Period poverty is a global community health dilemma that has long been overlooked. This condition is described as having insufficient access to menstrual products, education, and sanitation facilities. Briefly, period poverty means that millions of women are subjected to injustice and inequity due to menstruation. This review aimed to explore the definition, challenges, and effects of period poverty on the community, especially among women at their productive ages. In addition, suggestions to minimize the impact of period poverty are discussed. A search strategy was applied using the keywords “period poverty,” “period equity,” “period poverty,” and “menstrual hygiene” in Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, MEDLINE, and PubMed electronic databases, journals, and articles on relevant topics. Trained researchers conducted a keyword search from January 2021 to June 2022. Based on the reviewed studies, it has been proven that many countries are still affected by the period stigma and taboo, inadequate exposure to menstrual health and its management, lack of education about menstruation, and shortage of access to menstrual products and facilities. The next step is to reduce and slowly eliminate the period poverty issue by conducting more research to increase clinical evidence and future references. This narrative review could inform policymakers of the magnitude of the burden related to this issue and guide them to develop effective strategies to minimize the impact of poverty, especially during the challenging years of the post-coronavirus disease 2019 era.

Citations

• Period Poverty: How School Nurses Can Support Menstrual Health and Hygiene
  Damaris Pereda, Sasha Mahuna
  NASN School Nurse.2025; 40(1): 38.     CrossRef
• Period poverty and mental health among students attending a US university
  Jonathan Noel, Samantha Strong, Sarah Miller, Kelsey Gately, Samantha Rosenthal
  Journal of American College Health.2025; : 1.     CrossRef
• The economic impact of Long-Acting Contraceptives (LARCs) on public health
  Ana Claudia Marcelino, Paula da Cunha Pereira, Luis Bahamondes
  Clinics.2025; 80: 100598.     CrossRef
• Cycles of Neglect: A Statutory Review of State Policies Regarding Feminine Hygiene Product Provision During Incarceration
  McKenzie Wood, Nicole E. Garrett, Douglas Routh, Michelle Jeffs
  International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• A Pilot Study of Menstrual Health Education, Attitudes, and Product Access in Rural Honduras
  Eleanor Stubley, Janice M. Marshall
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2025; 22(3): 374.     CrossRef
• Menstrual hygiene management among girls and women refugees in Africa: a scoping review
  Alexis Harerimana, Gugu Mchunu, Julian David Pillay
  Conflict and Health.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Menstrual pain and epistemic injustice
  Adriana Joanna Mickiewicz
  Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Period Poverty and Barriers to Menstrual Health Equity in U.S. Menstruating College Students: A Scoping Review
  Lea Sacca, Diana Lobaina, Sara Burgoa, Vama Jhumkhawala, Meera Rao, Goodness Okwaraji, Yasmine Zerrouki, Joshua Sohmer, Michelle Knecht, Maria C. Mejia, Panagiota Kitsantas
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2025; 22(4): 619.     CrossRef
• Integrating demographic insights into menstrual product choices: a study through the lens of Engel–Kollat–Blackwell Model
  Anushka Mehar, Yamini
  Health Education.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Menstrual Products: Attitudes About Taxation and Safety
  Trupti Dhumal, Pragya Rai, Drishti Shah, Pamela W. Murray, Kimberly M. Kelly
  Journal of Women's Health.2024; 33(4): 491.     CrossRef
• “For men, by men”: Menstrual victimization and the weaponization of period products in carceral settings
  Kathryn Tapp, Abigail Henson
  Women's Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Tranexamic acid for management of heavy vaginal bleeding: barriers to access and myths surrounding its use
  Heather VanderMeulen, Grace H. Tang, Michelle Sholzberg
  Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis.2024; 8(3): 102389.     CrossRef
• “Ritual Purity” Reimagined: Eco-Friendly Menstrual Practices and Emotional Well-being in Muslim Women
  Shahida
  Women's Reproductive Health.2024; 11(4): 767.     CrossRef
• Management of abnormal uterine bleeding on anticoagulation: the patient–clinician perspective
  Bethany T. Samuelson Bannow
  Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.2024; 22(7): 1819.     CrossRef
• A pilot survey of students’ menstrual attitudes, experiences, and needs on an urban university campus
  Abigail Suleman, Shruthi Krishna, Divya Krishnakumar, Kai Nemoto, My Lê Thảo Nguyễn, Supriya D Mehta
  Women's Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Period poverty, reuse needs, and depressive symptoms among refugee menstruators in Jordan’s camps: a cross-sectional study
  Nadia Muhaidat, Joud Al Karmi, Abdulrahman M. Karam, Farah Abushaikha, Mohammad Ali Alshrouf
  BMC Women's Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Menstrual poverty scale: reliability and validity study
  Özge Öz Yildirim, Ayla Hendekci, Ilknur Aydın Avci
  Women & Health.2024; 64(6): 526.     CrossRef
• Syndemics in women’s health: poverty, social exclusion, and clustering of thrombotic and hemostasis disorders
  Ellen O’Rourke, Sarah Kelliher, Barry Kevane
  Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis.2024; 8(5): 102481.     CrossRef
• Forbidden Conversations: A Comprehensive Exploration of Taboos in Sexual and Reproductive Health
  Nor Faiza Mohd. Tohit, Mainul Haque
  Cureus.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Perspectives on prior preparation for menstrual experience from women and female health workers in Malawi
  Gertrude Mwalabu, Safari Mbewe, Annie Namathanga, Rodney Masese, Charity Kabondo, Leah Katuya, Pammla Petrucka, Patrick Mapulanga
  Women's Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Behavior and attitudes of female medical students regarding menstrual products
  Teodora Marković, Vuk Marušić, Aleksandra Nikolić, Isidora Vujčić, Milan Bjekić, Sandra Šipetić-Grujičić
  Zdravstvena zastita.2024; 53(3): 32.     CrossRef
• Period poverty is a continuing global challenge
  Lucy Khofi
  Nature Human Behaviour.2024; 8(11): 2070.     CrossRef
• Addressing the commercial determinants of menstrual health: a call to regulate menstrual product manufacturers
  Céline Brassart Olsen
  Health Promotion International.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Menstrual Hygiene Management and Reproductive Morbidity among Women Tea Plantation Workers in Wayanad District, Kerala, India
  Puthupparambil S. Alifia, Paul T. Francis, Malathi Mini, Jeby J. Olickal, Kavumpurathu R. Thankappan
  Medical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth.2024; 17(Suppl 1): S178.     CrossRef

Citations

• Anemia status and associated factors among adolescent girls under weekly iron and folic acid supplementation (WIFAS) and non-WIFAS programs in public schools in Janamora district, Northwest Ethiopia 2023; a comparative cross-sectional study
  Thomas Kidanemariam Yewodiaw, Meron Asmamaw Alemayehu, Destaw Fetene Teshome
  BMC Nutrition.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Association between green tea and coffee consumption and body iron storage in Japanese men and women: a cross-sectional study from the J-MICC Study Saga
  Hinako Nanri, Megumi Hara, Yuichiro Nishida, Chisato Shimanoe, Chiharu Iwasaka, Yasuki Higaki, Keitaro Tanaka
  Frontiers in Nutrition.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Sustainable practice: Sustainable prescribing of iron replacement therapy
  Myles Sergeant, Jennifer Do, Ana Hategan
  BMJ.2023; : e075741.     CrossRef

Since each person has a different ability to break down alcohol, it is inappropriate to apply a uniform standard to everyone when evaluating drinking status. In Korea, there has been a guideline for moderate drinking based not only on sex and age but Koreans’ alcohol metabolism capabilities that can be predicted by presence of facial flushing response. So far, there have been no studies that have investigated drinking habits of Koreans in accordance with the guideline. This study tried to identify the current drinking status of Koreans according to the guideline. As a result, it was confirmed that about 1/3 of the total population was accompanied by facial flushing when drinking alcohol, and it was found that different drinking habits were shown even in the same age and gender groups according to the presence of facial flushing. It is difficult to accurately evaluate drinking habits because facial flushing has not yet been investigated in some large data or various medical examinations. In the future, it is necessary to ensure that the presence of facial flushing can be confirmed at the medical treatment or examination site so that accurate drinking habit evaluation and prevention and resolution of drinking problems can be achieved.

Citations

• Unhealthy alcohol use: screening and behavioral counseling interventions
  Wonyoung Jung, Seung-Won Oh, Se-Hong Kim, Soo Young Kim
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(1): 20.     CrossRef
• The preventative effects of statin on lung cancer development in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis using the National Health Insurance Service Database in Korea
  Yoo Jung Lee, Nayoon Kang, Junghyun Nam, Eung Gu Lee, Jiwon Ryoo, Soon Seog Kwon, Yong Hyun Kim, Hye Seon Kang, Tsai-Ching Hsu
  PLOS ONE.2024; 19(3): e0299484.     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

Background
Alternative and complementary medicines are widely used to treat migraine headaches. This review aimed to determine the effectiveness of essential oils as an alternative treatment approach.
Methods
A structured search was conducted to identify randomized trials comparing essential oils with a placebo for migraine headaches, using databases (MEDLINE and CENTRAL) to search for articles published between 1966 and 2021. We included trials involving adult males and females diagnosed with migraine headaches according to the International Headache Society. The outcomes included number of attacks, headache severity, associated symptoms, number of days of limited activity, headache duration, use of analgesics, and adverse effects. Seven trials were included with a total of 558 participants.
Results
No difference was observed in the number of migraine headache attacks compared to placebo (mean difference [MD], -1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], -3.31 to 0.64; I2=94%; P=0.190; four trials, 242 participants; moderate- quality evidence). There was no difference in this outcome between the essential oils treated group and the placebo (MD, -0.38; 95% CI, -1.76 to 0.99; I2 statistics=86%; P=0.580; five trials, 240 participants; moderate-quality evidence).
Conclusion
We found no significant difference between the use of essential oils and placebo in managing migraine headaches.

Citations

• Use of aromatherapy for Migraine pain relief
  Yasmine Askeur, Selka Adil, Daliyahia Kamel
  Current Perspectives on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CUPMAP).2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

Assessment of the risk of bias is an essential component of any systematic review. This is true for both nonrandomized studies and randomized trials, which are the main study designs of systematic reviews. The Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies (RoBANS) was developed in 2013 and has gained wide usage as a risk-of-bias assessment tool for nonrandomized studies. Four risk-of-bias assessment experts revised it by reviewing existing assessment tools and user surveys. The main modifications included additional domains of selection and detection bias susceptible to nonrandomized studies of interventions, a more detailed consideration of the comparability of participants, and more reliable and valid outcome measurements. A psychometric assessment of the revised RoBANS (RoBANS 2) revealed acceptable inter-rater reliability (weighted kappa, 0.25 to 0.49) and construct validity in which intervention effects of studies with an unclear or high risk of bias were overestimated. The RoBANS 2 has acceptable feasibility, fair-to-moderate reliability, and construct validity. It provides a comprehensive framework for allowing authors to assess and understand the plausible risk of bias in nonrandomized studies of interventions.

Citations

• Comparison of working memory performance in athletes and non-athletes: a meta-analysis of behavioural studies
  Chenxiao Wu, Chenyuan Zhang, Xueqiao Li, Chaoxiong Ye, Piia Astikainen
  Memory.2025; 33(2): 259.     CrossRef
• Dysphagia development in heart failure patients: A scoping review
  Mizue Suzuki, Yoko Saino, Shinsuke Nagami, Junko Ueshima, Tatsuro Inoue, Ayano Nagano, Fumiya Kawase, Haruko Kobayashi, Kenta Murotani, Keisuke Maeda
  Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics.2025; 130: 105728.     CrossRef
• Preoperative radiotherapy combined with surgery versus surgery alone for primary retroperitoneal sarcoma: a meta-analysis
  Young Rak Kim, Chang-Hyun Lee, Hangeul Park, Jun-Hoe Kim, Chi Heon Kim
  Scientific Reports.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Acute and chronic effects of elastic band resistance training on athletes’ physical performance: a systematic review
  Henrique Sousa, Eduardo Abade, Filipe Maia, Júlio A. Costa, Rui Marcelino
  Sport Sciences for Health.2025; 21(1): 69.     CrossRef
• Suitability of Measures of Pharmacy-Based Medication Adherence for Routine Clinical Use Among Patients with Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review
  Wardatul Jannah, Qisty Khoiry, Sofa Alfian, Rizky Abdulah
  Patient Preference and Adherence.2025; Volume 19: 265.     CrossRef
• School nurse-led educational interventions for sexual and reproductive health promotion in adolescents in high-income countries: a mixed-methods systematic review protocol
  Yu Mi Choi, Suyeon Noh, Hyun-Ju Seo, Jaehee Yoon
  BMJ Open.2025; 15(2): e087528.     CrossRef
• The protective effects of hyperbaric oxygen on ionising radiation injury: A systematic review
  Amanda Holyer, Thomas Stewart, Edward T. Ashworth
  Acta Astronautica.2025; 232: 296.     CrossRef
• Exploring the Pharmacokinetics of Drugs in Disabled Saudi Patients: A Systematic Review
  Faleh Alqahtani, Saeed A. Al Awadh, Muhammad Fawad Rasool
  Pharmaceuticals.2025; 18(4): 582.     CrossRef
• Circulating angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8) and steatotic liver disease related to metabolic dysfunction: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
  Farah Abdelhameed, Lukasz Lagojda, Chris Kite, Alexander Dallaway, Attia Mustafa, Nwe Ni Than, Eva Kassi, Harpal S. Randeva, Ioannis Kyrou
  Frontiers in Endocrinology.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Short versus longer duration antibiotic treatment for urinary tract infections in companion animals: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Fiona Emdin, Sean W. X. Ong, Clare McGall, Valerie Leung, Kevin L. Schwartz, Bradley J. Langford, Kevin A. Brown, Susan Massarella, Nick Daneman
  BMC Veterinary Research.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Curative-Intention Surgery with Lobe-Specific Versus Systematic Lymph Node Dissection in Clinical Stage IA–IB Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Our Experience and Literature Review
  Bogdan Cosmin Tanase, Teodor Horvat, Mihnea Davidescu, Claudiu Eduard Nistor, Calin Muntean, Gabriel Veniamin Cozma, Alin Nicola, Felix Bratosin, Sorina Maria Denisa Laitin, Alin Burlacu
  Healthcare.2025; 13(8): 957.     CrossRef
• Gut microbiota of patients with post-stroke depression in Chinese population: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Qiaoling Li, Yuejuan Zhang, Xiaoqian Wang, Lin Dai, Wenli Zhao
  Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Fronto–Cerebellar Diaschisis and Cognitive Dysfunction after Pontine Stroke: A Case Series and Systematic Review
  Kei Shimmyo, Shigeru Obayashi
  Biomedicines.2024; 12(3): 623.     CrossRef
• Fine-needle aspiration cytology for neck lesions in patients with antithrombotic/anticoagulant medications: systematic review and meta-analysis
  Dongbin Ahn, Ji Hye Kwak, Gill Joon Lee, Jin Ho Sohn
  European Radiology.2024; 34(10): 6843.     CrossRef
• What is the role of physical exercise in the era of cancer prehabilitation? A systematic review
  Nicole Del Bianco, Anita Borsati, Linda Toniolo, Christian Ciurnielli, Lorenzo Belluomini, Jessica Insolda, Marco Sposito, Michele Milella, Federico Schena, Sara Pilotto, Alice Avancini
  Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology.2024; 198: 104350.     CrossRef
• Psychiatric adverse events associated with the COVID-19 vaccines approved in the Republic of Korea: a systematic review
  Seungeun Ryoo, Miyoung Choi, Nam-Kyong Choi, Hyoung-Shik Shin, Jun Hee Woo, Byung-Joo Park, Sanghoon Oh
  Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives.2024; 15(2): 107.     CrossRef
• A Systematic Review on Health Impact of Electronic Cigarettes in South Korea
  Eunsil Cheon, Hana Kim, Naeun Kang, Susan Park, Sung-il Cho, Jieun Hwang
  Journal of the Korean Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.2024; 15(2): 29.     CrossRef
• Effectiveness of artificial intelligence robot interventions on psychological health in community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review
  Yujin Park, Sun Ju Chang, Hee Jung Kim, Ha Na Jeong
  Journal of Korean Gerontological Nursing.2024; 26(3): 234.     CrossRef
• Nursing care services to address unmet supportive care needs among cancer survivors: a systematic review
  Hyun Jin Song, Hyun-Ju Seo, Eun Jeong Choi, Ji Sung Lee, Yumi Choi
  Journal of Cancer Survivorship.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Effects of Swimming Exercise on Early Adolescents’ Physical Conditioning and Physical Health: A Systematic Review
  Francisco A. Ferreira, Catarina C. Santos, António L. Palmeira, Ricardo J. Fernandes, Mário J. Costa
  Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology.2024; 9(3): 158.     CrossRef
• Safety and Efficacy of Bispecific Antibodies in Adults with Large B-Cell Lymphomas: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trial Data
  Elena Bayly-McCredie, Maxine Treisman, Salvatore Fiorenza
  International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2024; 25(17): 9736.     CrossRef
• Characteristics of fragility hip fracture-related falls in the older adults: A systematic review
  Seung-Kyu Lim, Kyomin Choi, Nam Hun Heo, Younji Kim, Jae-Young Lim
  The Journal of nutrition, health and aging.2024; 28(10): 100357.     CrossRef
• Oral and Gingival Crevicular Fluid Biomarkers for Jawbone Turnover Diseases: A Scoping Review
  Nurfatima Azzahra Fadli, Mariati Abdul Rahman, Saiful Anuar Karsani, Roszalina Ramli
  Diagnostics.2024; 14(19): 2184.     CrossRef
• Characteristics and Effects of Well-dying Program Interventions among Older Adults in Korea: A Systematic Review
  Jin Hui Han, Hee Joo Oh
  Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing.2024; 38(2): 115.     CrossRef
• Substituting with alternative iodinated contrast medium to prevent recurrent adverse drug reactions associated with its use: a meta-analysis
  Su Jin Lim, Pae Sun Suh, Chong Hyun Suh, Pyeong Hwa Kim, Kye Jin Park, Hyo Jung Park, Choong Wook Lee
  European Radiology.2024; 35(5): 2569.     CrossRef
• Also long overdue: consideration of collider bias in guidelines and tools for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies
  Judith J M Rijnhart, Ava Rabbers, Santina Rizzuto
  International Journal of Epidemiology.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Safety and Efficacy of Atogepant for the Preventive Treatment of Migraines in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  Abdulrahim Saleh Alrasheed, Taif Mansour Almaqboul, Reem Ali Alshamrani, Noor Mohammad AlMohish, Majed Mohammad Alabdali
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2024; 13(22): 6713.     CrossRef
• Clinical predictors and noninvasive imaging in Fontan-associated liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
  Jae Hee Seol, Jinyoung Song, Soo Jin Kim, Hoon Ko, Jae Yoon Na, Min Jung Cho, Hee Joung Choi, Jue Seong Lee, Kyung Jin Oh, Jo Won Jung, Se Yong Jung
  Hepatology Communications.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Comparative evaluation of pit & fissure sealant retention using cotton roll & rubber dam isolation techniques – a systematic review & meta-analysis
  Neha Shukla, Zainab Akram, P. G. Naveen Kumar, Mahesh R. Khairnar, Sachin Kumar Jadhav, Savitha Priyadarsini
  Evidence-Based Dentistry.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Biopsychosocial approach to sports injury: a systematic review and exploration of knowledge structure
  Moonjung Bae
  BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

Background
Diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA) involves the separation of the midline abdominal muscles and linea alba and affects more than half of postpartum women. This study aimed to assess the effect of a split tummy exercise program (STEP) on DRA closure in postpartum mothers.
Methods
A randomized controlled trial was conducted from 2008 to 2020 at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre. Primigravida mothers diagnosed with DRA were selected and randomly assigned to the intervention (n=21) or control (n=20) group. The intervention group underwent a home-based STEP consisting of three phases of nine abdominal exercises. DRA size was assessed at baseline and at 8 weeks postpartum using two-dimensional ultrasound.
Results
The mean age of the participants was 28 years (standard deviation, 3.6), with the majority of Malay ethnicity (87.8%) and working mothers (78%). After 8 weeks, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in DRA size of up to 27% (mean difference, 6.17 mm; 95% confidence interval, 3.7–8.7; P<0.001). No significant intergroup DRA changes were observed after 8 weeks of follow-up.
Conclusion
Early postpartum screening for DRA should be advocated to allow early STEP intervention to ensure favorable outcomes. STEP intervention is an effective postnatal training program for managing DRA.

Citations

• Impact of postpartum exercise on pelvic floor disorders and diastasis recti abdominis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Nicole F Beamish, Margie H Davenport, Muhammad Usman Ali, Matthew J Gervais, Talia Noel Sjwed, Gyanjot Bains, Allison Sivak, Rita E Deering, Stephanie-May Ruchat
  British Journal of Sports Medicine.2025; 59(8): 562.     CrossRef
• Comparative Efficacy and Acceptability of Non-surgical Treatments with or without Exercise for Diastasis Recti Abdominis in Postpartum Women: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
  Wen-Chieh Wu, Wen-Hong Wu, Ming-Fen Lee, Pei-Yu Wu, Yu-Kang Tu, Hsuan Lin, Chien-Yi Chan, Chun-Yin Huang
  Sports Medicine.2025; 55(4): 937.     CrossRef
• Comparative Efficacy of Abdominal Exercises and Abdominal Binding on Diastasis Recti Abdominis Reduction in Postpartum Women: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
  Abdullah, Khawaja Abdul Rehman, Bilal Ahmad, Muhammad Khubaib Arshad, Humza Saeed, Mahnoor Asghar Keen, Amna Anwar, Noor ul ain Saleem, Umm E. Salma Shabbar Banatwala, Zara Bilal, Maryam Shahzad, Pakeeza Shakoor, Muhammad Ahsen Niazi
  Physiotherapy Research International.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Recomendaciones médicas desde atención primaria sobre ejercicio físico en el posparto
  L.M. Gallo-Galán, M.A. Gallo-Vallejo, J.L. Gallo-Vallejo
  Medicina de Familia. SEMERGEN.2024; 50(3): 102148.     CrossRef
• Intra‐ and Interimage Reliability of Inter‐Rectus Distance Measurements Determined via Ultrasound Imaging by the Same or Different Testers in Women in the Early Postpartum Period
  Qing Jiang, Ya Gao, Shuyu Xia, Yuefan Gu, Jun Gu, Jianfeng Guo, Guannan Feng, Qifeng Deng, Xuedong Deng
  Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine.2024; 43(6): 1037.     CrossRef
• FISIOTERAPIA NA DIÁSTASE DOS MÚSCULOS RETOS ABDOMINAIS NO PÓS-PARTO: REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA
  Ana Clara Moreira de Jesus, Andresa Santos Souza, Gabrielle Barreto Menezes, Jisielle Oliveira dos Santos, Luiz André Santos Silva, Elisama de Campos Guimarães, Isabela da Silva Vasconcelos Rodrigues, Grace Kelly Melo de Almeida
  Revista Contemporânea.2024; 4(7): e5102.     CrossRef
• Comparison of Health Parameters in Postpartum Diastasis Recti: A Randomized Control Trial of SEMG Biofeedback-Assisted Core Strengthening Exercises with Kinesiotaping vs. Non-Assisted Exercises
  Ujala Afzal, Quratulain Saeed, Muhammad Nabeel Anwar, Sanna Pervaiz, Manahil Shahid, Rimsha Javed, Muhammad Umair Ali, Seung Won Lee
  Healthcare.2024; 12(16): 1567.     CrossRef
• Effect of hypopressive and conventional abdominal exercises on postpartum diastasis recti: A randomized controlled trial
  Mercedes Soto-González, Iria Da Cuña-Carrera, Eva María Lantarón-Caeiro, Augusto Gil Pascoal, Shabnam ShahAli
  PLOS ONE.2024; 19(12): e0314274.     CrossRef

With aging, loss of skeletal muscle mass and muscle function increases, resulting in an increased risk of falls, fractures, long-term institutional care, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and even death. Sarcopenia, which is derived from the Greek words “sarx” or flesh+“penia” or loss, is defined as a condition characterized by low muscle mass and low muscle strength and performance. In 2019, the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) published a consensus paper on the diagnosis and treatment of sarcopenia. The AWGS 2019 guideline, specifically, presented strategies for case-finding and assessment to help diagnose “possible sarcopenia” in primary care settings. For case finding, the AWGS 2019 guideline proposed an algorithm that recommends calf circumference measurement (cut-off <34 cm in men, <33 cm in women) or the SARC-F (strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls) questionnaire (cut-off ≥4). If this case finding is confirmed, handgrip strength (cutoff <28 kg in men, <18 kg in women) or the 5-time chair stand test (≥12 seconds) should be performed to diagnose “possible sarcopenia.” If an individual is diagnosed as “possible sarcopenia,” AWGS 2019 recommends that the individual should start lifestyle interventions and related health education for primary healthcare users. Because no medication is available to treat sarcopenia, exercise and nutrition is essential for sarcopenia management. Many guidelines, recommend physical activity, with a focus on progressive resistance (strength) training, as a first-line therapy for the management of sarcopenia. It is essential to educate older adults with sarcopenia on the need to increase protein intake. Many guidelines recommended that older people should consume at least 1.2 g of proteins/kg/d. This minimum threshold can be increased in the presence of catabolic or muscle wasting. Previous studies reported that leucine, a branched-chain amino acid, is essential for protein synthesis in muscle, and a stimulator for skeletal muscle synthesis. A guideline conditionally recommends that diet or nutritional supplements should be combined with exercise intervention for older adults with sarcopenia.

Citations

• Evaluating sarcopenia and nutritional status in outpatients with liver cirrhosis: concordance of diagnostic methods
  Marina Demas Rezende Gischewski, Fernanda Lívia Cavalcante Araujo, Aryana Isabelle De Almeida Neves Siqueira, Alina Joana da Silva Wallraf, João Araújo Barros Neto, Nassib Bezerra Bueno Nassib, Juliana Célia de Farias Santos, Fabiana Andréa Moura
  Nutrición Hospitalaria.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Update on the Complications and Management of Liver Cirrhosis
  Hiba Fadlallah, Diala El Masri, Hisham F. Bahmad, Wassim Abou-Kheir, Jad El Masri
  Medical Sciences.2025; 13(1): 13.     CrossRef
• Diabetes and Sarcopenia: Intersection of Co Morbid Conditions
  Byron J. Hoogwerf
  OBM Geriatrics.2025; 09(01): 1.     CrossRef
• Prevalence and Associated Factors of Dynapenia, Pre-Sarcopenia, and Sarcopenia in Korean Adults: A Cross-Sectional Epidemiological Study
  Do-Youn Lee
  Medicina.2025; 61(4): 575.     CrossRef
• The Prognostic Significance of Handgrip Strength in Cirrhosis: Simplicity Is the Ultimate Sophistication
  Binxin Cui, Ziyi Yang, Chao Sun
  Portal Hypertension & Cirrhosis.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Guidelines for obesity clinic consultations in primary healthcare clinics
  Jee-Hyun Kang, Kyoung-Kon Kim
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 240.     CrossRef
• Guidelines for physical activity counseling in primary healthcare clinics
  Yun Jun Yang
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 265.     CrossRef
• Whole Genome Linkage and Association Analyses Identify DLG Associated Protein-1 as a Novel Positional and Biological Candidate Gene for Muscle Strength: The Long Life Family Study
  Adam J Santanasto, Sandeep Acharya, Mary K Wojczynski, Ryan K Cvejkus, Shiow Lin, Michael R Brent, Jason A Anema, Lihua Wang, Bharat Thyagarajan, Kaare Christensen, E Warwick Daw, Joseph M Zmuda, Lewis A Lipsitz
  The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Predictors of hip fracture in 15 European countries: a longitudinal study of 48,533 geriatric adults using SHARE dataset
  M. Azhar Hussain, Rizwan Qaisar, Asima Karim, Firdos Ahmad, Fabio Franzese, Atif Awad, Abeer A. Al-Masri, Mohammed Alsaeed, Shaea A. Alkahtani
  Archives of Osteoporosis.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Open, Active-Controlled Clinical Study to Evaluate the Correlation between Whole Body DEXA and BIA Muscle Measurements
  Yong-Chan Ha, Shinjune Kim, Jun-Il Yoo
  Journal of Bone Metabolism.2024; 31(3): 219.     CrossRef
• Doctor and patient perceptions of sarcopenia in community-based primary care clinics: a questionnaire survey
  Jungha Park, Daehyun Lee, Jae Young Jang, Jung-Ha Kim, Jae Uk Baek, Myungkwan Jeong, Sungwouk Kim, Moonbae Kyoung, Miji Kim, Chang Won Won
  European Geriatric Medicine.2024; 15(6): 1827.     CrossRef
• Frequency of clinical signs in patients with Cushing's syndrome and mild autonomous cortisol secretion: overlap is common
  Leah T Braun, Frederick Vogel, Elisabeth Nowak, German Rubinstein, Stephanie Zopp, Katrin Ritzel, Felix Beuschlein, Martin Reincke
  European Journal of Endocrinology.2024; 191(4): 473.     CrossRef
• Efficacy of a combined exercise and nutrition intervention study for outpatients with possible sarcopenia in community-based primary care clinics (ENdSarC): study protocol for a multicenter single-blinded randomized controlled trial
  Woohyuk Ji, Daehyun Lee, Minjin Kim, Nahyun Lim, Jae-Young Lim, Jae Uk Baek, Sungwouk Kim, Choong Hyung Lee, Miji Kim, Chang Won Won
  BMC Geriatrics.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Age-related increase in the excitability of mouse layer V pyramidal neurons in the primary motor cortex is accompanied by an increased persistent inward current
  Jose A. Viteri, Nikolaus Bueschke, Joseph M. Santin, W. David Arnold
  GeroScience.2024; 47(2): 2199.     CrossRef
• The Effect of Long Chain n-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Muscle Strength in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  Maha Timraz, Ahmad Binmahfoz, Terry J. Quinn, Emilie Combet, Stuart R. Gray
  Nutrients.2023; 15(16): 3579.     CrossRef

Background
Despite increased clinical and research interest in sarcopenia, even in Asia, not much is known about the association between sarcopenia and depressive symptoms. Sarcopenia and depressive symptoms are associated with several health problems in older adults; therefore, we investigated the association between sarcopenia and depression in Korean older adults.
Methods
The study sample included 1,929 participants aged over 60 years (44.6% men; mean age, 69.7 years) from nationally representative data of the 2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination survey. Possible sarcopenia was defined according to the diagnostic algorithm of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019; however, we measured only hand-grip strength (kg) in this study. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used for screening for symptoms of depression. A cross-sectional analysis was used to examine the relationship between possible sarcopenia and depressive symptoms.
Results
Possible sarcopenia and depressive symptoms were identified in 538 (27.9%) and 97 (5.0%) participants, respectively. After adjusting for age, sex, and other potential covariates, possible sarcopenia was positively associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms (odds ratio, 2.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.36–3.11; P<0.001).
Conclusion
Possible sarcopenia was significantly associated with depressive symptoms in Korean older adults. Early interventions for possible sarcopenia and depressive symptoms in routine clinical practice could help Korean older adults to have healthy aging. Future studies are required to explore any causal relationship between possible sarcopenia and depressive symptoms in Korean older adults.

Citations

• Social media-based Health Education plus Exercise Program (SHEEP) to improve muscle function among young-old adults with possible sarcopenia in the community: A feasibility study protocol
  Ya Shi, Emma Stanmore, Lisa McGarrigle, Chris Todd, Marina De Rui
  PLOS ONE.2025; 20(1): e0303481.     CrossRef
• Association between sarcopenia components and depressed mood varies by sex among community-dwelling older adults from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study
  Yong Soon Park, Keunjoong Yoo, Hye Jin Kim, Miji Kim, Chang Won Won
  Scientific Reports.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Bidirectional association between sarcopenia and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis
  Xiangpeng Meng, Ze Wang, Linyu Lyu
  Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics.2025; 132: 105787.     CrossRef
• Association between handgrip strength, handgrip strength asymmetry, and anxiety in Korean older adults: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2022
  Sang-Youn Choi, Su-Min Park, Eun-Cheol Park, Marina De Rui
  PLOS ONE.2025; 20(4): e0315256.     CrossRef
• Relationship between dietary protein and amino acid intake and handgrip strength in Korean adults: data from the 2014–2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
  Hyunji Ham, Sumin Kim, Kyungho Ha
  Nutrition Journal.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Análisis de la relación entre sarcopenia y síntomas depresivos en adultos mayores: una revisión de alcance
  Miguel Ángel Hernández Real, Uriel Nahum Hernández Puebla
  RESPYN Revista Salud Pública y Nutrición.2024; 23(2): 23.     CrossRef

Background
Similar to smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke is a risk factor for developing hypertension and cardiovascular diseases; however, there is no standardized method for measuring smoke exposure. Measuring urine cotinine levels is one possible means for determining the degree of exposure to secondhand smoke. This study investigated the association between urinary cotinine levels and blood pressure in Korean adults exposed to secondhand smoke.
Methods
Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2016 and 2018 were used. A total of 9,273 participants aged ≥19 years self-reported as current non-smokers, which was cotinine- verified. A complex sample general linear model regression analysis was performed to analyze the association between urine cotinine and blood pressure. A P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results
Corrected urine cotinine levels were positively associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure in female participants (P<0.001 and P=0.040, respectively). Furthermore, a 10-fold increase in the corrected urine cotinine level of those in contact with secondhand smoke was independently associated with 2.085 mm Hg and 0.575 mm Hg increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively. However, there was no association between systolic and diastolic blood pressure in male participants (P=0.226 and P=0.256, respectively).
Conclusion
Urinary cotinine levels were positively associated with increased blood pressure in females exposed to secondhand smoke. Therefore, urinary cotinine may be used as an indicator to quantify and monitor the effects of blood pressure elevation in females exposed to secondhand smoke.

Patients with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)-induced angioedema (ACEIIA) may visit family physicians. The aim of this article was to describe a case of delayed-onset ACEIIA and to present a concise scoping review. Using a case report and a scoping review study design, we report a case of ACEIIA, with clinically confirmed diagnosis. The symptoms resolved after replacing the offending ACEI with another antihypertensive agent. After excluding other causes of perioral swelling and discontinuation of ACEI, the patient was symptom-free within a few days thereafter. Based on this case presentation, we performed a meta-narrative scoping review including up-todate diagnosis and management of ACEIIA, based on published data in English, French, and German from inception to April 1, 2021. Patients with angioedema of unknown origin should be cautiously examined to rule out oral diseases, including allergy to dental materials and drug-induced angioedema. Clinicopathological aspects and current treatment guidelines for ACEI-associated angioedema are also presented.

Citations

• A stepwise approach to chainsaw kickback injury of the nasoorbital complex: a case-based meta-narrative review
  Poramate Pitak-Arnnop, Ornvenus Nimitwongsakul, Nattapong Sirintawat, Keskanya Subbalekha, Christian Stoll, Jean-Paul Meningaud
  Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology.2024; 138(1): e1.     CrossRef

Background
Since the introduction of heated tobacco products (HTPs) in Korea in 2017, their annual sales have increased. Several studies have investigated the perceptions of HTPs and smoking cessation behaviors. For the first time, In 2019, questions focused on HTP use were introduced in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES). This study aimed to compare smoking cessation behaviors between HTP users and conventional cigarette smokers using KNHANES data.
Methods
Data of 947 current adult smokers from the 8th KNHNES (2019) were analyzed. Current smokers were divided into conventional cigarette (CC)–only, HTP-only, and dual-use groups. The general characteristics of the three groups were investigated. Differences in current intention to quit smoking and past attempts to quit smoking among the three groups were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis by IBM SPSS ver. 25.0.
Results
HTP-only users demonstrated fewer future smoking cessation plans (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.398; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.195–0.813; P=0.012) and fewer smoking cessation attempts in the past year (AOR, 0.533; 95% CI, 0.298–0.954; P=0.034) than CC-only smokers. However, there was no significant difference between dual-use (CC+HTP) and CC-only smokers.
Conclusion
While dual-use and CC-only smokers showed similar smoking cessation behaviors, HTP-only users had fewer previous attempts to quit smoking and were less likely to be currently ready to quit smoking. These findings can be explained by a decrease in the need to quit smoking due to the convenience of HTP and the perception that HTPs are less harmful than CC.

Citations

• Association between type of smoking and smoking cessation plans in Korean adults: A nationwide cross-sectional study
  Kitae Park, Dan Bi Kim, Jae Yong Shin, Chung-Mo Nam, Eun-Cheol Park
  Tobacco Induced Diseases.2025; 23(February): 1.     CrossRef
• Pharmacotherapy guidelines for smoking cessation in primary healthcare clinics
  Cheol Min Lee, Yu Jin Paek, Yoo Bin Seo, Eon Sook Lee
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 230.     CrossRef
• Three in four smokers want to quit tobacco (reference to reassessing the smoking target in Japan): findings from the JASTIS2021 study
  Masayuki Sugihara, Takahiro Tabuchi
  Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine.2024; 29: 28.     CrossRef
• A Scoping Review of Behavioural Studies on Heated Tobacco Products
  Ian M Fearon, Sarah F Cordery, Martin Fitzpatrick, Sarah Weaver, Matthew Stevenson, Erika Grandolfo, Layla Malt, Keith Thompson, Thomas Nahde
  Cureus.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Is Using Heated Tobacco Products Helpful in Smoking Cessation?
  Young Gyu Cho
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2023; 44(3): 127.     CrossRef

Background
This study aimed to examine the association between coffee or green tea consumption and ferritin or hemoglobin levels in premenopausal women.
Methods
We used the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010–2012), and a total of 4,322 individuals were surveyed. In women of reproductive age, average ferritin and hemoglobin levels were calculated according to coffee or green tea consumption. Covariates included in the analysis were demographic variables, such as age, body mass index, education, drinking, smoking, history of hypertension, history of diabetes diagnosis, physical activity, total energy intake, and daily iron intake.
Results
In 4,322 participants, the average hemoglobin level was 12.90±0.02 g/dL, and the average level of ferritin was 31.95±0.67 ng/mL. As a result of testing, correlation between ferritin and coffee intake and difference in ferritin levels according to coffee consumption was significant (P<0.05). In this study, a post hoc test indicated that ferritin level significantly differed between one and two cups, two and three cups, and three and one cup groups (overall P<0.001). Additionally, there was a negative correlation between ferritin level and coffee intake; ferritin level decreased by 2.09 ng/mL with a one-cup increase in daily coffee consumption.
Conclusion
In premenopausal women, coffee intake is associated with low serum ferritin levels. Our results indicate that drinking >2 cups of coffee significantly affect ferritin levels in Korean premenopausal women.

Citations

• Women’s Health and Primary Care
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Guidelines for nutrition counseling in primary healthcare clinics
  Gyeongsil Lee, Seung-Won Oh
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 278.     CrossRef
• Dietary diversity and preferences among pregnant women and its association with anaemia
  Benedicta Twum - Dei, Richmond Aryeetey, Linda Nana Esi Aduku
  Nutrition & Food Science .2024; 54(4): 805.     CrossRef
• Association Between Tea Drinking and Anemia in Women of Reproductive Age: A Cross-Sectional Study From the Mekran Division, Balochistan, Pakistan
  Noman Sadiq, Yasmeen Gul, Muhammad M Bilal, Muhammad Afzal, Nasrin Mumtaz, Abdul Wahid
  Cureus.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Does tea intake increase the risk of anemia? Evidence from a large prospective cohort and Mendelian randomization study
  Rui Hang Zhang, Wei Sen Zhang, Chao Qiang Jiang, Feng Zhu, Ya Li Jin, Shiu Lun Au Yeung, Tai Hing Lam, Lin Xu, Jiao Wang
  Food & Function.2024; 15(18): 9552.     CrossRef
• A Comparative Study of the Effect Coffee and Tea on Some Parameters in the Rats Blood
  Sadiq Al-Mansury, Suhad J. Hadi, Hawraa H. Naji, Adnan M. Jassim, Shatha M. Abbas, Nada Khazal K. Hindi
  Medical Journal of Babylon.2024; 21(3): 627.     CrossRef
• Association between Coffee and Green Tea Consumption and Iron Deficiency Anemia in Korea
  Jungun Lee
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2023; 44(2): 69.     CrossRef

Prediabetes is a condition associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes, in which blood glucose levels are high but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. The rapid increase in the prevalence of prediabetes is a major global health challenge. The incidence of prediabetes has increased to pandemic levels and can lead to serious consequences. Unfortunately, nearly 90% of prediabetic individuals are unaware of their ailment. A quarter of prediabetic individuals develop type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) within 3–5 years. Although prediabetes is a reversible condition, the prevention of diabetes has received little attention. It is essential for prediabetic individuals to implement new health-improvement techniques. Focusing on family systems is one strategy to promote health, which is determined by health patterns that are often taught, established, and adjusted within family contexts. For disease prevention, a family-based approach may be beneficial. Family support is essential for the metabolic control of the disease. This study aimed to show several strategies for involving the patient’s family members in preventing the conversion of prediabetes to T2DM and to emphasize that the patient’s family members are a valuable resource to reduce the incidence of diabetes.

Citations

• Assessment of burden of prediabetes and diabetes with oral glucose tolerance test in community-based settings of Bengaluru rural district
  Gokul Sarveswaran, Vaitheeswaran Kulothungan, Sukanya Rangamani, Deepadarshan Huliyappa, Pruthvish Sreekantaiah
  Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.2024; 13(9): 3806.     CrossRef

Background
Sleep duration is associated with hearing loss, especially presbycusis, which is the most common type of hearing loss; however, there is limited evidence regarding this association among the Korean population. We aimed to determine the relationship between sleep duration and high-frequency hearing loss in Korean adults aged ≥40 years.
Methods
We examined 5,547 Korean adults aged ≥40 years who completed audiometric tests and questionnaires regarding sleep duration during the 2010–2012 cycle of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Mild presbycusis was defined as >25 decibels (dB) and <40 dB, whereas moderate-to-severe presbycusis was defined as >40 dB pure tone averages at high frequencies (3,000, 4,000, and 6,000 Hz) for both ears. Additionally, the sleep duration was divided into quartiles. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using multivariable logistic regression after adjusting for covariates.
Results
The prevalence of presbycusis in South Korean adults was 62.1%, of which 61.4% showed moderate to severe presbycusis. The incidence of moderate-to-severe, but not mild, presbycusis showed a significant positive correlation with sleep duration.
Conclusion
Our findings suggest that sleep duration is associated with the prevalence of presbycusis.

Citations

• Joint association of sleep duration and depression with new-onset hearing loss: a national cohort study
  Fang Wang, Yu-Jun Xiong, Da-Ming Shao, Tian Lv, Shiqin Chen, Qian-Yuan Zhu
  Frontiers in Nutrition.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Sleep characteristics and hearing loss in middle-aged and older adults: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015–2018
  Kening Jiang, Adam P. Spira, Nicholas S. Reed, Frank R. Lin, Jennifer A. Deal
  Sleep Epidemiology.2024; 4: 100082.     CrossRef
• Age-related hearing loss and its potential drug candidates: a systematic review
  Shiyu Hu, Qingru Sun, Fei Xu, Ninghua Jiang, Jianli Gao
  Chinese Medicine.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef

Background
Despite the increasing prevalence of anxiety disorders in Korea, there have been no nationwide studies on the association between tobacco status and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Furthermore, despite the increasing number of people using noncombustible nicotine or tobacco products (NNTPs), the association between NNTP use and GAD remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the association between tobacco use and GAD.
Methods
This nationwide study used data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2021) and included 5,454 adults aged ≥19 years who self-reported on the tobacco use and mental health sections. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the odds ratios (ORs) of GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 score ≥10) according to tobacco status among Korean adults. The severity of anxiety was assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale.
Results
Compared to never tobacco users, the ORs of GAD for combustible cigarette smokers and NNTP users were 2.74 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.66–4.50) and 2.11 (95% CI, 1.16–3.83), respectively. The OR of GAD for former tobacco users was 1.63 (95% CI, 0.98–2.72).
Conclusion
Tobacco use (combustible cigarettes and NNTP) was positively associated with GAD. However, in former tobacco users, there was no significant association with GAD when compared with never tobacco users. Given the OR of GAD among tobacco users, it is crucial to pay attention to screening for GAD and implement appropriate early interventions.

Citations

• Comprehensive Health Strategies for the Post-pandemic Era: Integrating Physical Health, Psychological Resilience, Lifestyle Choices, and Occupational Well-being
  Su Hwan Cho
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(6): 303.     CrossRef

Elderly abuse and neglect are among the primary public health problems linked to global demographic changes in the population, impacting not only the well-being of the elderly but also the growth of the nation or economy. This article discusses the effects of elder abuse and neglect on population health from the national and international perspectives through a narrative review of previously published articles on the concept of aging, the prevalence of elderly abuse and neglect, its risk factors and effects, and finally measures, legal perspectives, and recommendations to curb it. Interventions in Malaysia and selected nations, including Indonesia, South Korea, the United States, Australia, and Hong Kong, are examined. This issue is important as the majority of countries are moving toward being elderly populations. Improving global surveillance and the monitoring of instances is essential to inform policy actions to prevent elder abuse. In addition, a thorough assessment of the identified risk factors for violence and steps to prevent violence is required.

Background
A written asthma action plan (WAAP) is one of the treatment strategies to achieve good asthma control in children.
Methods
This randomized controlled trial was conducted to observe the effect of WAAP on asthma control and quality of life using the Asthma Control Questionnaire and Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) at baseline and after 3 months. A repeated measure analysis of variance was used to analyze the mean score difference between the two groups.
Results
There was no significant difference in mean score for asthma control at baseline between groups (F[degree of freedom (df)]=1.17 [1, 119], P=0.282). However, at 3 months, a significant difference in mean scores between groups was observed (F[df]=7.32 [1, 119], P=0.008). The mean±standard deviation (SD) scores in the intervention and control groups were 0.96±0.53 and 1.21±0.49, respectively. For the analysis of the PAQLQ, no significant difference was observed in the mean score for the quality of life baseline in both groups. There were significant mean score changes for the quality of life (F[df]=10.9 [1, 119], P=0.001) at 3 months follow-up, where those in the intervention group scored a mean±SD score of 6.19±0.45, and those in the control group scored 5.94±0.38. A time-group interaction analysis using repeated-measures analysis of variance showed significant differences in mean score changes (F[df]=5.03 [1, 116], P=0.027) and (F[df]=11.55 [1, 116], P=0.001) where a lower mean score was observed in the intervention group, indicating better asthma control and quality of life, respectively. A significant (P<0.001) negative Pearson correlation between asthma control and quality of life (-0.65) indicated a moderate correlation.
Conclusion
WAAP, along with standard asthma treatment, improves asthma care.

Citations

• Accessibility of health and preventive care for patients with bronchial asthma
  L.Yu. Nikitina, O.S. Mishina, V.V. Gainitdinova, T.Yu. Gneusheva, O.V. Nagatkina, R.M. Aynetdinov, G.V. Lukyanova, I.A. Bogdanov, I.A. Deev, S.N. Avdeev
  Journal of Respiratory Medicine.2025; 1(1): 15.     CrossRef
• The utility of the necessity-concerns framework (NCF) in explaining adherence and parental beliefs about controller medication in Saudi Arabian children with asthma
  Marja A. Alyami, Mohammed M. Alyami, Ahmed H Alasimi, Jaber S. Alqahtani, Abdullah A. Alqarni, Abdulelah M. Aldhahir
  Journal of Asthma.2024; 61(5): 436.     CrossRef

Background
This study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators of iron and folic acid supplementation and deworming programs among school-going adolescents.
Methods
A mixed-method observational study was conducted among adolescents in the 8th to 10th standards and their teachers across four schools in Deoghar, Jharkhand, India, using simple random sampling. The study included a questionnaire on socio-demographics, knowledge (34 items) (α=0.894), attitudes (2 items) (α=0.711) toward iron deficiency anemia, awareness of the Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) program and deworming (20 items) (α=0.783), and practices related to iron folic acid supplementation (IFS) and deworming, along with qualitative components. Data were analyzed using jamovi.
Results
Compliance rates for IFS and deworming were 27.5% and 67.9%, respectively. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that sex, religion, caste, father’s educational status, per capita monthly family income (PCMI), diet type, adequate knowledge, and positive attitude toward anemia influenced IFS compliance. Religion, PCMI, and prior information on the importance of deworming facilitate compliance. Implementation barriers included irregular medication supply and a lack of student awareness.
Conclusion
Periodic evaluation, regular sensitization, and a consistent drug supply are necessary to effectively implement WIFS and deworming programs in the study area.

Citations

• Reflecting on progress and challenges: the Korean Journal of Family Medicine in 2024
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(2): 55.     CrossRef
• Health Education and Promotion Interventions to Mitigate Geophagic Practise: A Scoping Review
  Mohora Feida Malebatja, Moreoagae Bertha Randa, Mathildah Mpata Mokgatle, Oluwafemi Omoniyi Oguntibeju
  Public Health Reviews.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef

Citations

• Pharmacotherapy guidelines for smoking cessation in primary healthcare clinics
  Cheol Min Lee, Yu Jin Paek, Yoo Bin Seo, Eon Sook Lee
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 230.     CrossRef

Increased mechanization and technological advances have simplified our lives on the one hand and increased sedentary behaviors on the other hand, paving the way for emerging global health concerns, i.e., sedentarism, which could be the leading cause of all major chronic health problems worldwide. Sedentarism is a habitual behavior of choosing and indulging in low-energy expenditure activities (≤1.5 metabolic equivalents), such as chairtype (sitting, studying, traveling) or screen-type activities (TV, computers, mobile). With technological advancements, there is a significant transition in the lifestyles of people from being active (walking) to being more deskbound (sitting). Prolonged sitting can have unintended consequences for health with sitting time >7 h/d, leading to a 5% increase in all-cause mortality with each additional hour spent sitting (i.e., +7 h/d), while considering physical activity levels. This review will highlight how sedentarism is emerging as a major risk factor for the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases, especially among young adults and adults. Chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and cancer, are the leading causes of death worldwide. Hence, there is an urgent need for collective action to mitigate the burgeoning public health crisis posed by sedentarism in the 21st century. This paper intends to set in motion a call for all policymakers and public health professionals placed nationally or internationally to reach a consensus on ending sedentarism and provide viable resolutions for effective management of excessive sedentary behaviors and healthy adoption and maintenance of active lifestyles among individuals of all age groups.

Citations

• The Impact of Avatar Appearance on the Persuasiveness of a Short Video Encouraging Physical Activity: A Randomized Observational Study
  Momoko Tohyama, Ryo Momosaki, Kazuma Tora, Tsuyoshi Okuhara
  Cureus.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Associations of the Social Determinants of Health and Lifestyle Components with Dietary Patterns in a Population of Reproductive Age
  Anca-Elena Crăciun, Adriana Rusu, Cornelia Bala, Dana Mihaela Ciobanu, Cristian-Ioan Crăciun, Adriana Fodor, Gabriela Roman, Camelia Vonica, Georgeta Inceu
  Nutrients.2025; 17(6): 950.     CrossRef
• A Neutral Risk Framework for Active Participation Across the Lifespan: A Call to Action for Using Risk in Movement Contexts as a Tool for Human Flourishing
  Melanie Stuckey, Brandy Tanenbaum, Dean Kriellaars
  Sports Medicine.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Applying Multi-criteria Decision Analysis Methods to Explore the Key Factors in Using Interactive Intelligent Health Promotion Equipment
  Tsu-Ming Yeh, Hsiao-Yuan Lu, Fan-Yun Pai
  SAGE Open.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Efeitos da musculação na saúde e bem-estar de pessoas sedentárias
  Jardel Nimet, Aline Rosa Marosti, Carmem Patrícia Barbosa
  Arquivos do Mudi.2025; 29(1): e75704.     CrossRef
• Assessment of cardiac outcomes of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and developmental coordination disorder: A systematic review
  Jorge Lopes Cavalcante-Neto, Ricele da Silva Brito, Lucinete Sena de Oliveira Silva, Antonio Roberto Zamunér
  Research in Autism.2025; 125: 202604.     CrossRef
• Primary Care Physicians’ Important Role: Lifestyle Modification for Chronic Disease Management
  Su-Min Jeong
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(5): 237.     CrossRef

Background
Intravenous (IV) iron therapy is performed in community practices and hospitals with modern formulations when oral administration becomes impractical. Effective replacement of iron is important for the treatment of iron deficiency and anemia. Can IV iron be rechallenged in individuals with a history of adverse reactions? This review is to explore the challenge of this, when clinically indicated.
Methods
After performing a literature search, five studies (combined total sample number=1,006) for re-exposure of IV iron to individuals with a history of past reactions were identified, observed, and analyzed. Re-exposure included reactions ranging from mild to moderate and few cases of severe type.
Results
The majority (>80%) of IV iron rechallenges were tolerable, safe, and successful without major serious incidents. There were no reports of major reactions (severe hypersensitivity reactions or anaphylaxis) in these re-exposures.
Conclusion
Re-administration of IV iron therapy in patients with a previous adverse reaction is plausible, with benefit and risk stratification. A rechallenge would depend on the nature and degree of the adverse reaction and use of alternative formulations. Rechallenge to a previous severe hypersensitivity reaction or anaphylaxis with the same product has not been reported in these studies. Evidence on the benefit of premedication use is conflicting and requires further studies.

Citations

• The experiences of ferric carboxymaltose desensitization and provocation
  Fatma Dindar Çelik, Kurtuluş Aksu, Özgür Akkale, Hatice Çelik Tuğlu, Melis Yağdıran, Onur Telli, Gürgün Tuğçe Vural Solak, Enes Çelik
  World Allergy Organization Journal.2025; 18(2): 101025.     CrossRef
• Intravenous Iron Versus Oral Iron Administration for the Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Patient-Preference Study
  Ranya Ghamri, Hadeel Alsulami
  Cureus.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

Background
Dietary Na⁺ or Na⁺/K⁺ ratio has been reported to be associated with bone mineral density (BMD). However, this remains unclear, and only a few studies have been reported on the Korean population. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association between dietary Na⁺, K⁺, and Na⁺/K⁺ ratios and BMD in middle-aged Korean women.
Methods
This study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008–2011. A total of 3,690 women aged >50 years were included. Study participants were classified into quartiles (lowest quartile Q1–highest quartile Q4) according to dietary Na⁺, K⁺, and Na⁺/K⁺ ratio, and we examined the association of these parameters with BMD. Total femur and lumbar spine BMD were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed using IBM SPSS ver. 19.0.
Results
The mean age was 62 years, and a significant negative trend in the β-coefficient regarding dietary Na⁺ was only observed in the total femur BMD. However, the total femur and lumbar spine BMD decreased from Q1 to Q4 regarding the dietary Na⁺/K⁺ ratio (P-value for trend: 0.044 for total femur BMD and 0.002 for lumbar spine BMD).
Conclusion
A significant negative trend in the β-coefficient for both total femur and lumbar spine BMD was observed regarding the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio. Therefore, based on the results of this study, a higher dietary Na⁺/K⁺ ratio may be associated with a lower BMD.

Citations

• Bioactive Compounds and Health Functions of Plums: Current Status and Future Opportunities
  Ming-Qiang Xu, Samuel Ariyo Okaiyeto, Xiao-Xiao Niu, Qing-Hui Wang, Sriram K. Vidyarthi, Haiou Wang, Li-Zhen Deng, Parag Prakash Sutar, Hong-Wei Xiao
  Food Reviews International.2024; : 1.     CrossRef
• Does Changing the Ratio of Dietary Sodium-to-Potassium Intake Affect Bone Mineral Density?
  Soo Young Kim
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2023; 44(1): 1.     CrossRef

Background
Sleep disorders and insomnia are prevalent worldwide, with negative health outcomes. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a widely used self-report assessment tool for evaluating sleep quality, comprising seven subdomains. The Korean version of the PSQI (PSQI-K) has been tested for reliability and validity in small sample sizes but lacks large-scale validation using objective measures.
Methods
This study was conducted with 268 Korean adults attending health check programs. Participants completed the PSQI-K questionnaire and wore Fitbit devices (Fitbit Inc., USA) to ascertain sleep parameters. Reliability was analyzed using the Cronbach’s α coefficient, and construct validity was determined through factor analysis. Criteria validity was assessed by correlating their index scores with Fitbit sleep parameters. We identified the optimal cutoff for detecting sleep disorders.
Results
The Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.61, indicating adequate internal consistency. Factor analysis revealed three factors, explaining 48.2% of sleep quality variance. The index scores were negatively correlated with Fitbit sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and number of awakenings (P<0.05). The optimal cutoff point for identifying sleep disorder groups was ≥6.
Conclusion
The PSQI-K demonstrated good reliability and validity when correlated with Fitbit sleep parameters, offering a practical screening tool for identifying sleep disorders among Korean adults. Cutoff scores can help identify patients for sleep interventions. However, further large-scale studies are required to validate these findings.

Citations

• Association of work ability with job burnout and sleep quality among biosafety laboratory personnel in Xinjiang, China: a cross-sectional study
  Keke Ju, Ruikai Wu, Jing Yu, Lei Ding, Mengjie Xia, Jiwen Liu, Yaoqin Lu
  Frontiers in Public Health.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Validation of the Korean version of the Sleep Hygiene Practice Scale in a Non-Clinical Population
  Dongyeop Kim, Ji Young Yun, Hye Ah Lee, Pamela Song, Heeyoung Ahn, Chien-Ming Yang, Jee Hyun Kim
  Behavioral Sleep Medicine.2024; 22(6): 791.     CrossRef
• The relationship between sleep quality and happiness among preclinical students in a medical school
  Rusdiah Ruzanna Jusoh, Kavimitha G Krishnasamy, Saila Dharishinee Alagu, Pretha Mohan, Jeslyn Tan Guan Qian, Elayevenee Elanthevan, Muhammad Zulfiqah Sadikan, Haryati Ahmad Hairi
  Journal of Education Technology in Health Sciences.2024; 11(3): 92.     CrossRef

Background
To determine the association between type 2 diabetes mellitus and the consumption of various fruits.
Methods
The Korean Genome And Epidemiology Study is an ongoing prospective longitudinal cohort study of community dwellers and participants (men and women, aged 40–69 years) recruited from the national health examinee registry of Korea. Their individual consumption habits for 12 different fruit types were recorded using food frequency questionnaires. The fruits were then divided into three groups according to their glycemic indexes and glycemic loads. Participants with extreme caloric intakes, pre-existing type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney diseases, chronic liver diseases, and ongoing cancer treatments were excluded. The incidence of type 2 diabetes in the cohort was identified through self-reporting and supplemented by glycated hemoglobin and fasting blood glucose levels.
Results
A total of 2,549 cases of type 2 diabetes were documented during 283,033.8 person-years of follow-up. After adjusting for personal, lifestyle, and dietary risk factors for diabetes, the pooled hazard ratio of type 2 diabetes for every serving per week of total whole fruit consumption was 1.02 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99–1.06; P=0.2). With mutual adjustment of individual fruits, the pooled hazard ratios of type 2 diabetes for every serving per week were 0.94 (95% CI, 0.88–1.00; P=0.039) for bananas, and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.84–0.96; P<0.001) for grapes.
Conclusion
Our findings suggest associations between the consumption of certain fruits and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A greater consumption of grapes was significantly associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes in our cohort, but the total amount of fruit consumption was not associated with a reduced risk.

Citations

• Guidelines for nutrition counseling in primary healthcare clinics
  Gyeongsil Lee, Seung-Won Oh
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 278.     CrossRef

Background
This study aimed to improve the clinical course of patients through rapid response by analyzing the characteristics of critically ill patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Busan between December 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021.
Methods
We divided patients diagnosed with COVID-19 into mild-to-moderate and critical groups based on their clinical severity. The critically ill patients were further sub-divided into delta and delta variant non-epidemic group.
Results
The following factors were significantly more frequent in critically ill patients than in patients with mild-tomoderate symptoms: male sex, age ≥60 years, symptoms at the time of diagnosis, and those with underlying diseases. The following factors were significantly more common in the non-delta variant epidemic group than in the delta variant epidemic group in critically ill patients: male sex, age ≥60 years, underlying diseases, and not being vaccinated. In the delta variant epidemic group, the duration between confirmation of disease and its progression to critically ill status was significantly shorter than that in the non-delta variant epidemic group.
Conclusion
COVID-19 is characterized by the emergence of new variants and repeated epidemics. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the characteristics of critically ill patients to efficiently distribute and manage medical resources.

Metformin is the most widely used antihyperglycemic drug in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Over the past 2 decades, several studies have highlighted a substantial increase in the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency in patients with T2D on metformin therapy. This can lead to several complications and induce or exacerbate peripheral neuropathy. Despite these data, there are no definite guidelines for screening, diagnosing, and treating vitamin B12 deficiency in patients with T2D on metformin therapy. Therefore, in this narrative review, we aimed to suggest a practical diagnostic and therapeutic strategy to address vitamin B12 deficiency in patients with T2D receiving metformin treatment. Clinical evidence supporting an increased risk of vitamin B12 deficiency in patients with T2D on metformin therapy and its risk factors and potential complications are also discussed.

Citations

• Rethinking about Metformin: Promising Potentials
  Kyunam Kim
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(5): 258.     CrossRef
• Prevalence of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on Metformin Therapy: A Cross-Sectional Study
  Shoaib Asghar, Haider Tanvir, Asad Riaz, Muhammad Hamza Ejaz, Mamuna Akram, Al Muktadir Chowdhury Evan, Salman Shahid
  Cureus.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

Background
This study explored the psychosocial needs of family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injuries from the perspective of rehabilitation professionals.
Methods
An exploratory qualitative approach was used, and a total of 14 rehabilitation professionals from various backgrounds participated in face-to-face interviews. All interviews were audio recorded, and session notes were added to the existing data and later transcribed. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes.
Results
Nine need themes emerged: informational, psychological, personal care, financial, social support, welfare, vocational, telemedicine, and referral.
Conclusion
The findings of this study will aid the design or development of need-based customized psychosocial interventions for family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injuries in India. Multiple stakeholders involved in spinal cord injury management should understand the importance of meeting the needs of family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injuries and the timely delivery of customized psychosocial interventions.

Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) is a major public health concern with several undesirable health consequences for older adults. In this overview, we aimed to map and gather information from existing literature to provide a better insight into the prevalence of PIP among community dwellers. Electronic databases were searched from their inception to April 2022. The quality of the included systematic reviews (SRs) was assessed using the assessment of multiple systematic reviews checklist. The degree of overlap within the SRs was also evaluated (2% overlap). All SRs on the prevalence of PIP in older individuals in community settings were included, and a narrative approach was used to synthesize data. Nineteen SRs comprising 548 primary studies met the inclusion criteria, and the average quality of the included SRs was moderate. More than half (50.5%) of the primary studies were conducted in Europe, followed by the United States (22.8%), and Asia (18.9%). Thirty different criteria were used in the primary studies to estimate the prevalence of PIP. The most widely used criteria were those presented in Beers (41.8%) and STOPP (Screening Tool of Older Persons’ Prescriptions)/START (Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment) (21.8%) criteria. Benzodiazepines, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and antidepressants were the most frequently reported PIPs. A considerable variation in the prevalence of PIP ranging from 0% to 98% was reported by SRs. However, there is a high degree of uncertainty regarding the extent of PIP in community settings. To identify knowledge-to-action gaps, SR authors should consider the differences in prevalence of PIP according to settings, applied tools, data sources, geographical areas, and specific pathologies. There is also a need for primary and SR studies from low- and middle-income countries regarding the prevalence of PIP.

Medication review is an intervention with the potential to reduce drug-related problems (DRPs) in the elderly. This study aimed to determine the effect of pharmacists’ medication reviews on geriatric patients. This study accessed two online databases, MEDLINE Complete and Scopus, and examined all studies published in English between 2019 and 2023, except for reviews. The studies included (1) participants over 65 years of age and (2) medication reviews conducted by pharmacists. The titles, abstracts, and full texts were reviewed for data extraction to determine whether the studies satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Forty-four of the initial 709 articles were included in this study. The articles included discussions on the incidence rates of DRPs and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) (n=21), hospitalization (n=14), medication adherence (n=9), quality of life (QoL) (n=8), and falls (n=7). Pharmacist medication reviews were associated with a reduced incidence of DRPs and PIMs, and improved adherence to medications. Patients’ overall QoL is also increasing. However, pharmacist medication reviews were not strongly associated with decreased hospitalization or falls. A pharmacist’s medication review may be a feasible intervention for reducing the incidence rates of DRPs and PIMs, regardless of whether it is performed as a sole intervention or supplemented with other interventions. The intervention was also effective in increasing medication adherence and QoL.

Citations

• Quality of prescribing and health-related quality of life in older adults: a narrative review with a special focus on patients with atrial fibrillation and multimorbidity
  Cheima Amrouch, Deirdre A. Lane, Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga, Mirko Petrovic, Delphine De Smedt
  European Geriatric Medicine.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Erratum: The Impact of Pharmacist Medication Reviews on Geriatric Patients: A Scoping Review
  Nor Liana Che Yaacob, Mathumalar Loganathan, Nur Azwa Hisham, Habibah Kamaruzzaman, Khairil Anuar Md Isa, Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim, Kwok-Wen Ng
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(4): 235.     CrossRef
• Application of the Statin-Associated Muscle Symptoms-Clinical Index to a Cohort of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Undergoing Phlebotomy at an Endocrinology Clinic
  Nor Humaira Mohd Tajudin, Mathumalar Loganathan Fahrni, Rohana Abdul Ghani, Mohd Hazriq Awang, Hitesh Chopra, Ali Saleh Alkhoshaiban
  Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics.2024; 15(4): 389.     CrossRef
• Contribución de los Farmacéuticos Comunitarios en la detección y notificación de reacciones adversas en Andalucía
  Miguel Romero Pérez, Manuel Sánchez Polo, José Alberto Ayala Ortiz, Blanca Contreras Aguilar, María José Zarzuelo-Romero
  Ars Pharmaceutica (Internet).2024; 66(1): 25.     CrossRef

Background
Chronic stress is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. This study aimed to assess whether better coping with stress, as assessed using the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), is associated with slower cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults.
Methods
This study used 2018/2019 data and 2-year follow-up data from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. Of the 3,014 total participants, we included 1,826 participants (mean age, 77.6±3.7 years, 51.9% female) who completed BRS and Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Battery and the Korean version of the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB).
Results
Higher BRS score at baseline was associated with a lesser decline in the Mini-Mental State Examination score over 2 years after adjusting for age, sex, years of education, smoking status, hypertension, diabetes, and depression (B, 0.175; 95% confidence interval, 0.025–0.325) for 2 years, which represents global cognitive function. Other cognitive function measurements (Word List Memory, Word List Recall, Word List Recognition, Digit Span, Trail Making Test-A, and FAB) did not change significantly with the BRS score at baseline.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that better stress-coping ability, meaning faster termination of the stress response, may limit the decline in cognitive function.

Citations

• The Association between Frailty, Quality of Life and Resilience in Community-dwelling Retirement Village Residents
  Katherine Bloomfield, Zhenqiang Wu, Annie Tatton, Cheryl Calvert, Joanna Hikaka, Michal Boyd, Dale Bramley, Martin J. Connolly
  Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.2024; 25(11): 105256.     CrossRef
• Comprehensive Health Strategies for the Post-pandemic Era: Integrating Physical Health, Psychological Resilience, Lifestyle Choices, and Occupational Well-being
  Su Hwan Cho
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(6): 303.     CrossRef