 폐암의 인과성에 대한 정보로 인과확률이 활용될 수 있음을 강조하였다.

Citations

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A different causal perspective with Necessary Condition Analysis
Jan Dul
Journal of Business Research.2024; 177: 114618. CrossRef
Trends in the of epidemiological perspectives on the causality of occupational diseases
Jun-Pyo Myong, Hyeongsu Kim, Kunsei Lee, Soung Hoon Chang
Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2018; 61(8): 466. CrossRef
Tobacco and epidemiology in Korea: old tricks, new answers?
Alex Broadbent, Seung-sik Hwang
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.2016; 70(6): 527. CrossRef

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