The primary care system (PCS) is an essential national health infrastructure defined by the delivery of comprehensive, integrated, and accessible services that serve as the patient’s first and sustained point of contact with the healthcare system. A comparative review was performed through searches of PubMed, KoreaMed, and J-STAGE databases using terms including “primary care,” “general practitioner,” “family physician,” “gatekeeping,” “Korea,” and “Japan.” Gray literature from the Japan Medical Association, Korea Medical Association, and OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) was also reviewed. Clinical case examples from one author’s practice were included to illustrate real-world general practitioner (GP) challenges. Both Japan and South Korea feature universal health insurance but differ substantially in physician training pathways, gatekeeping enforcement, and community care integration. Japan is transitioning toward a kakaritsuke-i (registered home doctor) model with a nascent GP specialty board, whereas South Korea relies primarily on specialist-led private clinics for primary care delivery. International evidence suggests that structured, continuous family physician (FP) training is associated with improved chronic disease management, preventive care utilization, and patient satisfaction. Strengthening South Korea’s PCS requires a clearly defined mandatory FP residency framework, reinforced gatekeeping mechanisms, and greater investment in community-based integrated care. Japan’s ongoing reforms offer a useful regional comparator, while international FP models provide a proven evidence base for structural improvement.

Background
Dynapenia increases the risk of frailty, disability, and mortality in older adults. Chronic inflammation and physical inactivity are considered major contributors. This study examined the associations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and regular exercise with dynapenia in older Korean adults.
Methods
We analyzed data from 4,935 adults aged ≥65 years who participated in the 2015–2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Dynapenia was defined as handgrip strength <28 kg in men and <18 kg in women. Serum hs-CRP levels were categorized as <1, 1–3, and >3 mg/L. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations of hs-CRP levels and exercise with dynapenia.
Results
The prevalence of dynapenia was 27.4%. Participants with dynapenia had higher adjusted mean hs-CRP levels than those without (1.60 mg/L vs. 1.25 mg/L, P=0.008). Compared with hs-CRP <1 mg/L, hs-CRP >3 mg/L was independently associated with dynapenia (odds ratio [OR], 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26–2.10). Lack of resistance exercise (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.52–2.61) and aerobic exercise (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.20–1.75) were also independently associated with dynapenia. Participants with both hs-CRP >3 mg/L and no regular exercise had higher odds of dynapenia (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.89–3.83) compared with those with hs-CRP <1 mg/L who exercised regularly.
Conclusion
Elevated hs-CRP levels and lack of regular exercise were independently associated with dynapenia, suggesting that reducing systemic inflammation and promoting regular exercise may help preserve muscle strength in older adults.

Background
Recently, the “weekend warrior” pattern, characterized by meeting recommended physical activity (PA) guidelines within one or two weekly sessions, has received increasing attention. However, its association with mental health outcomes remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the relationship between PA patterns and depressive symptoms.
Methods
This study analyzed data from 26,424 adults from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022. PA was assessed by a self-reported questionnaire and classified according to World Health Organization guidelines for moderate-to-vigorous PA. Participants were categorized as inactive (<150 min/ wk), weekend warriors (≥150 min/wk over 1–2 days), or regularly active (≥150 min/wk over ≥3 days). Depressive symptoms were defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score ≥5. Associations were examined using multivariable logistic regression, stratified by sex and age.
Results
Prevalence of depressive symptoms among participants was 19.3%. The weekend warrior PA pattern was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Contrarily, the regularly active PA pattern was inversely associated with depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR], 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66–0.79); this association remained significant after multivariable adjustment (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.74–0.89). In stratified analyses by sex and age group, the regularly active group consistently showed an inverse association with depressive symptoms, whereas no significant association was observed for the weekend warrior PA pattern.
Conclusion
Regularity of physical activity may be more important for mental health than total activity volume alone.

Background
The nutritional status of older adults is closely related to their living arrangements and reflects social support and food accessibility. This study aimed to compare dietary intake between older adults living alone and those living with others and to identify the key socioeconomic, behavioral, and psychosocial determinants influencing nutrient intake.
Methods
Data were obtained from the 2019, 2021, and 2023 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination surveys. Older adults aged ≥65 years were classified according to their living arrangements (living alone vs. living with others). Dietary intake was assessed using 24-hour dietary recall data. Group differences in daily energy and nutrient intake were analyzed using analysis of covariance, adjusted for age. Differences in energy and nutrient intake and their associated factors were examined according to the living arrangement (living alone vs. living with others).
Results
Older adults living alone had significantly lower daily energy and carbohydrate, protein, fat, and calcium intake than those living with others (all P<0.05). In the non-living-alone group, smoking status, quality of life, and food abundance were the key determinants of energy and nutrient intake. Among adults living alone, economic activity, smoking status, and food abundance were the most influential factors.
Conclusion
Living arrangements are a crucial contextual factor influencing dietary intake among older Koreans. Nutritional programs that improve food security and social participation may mitigate these disparities and support healthy aging.

Background
This study examined the population-level factors associated with the under-five mortality rate (U5MR) across 34 provinces in Indonesia using an ecological study design.
Methods
U5MR data were obtained from BPS-Statistics Indonesia. Demographic, healthcare, and fertility-related factors were included as independent variables. An ecological study design was applied, with 34 provinces serving as the units of analysis. Hierarchical Poisson regression was used to assess the associations between the variables. All variables were log-transformed prior to the analysis.
Results
The U5MR in 2020 was 19.83 per 1,000 live births. Fertility and demographic factors were significantly associated with changes in U5MR. A 1% increase in the provincial gross domestic product (P=0.042) and the doctor-to-population ratio (P<0.001) was associated with 3% and 6% reductions in U5MR, respectively. Conversely, a 1% increase in the bed-to-population ratio (P<0.001), age-specific fertility rate (P=0.004), and total fertility rate (P<0.001) was associated with increases of 19%, 5%, and 117% in U5MR, respectively. The midwife ratio (P=0.433) and vaccine availability at primary health centers (P=0.851) were not significantly associated with U5MR.
Conclusion
Improving the U5MR requires equitable healthcare access, addressing doctor shortages with incentive-based placements, enhancing healthcare facilities, and implementing policies to reduce teenage pregnancies through sex education and contraceptive promotion.

Background
Indonesia has one of the highest smoking prevalence rates worldwide; smoking initiation often occurs during adolescence or childhood. This study aimed to identify factors associated with loss of autonomy among adolescent smokers in Indonesia.
Methods
This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2019 Indonesia Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS). The sample comprised students who reported smoking within the past 30 days. The primary outcome variable was loss of autonomy. Multivariate analysis utilized modified Poisson regression with backward elimination. Results are presented as adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) with a significance level of P<0.05.
Results
Among 1,129 student smokers, only 27.44% retained their autonomy. A total of 61.20% reported a strong urge to smoke and an inability to resist doing so. Factors significantly associated with loss of autonomy included electronic cigarette use (APR, 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.17), cigarette accessibility near schools (APR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04–1.19), and peer cigarette offers (APR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.23–1.57). Higher daily cigarette consumption was also associated with a greater likelihood of loss of autonomy.
Conclusion
Loss of autonomy among adolescent smokers indicates nicotine dependence and difficulty quitting. Daily cigarette consumption, peer influence, cigarette accessibility near schools, and electronic cigarette use are key contributing factors. Essential policy recommendations include strengthening youth-focused tobacco regulations and incorporating smoking prevention and cessation programs into school curricula.

Background
Although obesity is a known risk factor for pancreatic cancer, the role of dynamic weight fluctuations remains unclear. We examined whether body mass index (BMI) variability is associated with pancreatic cancer risk in a large South Korean cohort.
Methods
We analyzed data from 232,322 participants in the Korean National Health Insurance Service database who underwent three health examinations between 2002 and 2007. Participants were followed from 2008 until pancreatic cancer diagnosis, death, or the end of the study period in 2019. BMI variability, assessed using average successive variability, was categorized into tertiles. We used Cox proportional hazards models to calculate adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals after adjusting for potential confounders. Sensitivity analyses were performed to verify the robustness of our findings.
Results
In the overall cohort, BMI variability showed no significant association with pancreatic cancer risk. However, a statistically significant interaction by sex was observed (P for interaction=0.029), yielding higher risk estimates among male participants.
Conclusion
Although BMI variability lacked a significant overall association with pancreatic cancer risk, the attenuation of this risk after longer washout periods suggests the potential influence of preclinical weight changes. Nevertheless, the observed effect modification by sex indicates that BMI variability may retain clinical relevance for specific demographic groups, particularly male participants. Therefore, BMI variability should be interpreted not as a direct causal risk factor or intervention target, but as a potential clinical marker that warrants closer monitoring in these specific groups.

Background
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (SLD) emphasizes that metabolic dysfunction is a key driver of hepatic steatosis. Although menopause is characterized by substantial hormonal and metabolic shifts, population-based evidence on its association with the probability of SLD under the updated diagnostic framework remains limited. Therefore, this study investigated the association between menopausal status and probability of SLD in middle-aged Korean women.
Methods
We analyzed data of 15,106 women aged 40 to 59 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2023). The probability of SLD was assessed using the hepatic steatosis index (≥36) in the presence of at least one metabolic abnormality. Menopausal status was self-reported. Weighted multivariate logistic regression was performed after adjusting for age, body mass index, waist circumference, and major metabolic risk factors. Effect modification was evaluated through subgroup analysis.
Results
Among the 15,106 women, 31.5% were postmenopausal and 22.1% met the criteria for SLD probability. Post-menopausal women exhibited higher metabolic risk profiles and a higher probability of SLD than premenopausal women. Menopausal status remained independently associated with SLD probability after multivariable adjustment (adjusted odds ratios, 1.22; P=0.035). The association varied by age; it was strongest among women aged 40 to 49 years and progressively attenuated in older age groups (P for interaction=0.001).
Conclusion
Menopausal status is independently associated with a higher probability of SLD among middle-aged Korean women, an association most pronounced in the early midlife. These findings highlight the importance of proactive metabolic screening and timely intervention during this critical period.

Background
The disease burden of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasing with increasing prevalence. Economic deprivation is a risk factor for MetS and contributes to the overall mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between economic status and mortality in patients with MetS.
Methods
Overall, 83,786 patients with MetS were included from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Database. They were divided into three economic levels (low, medium, and high) based on the health insurance premiums charged according to the annual household income. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause mortality were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression models.
Results
The median follow-up duration was 10.0 years. Kaplan-Meier plots showed that the mortality rate was highest in males with a low economic status (P<0.001, log-rank test). Compared with that of the high economic status group, unadjusted HRs (95% CIs) of the middle and low economic status groups for all-cause mortality were 1.44 (1.32–1.57) and 1.88 (1.72–2.06), respectively, in males, and 0.84 (0.76–0.93) and 0.99 (0.89–1.10), respectively, in females. However, in the fully adjusted model, the corresponding HRs (95% CIs) were 1.23 (1.13–1.48) and 1.35 (1.23–1.48), respectively, in males and 1.17 (1.06–1.30) and 1.25 (1.12–1.39), respectively, in females.
Conclusion
Among South Korean adults with MetS, the economically deprived population was significantly associated with higher mortality rates than those of wealthier groups.

Background
The relationship of consanguineous marriage (CM) with cardiovascular conditions, particularly structural congenital heart diseases, has been well established. Although CM may influence genetic predisposition by increasing oligogenicity and genetic homogeneity, its association with coronary artery disease (CAD) remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between parental CM and the prevalence, age of onset, and severity of CAD.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study conducted between May 2021 and August 2022, a total of 13,151 patients undergoing coronary angiography at the Tehran Heart Center were enrolled. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic and anthropometric data, medical history, cardiovascular risk factors, previous angiographic findings, and parental kinship information. Analyses were performed using IBM SPSS ver. 23.0.
Results
Among 11,986 participants, 66.0% were male, with a mean age of 58.9±10.7 years. CAD was diagnosed in 9,083 individuals (75.8%). In total, 1,515 participants (12.6%) reported a history of parental CM. The prevalence of CAD was 3.2 percentage points higher in individuals with parental CM (P<0.001). Additionally, parental CM was associated with an earlier CAD by 2.4 years. However, no significant correlation was observed between parental CM and CAD severity.
Conclusion
Parental consanguinity is associated with a higher prevalence and earlier onset of CAD. These findings suggest that parental CM may be relevant in the context of CAD risk and should be considered in comprehensive CAD risk assessments, particularly in regions where consanguinity is common.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an uncommon acquired hematological disease resulting from somatic PIGA gene mutations. These mutations cause a deficiency in glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored–anchored proteins such as CD55 and CD59 on blood cell surfaces, leading to uncontrolled complement-mediated hemolysis. Although this condition is typically identified in individuals in their third or fourth decades of life, diagnosis during late adolescence is rare. Renal complications are a known feature of PNH; however, they present more frequently as a gradual decline in function rather than as a severe acute insult. This report describes the unusual case of an 18-year-old male who presented with a 6-month history of intermittent dark urine followed by an acute illness. Laboratory evaluation revealed severe Coombsnegative hemolytic anemia, significantly elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels, and acute kidney injury requiring immediate hemodialysis. Renal biopsy-confirmed pigment nephropathy, and high-sensitivity flow cytometry detected a large PNH clone, establishing the diagnosis of classical PNH. The patient's renal function improved with supportive care, but hemolysis persisted. This case highlights the fact that PNH can manifest in young adults with acute kidney injury as the primary presenting symptom. Including PNH in the differential diagnosis of patients with unexplained hemolytic anemia and renal impairment is crucial, even in atypical age groups. Prompt diagnosis is vital for initiating appropriate management, including supportive measures and the consideration of complementary inhibitor therapy, to improve outcomes.

Obesity is a chronic systemic disease with multifactorial causes that poses a substantial health and economic burden worldwide. In Korea, obesity is a significant public health concern owing to the increasing prevalence of obesity-related comorbidities and mortality. Obesity is defined as excess adiposity that poses health risks. Adiposity can be assessed using direct and indirect methods, among which body mass index (BMI) is the most widely used anthropometric measurement in epidemiological studies and clinical practice. However, limitations of BMI-centric obesity assessments have been noted in previous studies. Simple adiposity measures cannot capture obesity-related medical conditions, daily functional status, or mental health. Therefore, medical associations worldwide have increasingly emphasized the need for comprehensive obesity assessments, including the 2020 Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology 2023 Guidelines, 2024 European Association for the Study of Obesity diagnostic framework, and 2025 Lancet Commission’s Clinical Obesity Diagnostic Criteria. Recent perspectives have emphasized multidimensional approaches to obesity assessment to capture individuals’ overall health status. This review aims to evaluate the limitations of BMI-centric obesity diagnosis, summarize emerging recommendations from recent international guidelines, and highlight potential alternative approaches for improving the assessment of obesity and related health outcomes.

Citations

• A year of significant progress for the Korean Journal of Family Medicine
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2026; 47(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Obesity Management in Primary Care: Clinical Approaches and Policy Implications in the Era of Incretin-Based Therapies
  Chung-woo Lee
  Korean Journal of Family Practice.2026; 16(2): 81.     CrossRef

Background
Contraception is essential for women with diabetes to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, the contraception rate among this high-risk group remains low. This study explored the determinants of contraceptive practices among multi-ethnic Asian women with diabetes.
Methods
This exploratory qualitative study on the preconception care of multi-ethnic, reproductive-age women with diabetes was conducted at four public health clinics in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted, audio-recorded, and transcribed. An interpretive thematic analysis was performed on data regarding contraception among 19 women who expressed no desire for pregnancy.
Results
Health concerns, perceived susceptibility to pregnancy, lack of knowledge regarding contraception and conception, and prevailing pregnancy norms influenced contraceptive practices. Many factors affecting pregnancy planning were unrelated to diabetes, such as perceived pregnancy susceptibility, religious orientation, societal norms, husband’s preferences, and inadequate contraception knowledge.
Conclusion
Family planning and reproductive health must be included in routine clinical consultations for women with diabetes. While this study re-emphasizes the influence of diabetes on women's decisions to use contraception, their choices are also shaped by personal and social factors. Healthcare providers must adopt a more open approach toward women’s perspectives on pregnancy planning and further explore their values and underlying issues to promote effective contraception, considering the benefits.

Citations

• Family medicine for all stages of life: turning knowledge into actionable care
  Joung Sik Son
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2026; 47(2): 95.     CrossRef

The global increase in the incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which affects more than one-third of the general population and up to 70% of individuals with type 2 diabetes or obesity, is a critical public health challenge. Given that liver steatosis is often asymptomatic until the advanced stages of disease, early detection is essential to prevent its progression to fibrosis, cirrhosis and, ultimately, hepatocellular carcinoma. However, liver biopsy, the gold-standard diagnostic method, is invasive, costly, and unsuitable for large-scale screening. As a result, noninvasive tests have emerged as practical alternatives, particularly in primary care settings, where early identification is most feasible. The present study explored current perspectives of noninvasive liver disease screening tools and their implementation in primary care. Serum-based indices, along with imaging techniques, have demonstrated promise in identifying patients with advanced fibrosis. Novel biomarkers, including the enhanced liver fibrosis test and Pro-C3, as well as emerging artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostic platforms, yield improved accuracy and risk stratification potential. Despite accumulating evidence supporting the clinical utility and cost-effectiveness of noninvasive tests, several barriers hinder their routine use in primary care settings, which include limited funding, lack of standardized guidelines, insufficient clinician training, and disparities in access to diagnostic tools. The implementation of structured stepwise screening models has demonstrated improved diagnostic efficiency and reduced unnecessary referrals. Future research should emphasize the integration of artificial intelligence, portable diagnostic devices, and personalized risk models to enhance early detection. Ensuring widespread adoption requires coordinated efforts in policy development, provider education, and health-system investment. Noninvasive screening tools offer a feasible and cost-effective pathway for the early detection of MASLD in primary care; however, their successful implementation depends on addressing logistical, educational, and systemic barriers.

Citations

• A transdisciplinary framework for managing metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease
  Sania Kouser, Sanketh V. Sharma, Arun Bhanu, Subrahmanya Kumar Kukkupuni, Chethala N. Vishnuprasad
  Frontiers in Pharmacology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Alcohol Abstinence Is Associated with Regression of Non-Invasive Fibrosis Markers in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A 12-Month Prospective Study
  Daniela Mihăilă, Horațiu-Paul Domnariu, Doru-Florian-Cornel Moga, Carmen-Daniela Domnariu
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2026; 15(6): 2257.     CrossRef
• AI/ML-enabled biosensing platforms for MASLD and MASH: Biomarkers, modalities, and translational readiness
  Parkhi Disha, R. Harikrishnan, Sampada Tavse, P. Srideviponmalar
  Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X.2026; 31: 100808.     CrossRef
• Insulin Resistance as a Dynamic Correlate of Fibrosis Status in Chronic Hepatitis B: A Visit-Level Longitudinal Risk Stratification Framework
  Abdalwahab Omar Alshammari, Idris Adewale Ahmed
  Life.2026; 16(6): 939.     CrossRef
• Imaging-based fibrosis assessment and risk stratification in MASLD
  Shunqin Jin, Tao Zhou, Dachuan Jin, Jiahao Xie, Guoping Sheng, Hongzhi Li, Guangming Li, Chuan Qin, Peng Gao
  Frontiers in Medicine.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Artificial intelligence in primary care in Poland: opportunities, challenges, and public health policy implications
  Praveen Malik, Adam Bednarek, Katarzyna Bednarek
  Polish Journal of Public Health.2026; 136: 66.     CrossRef
• Towards early detection and prevention: proactive screening strategies in primary care
  Su Hwan Cho
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(6): 379.     CrossRef

Background
As the global prevalence of diabetes mellitus continues to increase, it is important to identify its risk factors and implement preventive approaches. This study aimed to investigate the association between changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the incidence of diabetes.
Methods
Data from 152,547 participants, who underwent two consecutive health checkups between 2002 and 2003, and 2004 and 2005, and included in the Korean National Health Insurance Service Health Screening Database, were reviewed. Participants were divided into three groups according to change in SBP: decrease (≥10 mm Hg); no change (<10 mm Hg); and increase (≥10 mm Hg). Cox proportional hazard regression models for diabetes incidence were constructed to evaluate adjusted hazard ratio (HR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI).
Results
The median follow-up was 14.3 years, and 26,352 patients with diabetes were identified. Compared to those with no change in SBP, the adjusted HRs for decrease and increase among males were 1.06 (95% CI, 1.02–1.10) and 1.10 (95% CI, 1.06–1.14), and 1.06 (95% CI, 1.00–1.12) and 1.08 (95% CI, 1.02–1.13) for females, respectively. After stratifying data according to SBP at baseline, the HRs for decrease in males and females were as follows: normotensive group, 1.16 (95% CI, 1.08–1.24) and 1.11 (95% CI, 1.02–1.21); and prehypertensive group, 1.14 (95% CI, 1.09–1.20) and 1.19 (95% CI, 1.10–1.29), respectively.
Conclusion
Changes in SBP were associated with a risk for diabetes.

Background
Childhood obesity is increasing globally. Primary care doctors are well-positioned to identify children with obesity. This study aimed to assess the usage of clinical practice guidelines (CPG) to determine obesity and the knowledge of primary care doctors regarding childhood obesity.
Methods
An online survey was conducted between November 2023 and February 2024 among primary care doctors in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The questions assessed doctors’ knowledge, practices, beliefs, and usage of the CPG in managing childhood obesity.
Results
There were 246 participants during the study period. Among the doctors, 101 (41%) knew the correct definition of “childhood overweight” while 120 (49%) doctors used the CPG. Doctors using the CPG had higher odds of knowing the correct management (odds ratio [OR], 2.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30–5.41; P=0.006). Doctors using the CPG had higher odds of screening for childhood obesity complications and measuring body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and pubertal status. Multivariate analysis showed that doctors working in government clinics (OR, 3.56; 95% CI, 2.01–6.32; P<0.001), having postgraduate training (OR, 3.95; 95% CI, 2.08–7.51; P<0.001) and having worked less than 5 years (OR, 4.53; 95% CI, 1.85–11.08; P<0.001) had higher odds of using the CPG. Doctors working in government clinics (OR, 5.93; 95% CI, 1.95–18.05; P=0.002) and used the CPG (OR, 7.26; 95% CI, 2.09–25.27; P=0.002) had higher odds of measuring the BMI.
Conclusion
Knowledge regarding diagnosis and management of childhood obesity among primary care doctors is still lacking. CPG on childhood obesity could be a useful tool for improving the diagnosis, management, and screening of childhood obesity.

Citations

• Family medicine for all stages of life: turning knowledge into actionable care
  Joung Sik Son
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2026; 47(2): 95.     CrossRef

Background
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sedentary behavior types and physical activity on well-being.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 428 university students. The study data were collected through online forms between March and April 2021: the Sociodemographic Characteristics and Activities Form, Sedentary Behaviour Questionnaire, Health Assessment Form, and World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index. Data were evaluated using descriptive statistics and decision tree analysis.
Results
The average time spent sedentary in a day was 11.231±4.358 hours. The mean sedentary time spent mentally passive was 4.660±2.240 hours, and the time spent mentally active was 6.571±3.335 hours. A low positive correlation was observed between well-being score and weekly moderate and total moderate-to-high physical activity time, and a low negative correlation was observed with mentally passive sedentary time. According to decision tree analysis, students who rated their health status as worse than in the previous year and those who did not engage in any physical activity were more likely to be classified as individuals at risk in terms of well-being. In contrast, among those who reported no change in their health status, students who engaged in physical activity and had mentally passive sedentary time below 5.25 hours were less likely to be assigned to the risk group.
Conclusion
To protect physical and mental health, measures should be taken to reduce sedentary time, especially mentally passive sedentary time, and to increase physical activity time.

Citations

• Adolescence and young adulthood: a critical period for lifelong health
  Su-Min Jeong
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2026; 47(3): 187.     CrossRef

Background
Polypharmacy poses a growing challenge to healthcare systems because of its association with adverse effects and the misuse of medication. This study aimed to identify the sociodemographic factors and comorbidities associated with polypharmacy.
Methods
We selected patients aged ≥30 years registered in the National Health Information Database in 2018 who were prescribed at least one medication for ≥180 days. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between polypharmacy, sociodemographic characteristics, and comorbidities.
Results
Polypharmacy was significantly associated with increasing age, with the strongest association observed in adults aged ≥65 years. Compared with medical aid recipients, higher-income groups had a weaker association with polypharmacy. After adjusting for covariates, significant associations with polypharmacy were found for specific comorbidities, such as Parkinson disease (odds ratio [OR], 3.804; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.733–3.876; P<0.001) and chronic ischemic heart disease (OR, 3.199; 95% CI, 3.178–3.221; P<0.001).
Conclusion
These findings may help reduce the burden of polypharmacy by facilitating the development of targeted strategies tailored to patients.

Menopause is a natural part of the aging process that every woman experiences at some point in life. Menopausal symptoms have a negative impact on the quality of life. Common menopausal symptoms include vasomotor symptoms, mood swings, concentration issues, vaginal dryness, atrophy of secondary sexual traits, libido loss, musculoskeletal discomfort, osteopenia, and osteoporosis. The most effective treatment for the relief of menopausal symptoms is estrogen, with or without. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is most beneficial before 60 years of age or within 10 years of menopause. Other menopause-related symptoms including mood swings, sleep disturbance, sexual dysfunction, and myalgia may improve with HRT. HRT is also effective in preventing bone loss associated with menopause and in reducing the incidence of all osteoporosis-related fractures, including those of the vertebrae and hip.

Citations

• We must look beyond primary reinforcement to understand nicotine use in women
  Kathleen R. McNealy, Scott T. Barrett, Rick A. Bevins
  Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology.2026; 80: 101231.     CrossRef
• Role of Menopausal Hormone Therapy on Strabismus, Strabismus Surgery, and Reoperation Rates
  Akshara R. Legala, Takashi Nishida, Ashley Liang, David Granet, Lindsey A. Burnett, Sally L. Baxter, Jolene C. Rudell
  American Journal of Ophthalmology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef

Background
This study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adult vaccination uptake, specifically recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV), influenza (FLU), and pneumococcal vaccines (PnV), and explored factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine receipt in US adults.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective analysis of nationally representative cross-sectional data from the 2019 and 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Systems (n=777,807). Multivariable regression models assessed vaccination status for COVID-19, RZV, FLU, and PnV, adjusting for sociodemographic factors, geography, and healthcare coverage.
Results
Among insured adults, RZV vaccination increased from 31.9% in 2019 to 41.5% in 2022, and FLU vaccination increased from 42.7% to 45.0%. Among uninsured individuals, FLU vaccination rates declined 3.2%, while RZV remained unchanged. PnV rates remained stable among the insured but decreased by 15.4% among the uninsured. Individuals with healthcare coverage were 2.9 times more likely (95% confidence interval, 2.6–3.2) to have received ≥1 dose of the COVID- 19 vaccine. Minorities reported higher uptake for 1 to 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine but lower uptake for FLU, RZV, and PnV than non-Hispanic Whites, who had higher rates of >4 doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
Conclusion
Despite free access to the COVID-19 vaccine, healthcare coverage significantly influenced its uptake. Increases in RZV and FLU vaccination among the insured, in contrast to minimal changes or decreases among the uninsured, highlight the critical role of healthcare access. While RZV and FLU uptake improved post-pandemic, PnV uptake remained stable. We found no evidence that COVID-19 vaccine safety affected RZV, FLU, and PnV vaccination rates.

Background
Treatment of hand osteoarthritis (OA) often includes corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid (HA) injections. Some studies have reported better pain relief and improved function, whereas others have reported minimal long-term benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of corticosteroids and HA injections on the management of hand OA.
Methods
PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, and EBSCO Open Disk were searched from their inception to May 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing intra-articular corticosteroid and HA injections in adults with hand OA were included. Data on demographics, interventions, and outcomes were extracted and the risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2. We performed a pairwise meta-analysis using a random-effects model to estimate the pooled effects of the included trials, that is, standardized mean differences (SMDs) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results
Of 189 articles, three RCTs involving 180 participants (mean age, 62–62.9 years) were included. One RCT was identified through a database search, and two RCTs were identified through other searching techniques. The risk of bias was considered low in two trials and high in one trial. No significant difference in pain relief was found between the corticosteroid and HA treatments (SMD, 0.06; 95% CI, –0.23 to 0.35; I²=0.0%).
Conclusion
Corticosteroid and HA injections offered similar pain relief in patients with hand OA. Further long-term studies are necessary to evaluate the functional outcomes and potential side effects. However, this conclusion should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size of the studies (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024511411).

Background
The Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)+ 2020 has been utilized to measure readiness for physical activity (PA). However, it is unavailable in the Indonesian language. We aimed to adapt and evaluate the validity and reliability of the PAR-Q+ 2020 culturally for the Indonesian population and its application in general and family medicine.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study to adapt the PAR-Q+ 2020 to the Indonesian language. A face validity interview with 20 participants followed the translation and back-translation processes. Subsequently, an online questionnaire was distributed between June and October 2022, with 378 participants responding and a 72.2% response rate for the second test. Cohen’s kappa was calculated to determine the intra-rater reliability of each item. Intra-class correlation (ICC) and Cronbach’s alpha analyses were conducted to examine the first and second parts of the questionnaire and the overall intra-rater reliability and internal consistency of the questionnaire.
Results
The median age of the participants was 27 years (range, 18–61 years), and 63% (n=172) were female. The Cohen’s kappa value of each item ranged from to 0.801–1.000 (almost perfect to perfect agreement). The ICC values for the first and second parts and the overall questionnaire were 0.957, 0.993, and 0.987, respectively. Cronbach’s alpha was adequate for the first part (α=0.958), second part (α=0.993), and overall questionnaire (α=0.987).
Conclusion
The Indonesian version of the PAR-Q+ 2020 demonstrated reliability and preliminary evidence of its validity in measuring individual readiness for PA. Further studies involving a broader population and employing more comprehensive validation methods are necessary to establish its validity and applicability fully.

Citations

• Role of Physical Activity in Protecting Against Dementia According to Menopausal Status
  Eun Ye Lim, Kyungdo Han, A-Hyun Cho
  Journal of Clinical Neurology.2026; 22(4): 427.     CrossRef

Background
This study examined disparities in 1-year mortality rates between infants born to married and unmarried single-parent families, emphasizing the need for targeted health policies.
Methods
Data from 3,298,263 cases, obtained from the South Korea National Statistical Office (2010–2017), were analyzed. T-tests and chi-square tests were used to assess the demographic characteristics of the study group. The number of deaths per 1,000 live births was calculated, and logistic and multivariable logistic regressions were employed to compare infant mortality rates between family types. Additional stratified analyses, based on gestational age and birth weight, further elucidated the relationship between parental marital status and infant mortality.
Results
Infants from unmarried families exhibited a 3.34-fold higher crude odds ratio (OR) for 1-year mortality (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.56–4.36; P<0.001) than that from married families. After adjusting for confounders, the adjusted OR was 1.40 (95% CI, 1.03–1.92). Stratification by gestational age and birth weight revealed crude ORs of 4.62 (95% CI, 3.34– 6.39) in non-preterm infants (≥37 weeks) and 4.76 (95% CI, 3.46–6.56) in non-low-birth-weight infants (≥2.5 kg), highlighting a more pronounced disparity in infants born at or above normal weight and full term. No significant difference (P>0.05) was found in the crude OR for 1-year mortality rates among low-birth-weight (<2.5 kg) or preterm (<37 weeks) infants between the two-family types.
Conclusion
This study highlights the significant disparity in infant mortality rates based on parental marital status, underscoring the need for enhanced social support and tailored policies for unmarried single-parent families.

Citations

• A year of significant progress for the Korean Journal of Family Medicine
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2026; 47(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Single-Parent Family Status and Health Outcomes: Scoping Review with ☸️SAIMSARA
  
  SAIMSARA Journal.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef

Metabolism-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver condition worldwide and affects nearly 30% of the global population. While traditionally associated with metabolic risk factors, such as obesity and insulin resistance, increasing attention is being directed toward socioeconomic and environmental determinants that contribute to disparities in MASLD prevalence and outcomes. Low-income populations often experience higher rates of MASLD owing to limited access to healthcare, poor diet quality, and reduced opportunities for physical activity. Conversely, high-income countries are witnessing a paradoxical rise in MASLD cases, driven by sedentary lifestyles and excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods. This review examined the effects of socioeconomic status, education, healthcare access, and environmental exposure on the epidemiology of MASLD. The findings revealed that individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and migrant populations experience a disproportionately higher burden of MASLD due to systemic healthcare barriers, dietary transitions, and occupational exposure. Children and adolescents face increasing susceptibility owing to rising obesity rates, and geographic disparities highlight Europe as the most affected region, followed by Asia and North America. Given the growing public health impact of MASLD, addressing both socioeconomic and environmental determinants is essential. Future efforts should prioritize policy-driven interventions, including equitable healthcare access, lifestyle modifications, and research into novel therapeutic approaches to mitigate the disease burden and improve patient outcomes.

Citations

• Rising burden of steatotic liver disease in women of childbearing age and projections to 2035
  Youxin Wang, Ruiqiu Chen, Shi Yan Lee, Eunice X.X. Tan, Mark Muthiah, Zhou Yu, Margaret L.P. Teng, Jazleen Leo, Cheng Han Ng, Ashok Choudhury, Daniel Q. Huang
  JHEP Reports.2026; 8(1): 101646.     CrossRef
• Atraric Acid Mitigates Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Inflammation via AMPKα–PGC-1α Signaling in Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease
  Yannan Xiang, Zhihao Ma, Tianyue Guan, Hongyu Huang, Xinran Li, Zihan Xu, Panpan Zhao, Lei Wang
  Antioxidants & Redox Signaling.2026; 44(7-9): 332.     CrossRef
• Vitamin D and the metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease—type 2 diabetes axis: a scoping-narrative review of global evidence and emerging perspectives for Sub-Saharan Africa
  Bruno Basil
  Frontiers in Epidemiology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• MASLD In Children - A Distinct Phenotype?
  Pervej Alom Barbhuiya, Manash Pratim Pathak
  Current Obesity Reports.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: Therapeutic Potential and Emerging Concerns
  Klaudia Nowak, Krzysztof Łupina, Aleksandra Kalisz, Łucja Ilkiewicz, Jakub Janczura
  Current Pharmacology Reports.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Liver and atherosclerotic risks associated with cryptogenic steatotic liver disease: are the new diagnostic criteria justified?
  Dua Rasool, Sameer Ahmad, Aayush Visaria, Ghulam Husain Abbas
  Annals of Medicine & Surgery.2026; 88(7): 3935.     CrossRef
• Evaluating Outcomes in Patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease and Vitamin D Deficiency
  Tiana Dodd, Arpit Sharma, Nisar Amin, Veysel Tahan, Ebubekir Daglilar, Nikki Duong
  Diseases.2026; 14(7): 243.     CrossRef
• Understanding regional differences in MASLD: the Indian perspective
  Karthik Shree Harini, Devaraj Ezhilarasan
  npj Metabolic Health and Disease.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Barriers and facilitators to non-pharmacological management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a qualitative evidence synthesis
  Yusuf Yilmaz
  Frontiers in Pharmacology.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• A review of multidisciplinary care in metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatohepatitis and cardiometabolic disease, with a focus on Canada
  James Kim, Paolo Raggi, Anne‐Marie Carreau, Sean Wharton, Alice Y. Y. Cheng, Mark G. Swain
  Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.2025; 27(12): 6831.     CrossRef
• The association between neighborhood context, allostatic load, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatosis liver disease in Mexican-origin farmworkers along the Southern Arizona US/Mexico border
  A. Maldonado, E. Torres, M. Flores, M. Rodriguez, E.A. Villavicencio, R. Torres, I. Castro, F. Torres, J.C. Loya, N. Alkhouri, S. Carvajal, Garcia
  SSM - Population Health.2025; 32: 101862.     CrossRef
• Sex Hormones and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease
  Ralf Weiskirchen, Amedeo Lonardo
  International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2025; 26(19): 9594.     CrossRef
• Enhancing MAFLD Care: Efficacy of a Multidisciplinary Community Intervention on Self-Management and Hepatic Outcomes
  Huan-Jing Cai, Hai-Lun Liang, Lei-Yu Shi, Yi-Hui Rong, Jing Li, Yan Zhang, Rui-Fang Ma
  INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• From steatosis to cirrhosis: the role of obesity in the progression of liver disease
  Klaudia Nowak, Maria Paluch, Maja Cudzik, Klaudia Syska, Wiktoria Gawlikowska, Jakub Janczura
  Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Implementation of noninvasive liver disease screening tools in primary care
  Klaudia Nowak, Adrian Nowak, Aleksandra Jabłońska, Anna Potaczek, Julia Salacha, Natalia Dardzińska, Jakub Janczura
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(6): 381.     CrossRef

Background
Menstrual hygiene is crucial to a woman’s physical, social, and mental well-being. The menstrual cup offers a safe and effective solution but still requires wider adoption. This study aims to assess awareness, practices, and barriers regarding the use of menstrual cups among women of reproductive age.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 246 participants, randomly selected from outpatient settings of a tertiary care hospital in 2022. Non-pregnant menstruating women were included, while those with pelvic infections or cognitive impairments were excluded. After explaining the study’s purpose and ensuring anonymity, data were collected using a structured questionnaire adapted from previous studies conducted in India and abroad. Knowledge and practices were depicted using descriptive statistics, while factors affecting awareness were analyzed using a multivariable binary logistic regression analysis approach.
Results
Approximately 64.2% of participants were aware of menstrual cups, but only three were users. Participants living in urban areas, practicing Hinduism, and marrying after the age of 20 years showed higher awareness. Users rated the cup as comfortable, with no skin irritation, foul odor, or dryness. The primary barrier to use was insufficient knowledge.
Conclusion
There is a gap in awareness and usage of menstrual cups, especially in low- and middle-income countries like India. Preliminary feedback from users is encouraging, suggesting that menstrual cups could offer a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and sustainable way to improve menstrual hygiene.

Citations

• Prevalence of menstrual cup usage among reproductive-age women in asian countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Surama Manjari Behera, Priyamadhaba Behera, Deb Kumar Pal, Vikas Yadav, Anjusha Ranjith, Venkatarao Epari, Binod Kumar Patro, Susmita Dora, Srikanta Kanungo, Jyotiranjan sahoo, Meena Som
  BMC Women's Health.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• A year of significant progress for the Korean Journal of Family Medicine
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2026; 47(1): 1.     CrossRef
• “I’d Be Scared of Getting it Stuck”: Understanding Perceptions of Menstrual Cups Among U.S. Menstruators
  Stephanie J. Gillis, Tahleen A. Lattimer
  Health Communication.2026; : 1.     CrossRef
• Acceptability, Continuation, and User Experience of Menstrual Cup Usage Among Married Women: A Prospective Observational Study
  T Naga Sai Keerthi, Shobha Shiragur, S R Bidri, Shreedevi Kori, Preeti Malapure, Santosh Arakeri
  Cureus.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Awareness and Usage of Menstrual Cup Among Female Undergraduate Students of AIIMS Bhubaneswar and their Attitude Toward it: A Cross-Sectional Study
  Apratim Dev, Kumbha Gopi, Payel Roy, Manish Taywade, Sonu Hangma Subba
  The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef

Background
The use of heated tobacco products (HTPs) among Korean adults has been steadily increasing since they were first introduced in 2017. It is known that smoking combustible cigarettes (CCs) adversely affects the serum lipid profile and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the health impacts of HTPs remain under- researched. This study, therefore, aims to explore the effects of HTP use on serum lipid levels.
Methods
This study involved 10,309 participants, selected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VII-1 and VIII conducted between 2018 and 2021. Participants were categorized based on their smoking status: “HTPs ever user” included dual, triple, and past HTP users; “current HTPs only user” for those exclusively using HTPs; “current CCs only user” for those exclusively smoking CCs; and “never smoker.” Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the impact of smoking type on serum lipid concentrations.
Results
The analysis revealed that the “HTPs ever user” group had a higher odds ratio (OR) for elevated total cholesterol compared to the “never smoker” group (OR, 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.92). The likelihood of having high low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol was greatest in the “current HTPs only user” group when compared to “never smokers” (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.01–2.89).
Conclusion
The findings indicate that exclusive use of HTPs is linked to an increased level of serum LDL-cholesterol. Further longitudinal studies are necessary to fully determine the health risks associated with HTPs.

Citations

• The chemical profile and toxicological impact of heated tobacco products
  M. Davigo, F. J. van Schooten, A. Opperhuizen, A. H. V. Remels, R. Talhout
  Inhalation Toxicology.2026; 38(2): 77.     CrossRef
• Dual use of novel tobacco products and socioeconomic paradox in smoking cessation: An age-period-cohort analysis of KNHANES data 2007–2022
  Hoang Le Tu, Xuan Dung Mai, Jin-kyoung Oh
  Tobacco Induced Diseases.2026; 24(March): 1.     CrossRef
• A Narrative Review of the Potential Impact of Next-Generation Tobacco and Nicotine Products on Cardiovascular Health
  Ian M Fearon, Matthew Stevenson, Thomas Nahde
  Cureus.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Unveiling the risks of noncombustible nicotine or tobacco products
  Su-Min Jeong
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(5): 297.     CrossRef

Primary care services improve healthcare outcomes and limit unnecessary specialty care. Thus, it is essential to monitor primary care physician demand and supply projections to suggest evidence-based healthcare reforms and promote better healthcare delivery. This study evaluates 28 demand variables, 50 supply variables, and 26 additional variables associated with the demand and supply projections of physicians by reviewing scenarios from other countries, including Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, and the United States of America. The results indicate that Korea uses less diverse demand and supply indicators and suggest the need to implement variables used in the other four countries to improve projection modeling.

Citations

• A year of significant progress for the Korean Journal of Family Medicine
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2026; 47(1): 1.     CrossRef
• What is the optimal number of physicians for a sustainable healthcare system?
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Rushed health workforce reform in South Korea: a Kingdon’s multiple streams framework analysis of the 2024 medical school quota expansion
  Yuri Lee, Hyun-Young Shin
  Frontiers in Public Health.2025;[Epub]     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

• Navigating “I” and “We”: Coupled Identity and Spousal Influence in the Physical Activity of Older Adults
  Sapphire H. Lin, Rich Ling, Sonny Rosenthal
  Journal of Population Ageing.2026; 19(2): 213.     CrossRef
• Causal relationships between four types of sedentary behavior and insomnia: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
  Zhikai Qin, Huan Niu, Yuxin He, Jiajun Lan, Jun Yin
  European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience.2026; 276(1): 105.     CrossRef
• Associations of Sedentary Time With Insufficient Sleep on Weekdays and Weekends among U.S. Adults: Findings From NHANES 2021–2023
  Zhikai Qin, Haoran He, Jun Yin
  Journal of Health Psychology.2026; 31(7): 2613.     CrossRef
• Community activity intervention reduced sitting time and improved population physical activity levels
  Robert C. MacKinnon, Zoe Marshall, Steve Rose, Matthew Jewiss, Laurie Butler, Julia Gawronska, Lee Smith, William Bird, Gregory Deacon
  BMC Public Health.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Planetary health and non-communicable diseases—A converging global crisis
  Venkata Nagaraj Kakaraparthi, Paul Silvian Samuel, Shagun Agarwal, Kiran Velukuri, Nusarath Jaha Gurram Konda, Lalitha Kakaraparthi
  Frontiers in Public Health.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The impact of an AIPER on health behavior improvement among sedentary adults: a longitudinal extension of the TAM
  Zhaoyu Liu, Soohyun Kim
  Frontiers in Psychology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Game on for Health: A Bibliometric Study of Digital Health and Gamification (2005–2025)
  Xin Zhang, QingQing Tang
  Sage Open.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• A short bout of low to moderate aerobic exercise influences cognitive performance in healthy adults based on task type, timing, and individual factors
  Cornelia Herbert
  Frontiers in Sports and Active Living.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Sex differences in regulatory mechanisms of the cardiovascular system during simulated hypokinesia
  Maria Fedchuk, Andrey Nosovsky, Vasily Rusanov
  Life Sciences in Space Research.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Nutrition, Cell Signalling, Mitochondrial Function, and Chronic Non-Communicable Disease
  Russell Phillips
  International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2026; 27(7): 3303.     CrossRef
• Cardiometabolic Risk Determinants in a University Community: Beyond Chronological Age to Anthropometric Impact
  Oscar Araque, Luz Adriana Sánchez-Echeverri, Ivonne X. Cerón
  Healthcare.2026; 14(8): 1002.     CrossRef
• Clinically significant molecular alterations of mitochondria in carcinogenesis and age-related diseases: Part 2. Exposome influences, biomarkers and therapeutic strategies
  G. V. Gerashchenko, M. A. Tukalo
  Biopolymers and Cell.2026; 42(1): 7.     CrossRef
• Effects of unsupervised campus HIIT on fitness and sleep in sedentary male students: a randomized controlled trial
  Di Tang, Pengpeng Gou, Shunfang Liu, Xin Zhang, Danyang Li, Jinde Liu
  BMC Public Health.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Influencia del sedentarismo y la actividad física en la condición física y el rendimiento académico de estudiantes de básica media
  Jairo Adrián Pinos Pinos, Juan Carlos Bayas Machado, Irina Magaly Alcívar Pinargote
  Religación.2026; 11(50): e2601674.     CrossRef
• Sedentary behavior and its correlates in adults with multiple sclerosis
  Sydney R. DeJonge, Trinh L.T. Huynh, Victoria A. Flores, Robert W. Motl
  Disability and Rehabilitation.2026; : 1.     CrossRef
• Effects of mini-trampoline exercise on neck and knee muscle strength, range of motion, and health-related fitness in sedentary adults
  Yuan Xie, Wichai Eungpinichpong, Nichanun Panyaek
  Journal of Human Sport and Exercise.2026; 21(2): 733.     CrossRef
• Interrelationship Between Depression, Unhealthy Behavior, and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in the United States of America
  Grace Taiwo Otitoju, Joseph Benitez, Shekeel Ahmed, Jennifer Molokwu, Alok Kumar Dwivedi
  American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• THE IMPACT OF YOGA PRACTICE ON SPINAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN THE ERA OF SEDENTARY DIGITAL LIFESTYLE
  Tamara Chodań, Joanna Ślusarczyk, Piotr Pietrzyk, Natalia Stanek, Patrycja Krawczyk, Maja Łapaj, Aleksandra Jagiełło, Zuzanna Noweta, Milena` Lewicka, Beata Szreder
  International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Too lazy, too low? A correlational study of sedentary lifestyle and self-esteem among university students
  Dessy Ekawati
  Frontiers of Nursing.2026; 13(2): 271.     CrossRef
• Predictors of sedentary behaviour in adults: the role of social media addiction and physical activity – a cross-sectional study from Turkey
  Sema Büğüşan Oruç, Nuran Akdağ Mirzaoğlu, Zeynep Yıldırım, Kamile Uzun Akkaya, Bülent Elbasan, Yavuz Yakut
  Journal of Global Health.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Testing of The Modified Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire (MSBQ) in Indonesian for Young Adults
  Farid Rahman, Nanda Maulana Riszki, Muhammad Raihan Ishad, Annya Shakty Indraprastha, Azliyana Azizan
  Revista de Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias de la Salud.2026; 8(2): 1.     CrossRef
• 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; 55(6): 1353.     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
• Attitudes and Perceptions Towards Physical Activity in Italian People with Spinal Cord Injury: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study
  Erika Pinelli, Raffaele Zinno, Maria Scoppolini Massini, Ilaria Baroncini, Francesca Serafino, Laura Simoncini, Giulio Senesi, Salvatore Pinelli, Laura Bragonzoni
  Applied Sciences.2025; 15(11): 5942.     CrossRef
• Exploring Sedentary and Nutritional Behaviour Patterns in Relation to Overweight and Obesity Among Youth from Different Demographic Backgrounds in Saudi Arabia
  Anwar Al-Nuaim, Ayazullah Safi
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2025; 22(5): 813.     CrossRef
• Lifestyle and environmental risk factors for comorbidities in adolescents with asthma
  Eliza Mireya Vázquez-Rodríguez, Carlos Francisco Vázquez-Rodríguez, Francisco Vázquez-Nava, Raul de León Escobedo, Nancy V. Ortega-Betancourt, Octelina Castillo-Ruiz, Josefina Altamira García, Jaime Paz Ávila
  Journal of Asthma.2025; 62(11): 1871.     CrossRef
• Boosting Business and Health: The Case for Workplace Physical Activity
  Mary T. Imboden, Karen Moseley
  American Journal of Health Promotion.2025; 39(7): 1082.     CrossRef
• Condition Changes Before and After the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in Adolescent Athletes and Development of a Non-Contact Medical Checkup Application
  Hiroaki Kijima, Toyohito Segawa, Kimio Saito, Hiroaki Tsukamoto, Ryota Kimura, Kana Sasaki, Shohei Murata, Kenta Tominaga, Yo Morishita, Yasuhito Asaka, Hidetomo Saito, Naohisa Miyakoshi
  Sports.2025; 13(8): 256.     CrossRef
• The impact of physical activity levels on mental health and sleep quality in university online students
  Raúl Jiménez Boraita, Higinio González-García, Jana Gallardo Pérez, Leandro Álvarez-Kurogi, Javier Tierno Cordón, Rosario Castro López, Daniel Arriscado Alsina, Jesús Salas Sánchez
  Journal of Public Health.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Association between sleep problems and depressive symptoms among small-scale miners in Ghana
  Emmanuel Nyaaba, Emma AO. Sefa, Vanessa F. Epis, Lawrence Guodaar, Razak M. Gyasi
  Sleep Epidemiology.2025; 5: 100112.     CrossRef
• Knowledge of Physical Activity Guidelines and Its Association with Meeting Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Recommendations in Adolescents
  André de Araújo Pinto, Guilherme José Silva Ribeiro, Andreia Pelegrini
  Children.2025; 12(8): 1084.     CrossRef
• Health and productivity benefits of a multicomponent workplace program by gender in small companies
  Víctor Jiménez Díaz-Benito, Jose Bonal, Alvaro Fernandez-Luna, Pablo Burillo, Ricardo Macías, Jairo León-Quismondo
  Frontiers in Sports and Active Living.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The Prevalence and Association of Motivational Factors to Exercise in Middle-Aged Sedentary Females: A Cross-Sectional Study
  Khyati Patel, Bhavana R Gadhavi, Geeta D Bhatt, Rupali Shevalkar
  Cureus.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Global burden, regional disparities, and decomposition analysis of metabolic risk-attributable diseases among women of reproductive age: GBD 2021
  Liping Hu, Hui Li, Chen Gao, Wenqiang You, Mingxing Yan
  BMC Women's Health.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Age-Stratified Trends in Nutrition and Lifestyle Transitions in Korea: Findings from KNHANES 2013–2022
  Seongryu Bae, Hyuntae Park
  Nutrients.2025; 17(20): 3282.     CrossRef
• Lifestyle prescriptions for diabetes management in primary care: a narrative review
  Hye Jun Lee, Jung-Ha Kim
  Ewha Medical Journal.2025; 48(4): e55.     CrossRef
• Lifestyle interventions for hypertension management in primary care: a narrative review
  Byoungduck Han, Gyu Bae Lee, Jihyun Yoon, Yang-Hyun Kim
  Ewha Medical Journal.2025; 48(4): e56.     CrossRef
• Impact of Inpatient Treatment for Obesity in Patients with Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders
  Marcia Cristina Almeida Magalhães Oliveira, Carina Marcia Magalhães Nepomuceno, Francielle Maria da Cruz Trindade, Carolina Chacra Carvalho e Marinho, Cristiano Gidi de Portela, Sérgio Oliveira Braga, Neidjane Sholl Pinheiro, Frederico Fidellis Barboza, J
  Behavioral Sciences.2025; 15(11): 1562.     CrossRef
• Prevalence and Associated Factors of Overweight and Obesity among women and men in Hargeisa: A Cross-Sectional Study
  Fadumo Sahardid Ahmed, Jama Mohamed, Jonah Kiruja, Soheir H Ahmed
  Open Research Africa.2025; 8: 28.     CrossRef
• Physical Activity, Sedentary Lifestyle, and Academic Performance of College Physical Education Students
  Eric Anthony Jr. Beciete, Jaffy Glenn Guillena
  Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal.2025; 49(10): 1206.     CrossRef
• Endokrin Hastalıklarda Fonksiyonel Görüntüleme - Nükleer Tıp
  Emine Göknur Işık, Yasemin Şanlı
  Türk Radyoloji Seminerleri.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Effect of Play-Based Fundamental Motor Skill Intervention on Sedentary Behavior, MVPA and Motor Development
  Negar Arazeshi
  Physical Activity in Children.2025; 2(2): 74.     CrossRef
• The effects of technology on health and physical activity: A qualitative study
  Bekir Erhan Orhan, Aydın Karaçam, Arif Çetin
  SPORT TK-Revista EuroAmericana de Ciencias del Deporte.2025; 14: 106.     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
The influx of immigrants into Korea has increased in recent years, affecting Korean society and the healthcare system. This study analyzed the frequency of anxiety and depression in immigrants, which negatively affects their quality of life.
Methods
We analyzed data from a 2020 survey on the Health Rights of Migrants and the Improvement of the Medical Security System. Bivariate analyses and a multiple logistic regression model were used to identify the risk factors associated with the presence of anxiety or depression among immigrants.
Results
We included 746 immigrants, 55.9% of whom were female. The overall rate of anxiety or depression was 31.77%, with 38.3% in females, which was significantly higher than the 26.62% in males. The frequency of anxiety and depression was also strongly associated with certain immigrant groups, including immigrants of African or Western Asian origin (over 64%); those with student visas (60.53%); those who self-reported poor health (52%), physical or mental disabilities (69.23%), or chronic diseases (58.43%); and those facing difficulties accessing medical services (59.47%).
Conclusion
This study showed the frequency of feelings of anxiety or depression and associated risk factors among immigrants. These findings may have implications for policymakers in reducing the likelihood of developing anxiety or depression in the future and improving the quality of life of immigrants in Korea.

Citations

• Cardiovascular disease risk disparities between immigrants and native Koreans: a population-based study in Gwangju, Korea
  Jung-Ho Yang, Yerin Choi, Ran Lee, Seong Eun Kim, Kyung-Hwa Park, Seong-Woo Choi, BongKyu Sun, Kyunghak Kim, Sun-Seog Kweon
  Epidemiology and Health.2025; 47: e2025067.     CrossRef

Background
Although the association between smoking and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been established, the effects of tobacco products, including combustible cigarettes (CCs) and non-combustible nicotine or tobacco products (NNTPs), on HRQoL remain unclear. This study examined the association between tobacco use and HRQoL in Korean men.
Methods
Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2013 and 2020 were analyzed. A total of 16,429 male participants aged ≥19 years completed the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D). Impaired HRQoL was defined as scoring in the lowest 20% of the EQ-5D index and having some or extreme problems in the following five domains of the EQ-5D: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/ discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to evaluate the risk of impaired HRQoL in current tobacco users.
Results
Current tobacco users exhibited a significantly higher risk of impaired HRQoL compared with never users (odds ratio [OR], 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–1.92). Compared to never users, current tobacco users reported more problems with mobility and pain/discomfort (all P<0.05). Moreover, compared with former tobacco users, current tobacco users had a higher risk of impaired HRQoL (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.18–2.17). Compared to former tobacco users, current tobacco users reported more problems with mobility and pain/discomfort (all P<0.05).
Conclusion
Use of CCs and NNTPs is associated with impaired HRQoL in Korean men. Therefore, further interventions for lifestyle modification and smoking cessation treatments are required to reduce the risk of impaired HRQoL among current tobacco users.

Citations

• A year of significant progress for the Korean Journal of Family Medicine
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2026; 47(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Unveiling the risks of noncombustible nicotine or tobacco products
  Su-Min Jeong
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(5): 297.     CrossRef

Metformin is widely used drugs in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the mechanisms of action are complex and are still not fully understood yet. Metformin has a dose-dependent blood sugar-lowering effect. The most common adverse reactions of metformin are gastrointestinal symptoms, and women tend to be more experienced than men. A positive correlation between the administration of duration and the daily dose of metformin and the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency is confirmed. Novel glucose-lowering mechanism through the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase and alteration of gut microbiota composition is identified. In addition, metformin has immunomodulatory properties in various mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory actions, and so forth. Metformin improves insulin sensitivity, which may reduce the risk of tumor growth in certain cancers. The antiviral effects of metformin may occur through several mechanisms, including blocking angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptor, and so forth. These potential mechanisms of metformin are promising in various clinical settings, such as inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and coronavirus disease 2019.

Citations

• Effect of high‐intensity interval exercise on metformin pharmacokinetics in healthy men, assessed through a population pharmacokinetic model
  Stefanos Nikolaidis, Ioannis Kosmidis, Stylianos Papadopoulos, Artemis Lioupi, Marita Gandanidou, Helen Gika, Aristides Dokoumetzidis, Georgios Theodoridis, Vassilis Mougios
  British Journal of Pharmacology.2026; 183(3): 438.     CrossRef
• Effect of metformin on metabolomic and circulating miRNAs profile in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: a pilot analysis of sex differences
  Giancarlo Tonolo, Flavia Franconi, Marianna Caterino, Michele Costanzo, Mariangela Puci, Giovanni Sotgiu, Francesco Tolu, Sara Cherchi, Valeria Lodde, Maria Laura Idda, Andrea Montella, Margherita Ruoppolo, Ilaria Campesi
  European Journal of Pharmacology.2026; 1011: 178455.     CrossRef
• Xanthotoxol alleviates tubulointerstitial inflammation in diabetic kidney disease by targeting the HSP90αβ1/NLRP3 signaling pathway
  Wenjie Jiang, Hao Yang, Jie Ren, LiDan Tang, Jinhong Gong, Hufeng Fang, Shan Xu, Jiale Pang, Dan Su
  Applied Biological Chemistry.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF METFORMIN IN THE TREATMENT OF HASHIMOTO’S THYROIDITIS: REVIEW
  Gabriela Kapłon, Weronika Perczyńska, Julia Szczotka, Gabriela Szpila, Remigiusz Flakus, Żaneta Kania, Aleksandra Sokół, Dominika Gieroba, Anna Kamieniak, Karolina Glajcar, Artur Tumiński, Marianna Chmiel
  International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Evaluation of the efficacy of metformin in prediabetes taking into account the metabolic characteristics of perimenopausal women: a literature review
  N.Yu. Seliukova, I.A. Lurin, T.V. Tyzhnenko, K.V. Misiura
  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY (Ukraine).2025; 21(8): 873.     CrossRef
• USING BIOPELLETS WITH METFORMIN IN THE EXPERIMENTAL METABOLIC SYNDROME
  N. I. Voloshchuk, V. G. Zolotareva, A. V. Hara, O. S. Pashynska, I. V. Taran, A. V. Melnyk, V. O. Denysiuk
  World of Medicine and Biology.2024; 20(89): 220.     CrossRef
• Metformin in Antiviral Therapy: Evidence and Perspectives
  Iryna Halabitska, Pavlo Petakh, Oleh Lushchak, Iryna Kamyshna, Valentyn Oksenych, Oleksandr Kamyshnyi
  Viruses.2024; 16(12): 1938.     CrossRef

Background
The liver plays an important role in gonadal steroid hormone metabolism, which can affect reproductive health, including the menstrual cycle. However, evidence from large population-based studies is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between liver function markers and menstrual cycle irregularities in premenopausal Korean women using nationwide data.
Methods
This study analyzed Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010–2011. We investigated 3,045 premenopausal women aged 19–59 years. Liver function markers including serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase, and fatty liver index were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between liver function markers and menstrual cycle irregularity while adjusting for confounding factors. Values were presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analysis was also performed.
Results
Baseline characteristic analysis showed that approximately 14.4% of the study population experienced menstrual cycle irregularity. The mean age was 34.5±0.7 years. The highest quartile of serum ALT and AST levels showed significantly higher ORs for menstrual cycle irregularity (adjusted OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.26–2.64 and adjusted OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.17–2.39, respectively). A similar result was observed in the subgroup analysis.
Conclusion
Liver function markers were positively associated with menstrual cycle irregularities. In clinical settings, women of reproductive age with relatively decreased liver function should be considered for regular followup of their reproductive health status.

Citations

• Serum Proteomics of Multiple Menstrual Symptoms in Female Athletes: A Pilot Study
  Kai Fushimi, Tasuku Kondo, Nodoka Ikegami, Mizuki Yamada, Sing Ying Wong, Mikako Sakamaki‐Sunaga, Nobuhiro Hayashi
  FASEB BioAdvances.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef

Background
Insulin resistance contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Smoking leads to an increase in triglyceride levels, which, in turn, increases insulin resistance. Although the number of e-cigarette users has increased in recent years, few studies have investigated the association between ecigarette use and insulin resistance. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association between e-cigarette use and insulin resistance using the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index in Korean adults.
Methods
This study included 4,404 healthy adults aged ≥20 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2019 and 2020. Participants were categorized as never-smokers or ecigarette users, and the TyG index was categorized into low- and high-TyG index groups according to the median value (9.22). A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between e-cigarette smoking and insulin resistance.
Results
E-cigarette users had a higher TyG index than never smokers (e-cigarette: mean=9.35; never: mean=9.18; P<0.001). The ecigarette users had a higher risk of being in the high TyG index group than never-smokers (odds ratio [OR], 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.84). In the subgroup analysis stratified by sex, age, and body mass index, a higher OR for a high TyG index was observed in men (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.03–2.08) and individuals aged 60 years or older (OR, 3.74; 95% CI, 1.14–12.30).
Conclusion
Our findings suggest that e-cigarette use is significantly associated with insulin resistance.

Citations

• Comparison of e-Cigarette and Cigarette Use and Dual Use Associations With Disease: Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  Stanton A. Glantz, Andre Luiz Oliveira da Silva
  Public Health Reports®.2026; 141(4): 509.     CrossRef
• E-cigarette aerosols as systemic metabolic disruptors: integrated mitochondrial, circadian, and neurobehavioral mechanisms
  Ardie Barry Sailis
  Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods.2026; : 1.     CrossRef
• Association between electronic cigarette use and prediabetes, diabetes, and insulin resistance: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi, Davide Campagna, Antonio Ceriello, Anas Ali Alhur, Najim Z. Alshahrani, Anoop Misra, Abdul Basit, Cristina Russo, Tadej Battelino, Noel Somasundaram, Muhammad Yazid Jalaludin, Yoshifumi Saisho, Magdalena Walicka, Venera Tomaselli,
  Internal and Emergency Medicine.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Association Between Electronic Cigarette Use and Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among Korean Adults: A Cross-Sectional Nationwide Population-Based Study
  Wonseok Jeong, Min Ji Song, Ji Hye Shin, Ji Hyun Kim
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2025; 14(11): 3616.     CrossRef
• Unveiling the risks of noncombustible nicotine or tobacco products
  Su-Min Jeong
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(5): 297.     CrossRef

Background
The Korean Journal of Family Medicine (KJFM), which is an official journal of the Korean Academy of Family Medicine, is an English-text medical journal published since 2009. Although nearly 15 years have passed since the journal was launched, to the best of our knowledge, no study has reviewed articles published in the KJFM. Accordingly, we analyzed articles published in the KJFM for the first time.
Methods
Articles published in the KJFM between January 2018 and November 2023 were categorized according to article type. Information about author affiliations, study subjects, research methods, and modes of data collection was then scrutinized. Moreover, we compared the frequencies of subjects, research methods and modes of data collection before, during, and after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Results
Original article was the most common article type. Approximately 52% of the articles were published by authors affiliated with departments other than family medicine, and 40% were published by family medicine. Approximately 60% and 38% of the articles were published by Korean authors and authors of international affiliations, respectively. Throughout the pandemic periods, research subjects focusing on “diseases & symptoms” have diminished, while “principles of family medicine” have progressively increased. Additionally, the use of cross-sectional study methods has declined. In terms of data collection, the use of “big data,” “medical records,” and “questionnaires” has decreased, whereas the use of “study results” has increased.
Conclusion
KJFM is journal with wide and international participation covering various research subjects and study methods. We believe that our study provides valuable data for the future direction and development of the KJFM.

Background
No disease-specific, reliable, and valid self-assessment tools exist for athletes with mild coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to self-return to sports. This study aimed to develop a self-assessment screening method for athletes with mild COVID-19.
Methods
Item generation, item reduction, and pretesting were used to develop a questionnaire that served as a screening tool to detect severe post-COVID-19 complications. The questionnaire was validated by both internal and external reviewers, and the final version consisted of 11 items. Face validity was assessed through direct interviews with 11 athletes. Severe COVID-19 complications were identified for criterion validity and correlation analysis. A total score of 11 indicates that there is no risk of severe COVID-19 complications and gradual return to play is recommended; results <11 indicate a need for further evaluation by trained medical personnel. For reliability test, 50 respondents were chosen and asked to answer the questionnaires 7 days after their first responses.
Results
Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaires for post-COVID-19 athletes (PAR-COVID-Q) demonstrated excellent internal consistency (r=1, P<0.05) and test-retest reliability (r=1, P<0.05). A total of 118 athletes scored 11, had normal health screening, normal electrocardiogram and chest X-ray, and successfully returned to sports without any reported complications (r=1, P<0.05). Two athletes scored <11 and underwent further medical evaluation.
Conclusion
The PAR-COVID-Q is a valid and reliable self-assessment tool with a low burden for athletes to return to sports following mild COVID-19.

Citations

• Case Report on a Rare Sequele of Long Covid: Long Covid Induced Occult Rib Fracture
  Azwan Aziz Mohamad, Nahar Azmi Mohamed
  Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences.2025; 21(5): 448.     CrossRef

Background
Circadian misalignment is associated with metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to examine the association between circadian rhythm-disturbing factors and metabolic syndrome.
Methods
We used data from the 7th and 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2016 and 2020, which surveyed 16,253 individuals. Circadian rhythm-disturbing factors were defined as follows: sleep duration outside the reference group (6–8 hours), irregular breakfast, shift work, and physical inactivity. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for metabolic syndrome was calculated based on the number of circadian rhythm-disturbing factors present in adults over the age of 19 years.
Results
Among a total of 16,253 participants (mean age 48.2±15 years), metabolic syndrome was found in 5,237 participants (29.3%). The participants were classified into three categories based on the number of circadian rhythm-disturbing factors as follows: 2,627 (15.6%) did not have any factors, 6,406 (38.13%) had one factor, and 7,220 (46.3%) had two or more factors. Participants with a single circadian rhythm-disturbing factor were 21% more likely to have metabolic syndrome (aOR, 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08–1.36), and participants with two or more factors were 27% more likely to have metabolic syndrome (aOR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.12–1.43).
Conclusion
Circadian rhythm-disturbing factors were significantly associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Korean adults. This finding has potential clinical implications for maintaining circadian rhythms by avoiding certain factors to prevent metabolic syndrome. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.

Citations

• Proteins at the intersection of circadian rhythms and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: an 18-protein panel as a novel predictive biomarker set
  Yiyi Wang, Qilong Zhai, Xuemei Lian, Lei Zhao
  Frontiers in Endocrinology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Cumulative circadian disruption factors and metabolic syndrome
  Jungun Lee
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(3): 125.     CrossRef

Background
Skipping breakfast is associated with an increased risk of chronic inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to examine the association between breakfast-eating habits and inflammation, using high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as a marker.
Methods
A total of 4,000 Korean adult males with no history of myocardial infarction, angina, stroke, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, or current smoking were included. Data from the 2016–2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for analysis. The frequency of breakfast consumption was assessed through a questionnaire item in the dietary survey section asking participants about their weekly breakfast consumption routines over the past year. Participants were categorized into two groups, namely “0–2 breakfasts per week” and “3–7 breakfasts per week”; hs-CRP concentrations were measured through blood tests.
Results
Comparing between the “infrequent breakfast consumption (0–2 breakfasts per week)” and “frequent breakfast consumption (3–7 breakfasts per week)” groups, the mean hs-CRP was found to be significantly higher in the “infrequent breakfast consumption” group, even after adjusting for age, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol consumption, systolic blood pressure, blood pressure medication, fasting blood glucose, and triglycerides (mean hs-CRP: frequent breakfast consumption, 1.36±0.09 mg/L; infrequent breakfast consumption, 1.17±0.05 mg/L; P-value=0.036).
Conclusion
Less frequent breakfast consumption was associated with elevated hs-CRP levels. Further large-scale studies incorporating adjusted measures of daily eating patterns as well as food quality and quantity are required for a deeper understanding of the role of breakfast in the primary prevention of chronic inflammatory diseases.

Citations

• Cumulative circadian disruption factors and metabolic syndrome
  Jungun Lee
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(3): 125.     CrossRef

Background
Female workers in Indonesia are vulnerable, because they must work to earn a living while still being responsible for domestic problems. This study analyzes the barriers to the use of modern contraceptives by female workers in Indonesia’s urban areas.
Methods
This cross-sectional survey looked at 21,696 female workers. We used modern contraceptive use as a dependent variable, and age, education, wealth, known modern contraceptives, number of live births, ideal number of children, and insurance ownership as independent variables. In the final test, we employed binary logistic regression.
Results
The results showed that women at all age categories were more likely than those aged 15–19 years not to use modern contraceptives, except those aged 35–39 years, who showed no difference. All other marital types were more likely to use modern contraceptives than married individuals. Rich female workers were 1.139 times more likely than poor workers not to use modern contraceptives (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.139; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.026–1.264). Female workers who did not know about modern contraceptives were 4.549 times more likely than those who did not to use modern contraceptives (AOR, 4.549; 95% CI, 1.037–19.953). Female workers with more than two children were 9.996 times more likely than those with two or fewer children not to use modern contraceptives (AOR, 9.996; 95% CI, 9.1890–10.875).
Conclusion
This study identified five factors associated with the non-use of modern contraceptives by female workers in Indonesia’s urban areas: young, unmarried, rich, did not know about modern contraceptives, and had more than two children.

Citations

• A year of significant progress for the Korean Journal of Family Medicine
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2026; 47(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Socioeconomic inequalities and determinants of postpartum family planning utilization among Millennial and Generation Z women in Indonesia
  Yuni Purwatiningsih, Esti Nugraheny, Debri Rizki Faisal, Bunga A Paramashanti, Sri Sugiharti, Yulita Nengsih, Wahyu Pudji Nugraheni
  Midwifery.2026; 160: 104886.     CrossRef
• Health behaviors, lifestyle factors, and healthcare challenges in family medicine: a comprehensive review of recent evidence from Asian populations
  Joung Sik Son
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(4): 215.     CrossRef
• Efektivitas Konseling terhadap Pengambilan Keputusan Penggunaan Kontrasepsi pada Ibu Postpartum
  Ilsa Arfiyana, Faizah Betty Rahayuningsih
  Health Information : Jurnal Penelitian.2025; 17(3): 369.     CrossRef

Background
Obesity is a significant health risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Dyslipidemia, defined as a low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level, is associated with these risks. Recent bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) devices offer precise measurements of the percent body fat (PBF). We aimed to determine the association between PBF and HDL-C levels in middle-aged men in Korea.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional sstudy of men aged 40-65 years who visited a health examination center. Body composition was analyzed using BIA. Health habits were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. The participants were divided into four groups based on their PBF: group 1 (<21%), group 2 (21%–23.99%), group 3 (24%–28.99%), and group 4 (≥29%). Logistic regression was used to obtain the odds ratio (OR) between the PBF group and the low HDL-C level and adjusted for other variables.
Results
In this study, 2,685 men were analyzed. The number of individuals diagnosed with low HDL-C levels increased significantly as the group-specific PBF increased. Group 4 showed a 5.5-fold greater association with low HDL-C compared to group 1 (P<0.01), whereas group 3 and group 2 showed an OR of 4.38 and 2.95 (P<0.01 and P<0.01), respectively.
Conclusion
These results suggest that if middle-aged men are able to decrease their body fat by <5%, their HDL-C levels will increase. We suggest that 3%–5% PBF is a useful guideline for general body fat reduction in Korean middle- aged men in primary care.

Citations

• Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis as a Helpful Tool in Pediatric Obesity Monitoring: A Case Report
  Agata Przytula, Joanna Popiolek-Kalisz
  Reports.2025; 8(1): 15.     CrossRef
• Health behaviors, lifestyle factors, and healthcare challenges in family medicine: a comprehensive review of recent evidence from Asian populations
  Joung Sik Son
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(4): 215.     CrossRef

Background
Adolescent dependency on smartphones is the highest among all age groups. Adolescents can be influenced to evaluate their body image by popular ideals about beautiful bodies via smartphone content, which can cause body image distortion. This study aimed to examine the association between body image distortion and smartphone dependency and the duration of smartphone usage among Korean adolescents.
Methods
This study used data from the 16th Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (2020), and included 42,981 participants, who were grouped according to self-reported duration of smartphone usage and smartphone dependency, as measured by a questionnaire. Body image distortion is defined as an exaggerated subjective body image compared to the actual body image. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of body image distortion on smartphone dependency and usage time after adjusting for various factors related to body image distortion.
Results
Among the 42,981 participants, both moderate and high levels of smartphone dependency were associated with body image distortion in boys (moderate: adjusted OR [aOR], 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01–1.22; high: aOR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.05–1.32) and girls (moderate: aOR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05–1.23; high: aOR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.18–1.42) compared to the low-level dependency group. However, no significant association was found between smartphone usage duration and body image distortion.
Conclusion
Our study demonstrated that moderate to high levels of smartphone dependency are associated with body image distortion in adolescents. Therefore, it is necessary to establish strategies for checking and managing adolescents’ smartphone dependence.

Citations

• A year of significant progress for the Korean Journal of Family Medicine
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2026; 47(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Overestimated body image distortion and suicidal behaviors among South Korean adolescents: a gender-stratified analysis using Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey data (2019–24)
  Misong Woo, Hyewon Park, Wanhyung Lee
  Journal of Public Health.2026; 48(2): 376.     CrossRef
• Excessive smartphone use, smartphone dependency and body image distortion in Korean adolescents
  Young Gyu Cho
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(2): 58.     CrossRef
• Association Between Social Networking Service Use and Body Image Among Elementary School Children in Japan
  Asami Baba, Masumi Suzuki, Rikako Yoshitake, Yumiko Inose, Naomi Omi
  European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education.2025; 15(7): 125.     CrossRef
• Association Between Sedentary Behavior and Body Image Distortion Among Korean Adolescents Considering Sedentary Purpose
  Suin Park, Heesoo Lee, Wanhyung Lee, Mi-Jeong Lee
  Children.2025; 13(1): 20.     CrossRef
• Social Media Use and Body Image Dissatisfaction Among University Students of Health Sciences in Saudi Arabia
  Ihdaa J Abdulwahab, Jumana H Khouja, Noha A Alzahrani, Amina Bargawi
  Cureus.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

Background
Noncombustible nicotine or tobacco product (NNTP) use, and cigarette smoking are associated with a high likelihood of unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCBs) among adolescents. However, no study has addressed the differences in UWCBs among non-users, single users of combustible cigarettes (CCs) or NNTPs and dual users. This study compared the frequencies of weight control behaviors according to the status of CC and NNTP use among Korean adolescents.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study of 25,094 adolescents who had attempted to reduce or maintain their body weight during the past 30 days, using data from the 15th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2019. Data on the status of CC and NNTP use, weight status, and weight control behaviors were obtained using self-report questionnaires. Subjects were categorized into four groups: non-users, cigarette-only users, NNTP-only users, and dual users.
Results
Among boys and girls, current smokers and NNTP users were 8.9%±0.3% and 5.5%±0.3%, and 4.2%±0.2% and 1.7%±0.1%, respectively. Among boys, NNTP-only users were more likely to engage in extreme weight control behaviors than non-users. Among girls, users of either CCs or NNTPs were more likely to engage in extreme weight control behaviors and less extreme weight control behaviors than non-users.
Conclusion
This study shows that users of either CCs or NNTPs are more likely to engage in UWCBs, and NNTP-only users are the most likely to do so.

Citations

• Weight loss behavior patterns among South Korean adolescents: a latent class analysis of data from the 18th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey
  Eunyoung Lee, Gyumin Han, Hyesun Jeong
  BMC Public Health.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Factors associated with weight loss behaviors among Korean female adolescents: a bio-psycho-social model approach
  Soon Ok Kim, Yeon-Hee Jeong
  Child Health Nursing Research.2026; 32(2): 184.     CrossRef
• 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
• Longitudinal Associations between Adolescent Electronic Cigarette Use and Eating Behaviors
  Saira Sarwar, W. Alex Mason, Jennifer Mize Nelson, Kimberly Andrews Espy, Timothy D. Nelson
  Substance Use & Misuse.2025; 60(14): 2144.     CrossRef
• The Interconnected Nature of Smoking, Depression, and Obesity in Behavioral Medicine
  Joung Sik Son
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(4): 181.     CrossRef

Background
Prevention and management of metabolic syndrome (MetS) during childhood are crucial. Recently, obesity among children and adolescents has increased with an increase in mothers’ working hours. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between mothers’ working hours and MetS in their children.
Methods
Data from the 2016–2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used, and 2,598 children and adolescents aged 10–18 years were included. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to confirm the association between MetS and mothers’ working hours for each risk factor. Linear regression analysis was conducted to confirm the association between mothers’ working hours and the number of risk factors for MetS.
Results
Abdominal obesity in children was higher when the mothers’ working hours were 53 hours or more (odds ratio [OR], 2.267; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21–4.25). In the trend analysis, the OR of children’s abdominal obesity increased significantly as mothers’ working hours increased (P-value <0.05). Additionally, sex-stratified analysis revealed a significant trend between maternal work hours and the presence of MetS in female children (P=0.016). The adjusted OR of the presence of MetS in female children with mothers working 53 hours or more weekly was 6.065 (95% CI, 1.954–18.822).
Conclusion
Mothers’ working hours were highly correlated with the risk of abdominal obesity in their children. The OR of the presence of MetS significantly increased in female children with mothers having longer working hours compared with those with stay-at-home mothers.

Citations

• A year of significant progress for the Korean Journal of Family Medicine
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2026; 47(1): 1.     CrossRef
• No, either or both parents with metabolic syndrome: comparative study of its impact on sons and daughters
  Jun-Hong Park, Min Hyung Cho, Hae Sang Lee, Young Suk Shim
  Frontiers in Endocrinology.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef

Background
Sickness presenteeism (SP) refers to the phenomenon where employees attend work while sick, a decision that impacts both their physical and mental well-being and can lead to burnout. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of and factors influencing SP among Thai and foreign teachers following the end of the coronavirus disease 2019 public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
Methods
A sample of 400 individuals was analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Results
Post-PHEIC, a significant proportion of teachers (51.9%) perceived an increase in their workload, and 62.1% reported having taken health-related leave of absence. The prevalence of SP was high (35.0%). Factors significantly associated with SP (P<0.05) included being younger than 37 years (OR, 1.825; 95% CI, 1.108–3.006), facing monthly financial challenges (OR, 1.627; 95% CI, 1.028–2.575), doing school-related work on holidays (OR, 1.920; 95% CI, 1.180–3.122), and experiencing sleep disturbances owing to work-related stress (OR, 1.910; 95% CI, 1.203– 3.033). No discernible difference existed in SP rates between Thai and foreign teachers.
Conclusion
As a course of action, we recommend the provision of appropriate financial planning resources for teachers. Policywise, school events and activities should be scheduled on working days to ensure that teachers maintain a work-life balance. Additionally, task allocation that caters to individual strengths and limitations can mitigate the effects of SP.

Citations

• Influence of low back pain on absenteeism and presenteeism among academics in public universities
  Noordiyana Izyanti Mohamad Saufi, Eva Nabiha Zamri, Hazwani Ahmad Yusof, Nurul Izzah Shari
  WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation.2026; 83(1): 250.     CrossRef
• 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
• 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

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; 16(4): 1137.     CrossRef
• Effectiveness of Pharmacist Interventions in Improving Medication Use in Hospitalised Older Patients Diagnosed With Cardiovascular Diseases: INFAR Before‐and‐After Study
  Romana Santos Gama, Luiz Carlos Passos, Welma Wildes Amorim, Renato Morais Souza, Marcio Galvão Oliveira
  Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• A Systematic Review of Long-Term Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) in Older Adults on Polypharmacy: Do PPIs Deplete Nutrients?
  Muhammad Salman Shahid, Nouman Ahmed, Zeeshan Kamal, Laibah Nathaniel, Bhavna Singla, Shivam Singla, Sunita Kumawat, Munaza Batool, Osatohanmwen Ekomwereren, Nabila N Anika, Muhammad Sahil
  Cureus.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Medication review in older adults at hospital discharge: an analysis of data from the IATROPREV study
  Chloé Cornille, Jean-Baptiste Beuscart, Bertrand Décaudin, François Puisieux, Roxane Girault, Lisa Mondet, Anne Toulemonde, Sophie Gautier, Grégory Tempremant, Jean-Paul Kornobis, Mathilde Dambrine, Frédéric Bloch, Aurélie Lenglet, Syriane Bouras, Charles
  European Geriatric Medicine.2025; 17(1): 391.     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
This study aimed to examine the effects of different types of skipped meals on cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF) in Korean adults.
Methods
We analyzed 14,062 adults from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2016 and 2018. The irregularity of breakfast, lunch, and dinner consumption was assessed using 24-hour recall data, and we categorized the habit of skipping regular meals into eight types. Multiple linear regression was used to estimate the association between each type of meal skipping and the CMRF. We also presented the estimated effects of individual types of meal skipping on the CMRF based on their predicted values and mean differences.
Results
Korean adults tended to have irregular meal consumption habits when they had one or more of the following characteristics: female sex, under the age of 50 years, middle-high to high household income, high school or college or higher education levels, alcohol consumption, and current smoking. Compared to regular eaters, we have observed significantly higher total cholesterol in the following types of meal skipping: irregular breakfast (IB) (P<0.001), irregular lunch (P=0.005), irregular breakfast and lunch (IBL) (P=0.001), irregular breakfast and dinner (P=0.001); higher low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in IB (P=0.009); higher triglyceride in IB (P=0.005) and IBL (P=0.034); and higher fasting glucose in IB (P=0.046).
Conclusion
Different types of meal skipping were associated with CMRF. Regular breakfast and lunch consumption should be emphasized to prevent and manage cardiometabolic disorders. However, skipping dinner showed no significant association with CMRF.

Citations

• Associations between Meal Regularity and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Risk in Korean Adults
  Soo Jin Lee
  Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition.2026; 55(6): 559.     CrossRef
• A Biochemical View on Intermittent Fasting’s Effects on Human Physiology—Not Always a Beneficial Strategy
  Willian F. Zambuzzi, Marcel Rodrigues Ferreira, Zifan Wang, Maikel P. Peppelenbosch
  Biology.2025; 14(6): 669.     CrossRef
• Past Meal-Skipping Habits Associate With Physical Frailty in Later Life: A Retrospective Cohort Study
  Chiharu Nishijima, Kenji Harada, Satoshi Kurita, Masanori Morikawa, Kazuya Fujii, Daisuke Kakita, Hiroyuki Shimada
  Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.2025; 26(12): 105893.     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
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

Background
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and glaucoma are major global health challenges. However, the probable association between them is yet to be fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the association between OSA and glaucoma.
Methods
Data for this cross-sectional study were obtained from the eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019–2021). From among 9,495 individuals who completed the STOP-Bang questionnaire on OSA (for those aged ≥40 years) and provided their glaucoma prevalence/intraocular pressure (IOP) data, 8,741 were selected for glaucoma prevalence analysis. A total of 754 individuals aged 80 years or older or those with missing confounding variable data were excluded. A separate subgroup of 8,627 individuals was selected for IOP analysis after excluding 114 individuals who use glaucoma eye drops. The study employed linear and logistic regression analyses with Stata/MP ver. 17.0 (Stata Corp., USA) to understand the relationship between the risk of OSA assessed using the STOP-Bang score and key glaucoma indicators, adjusted for confounders. Statistical significance was set at a P-value <0.05.
Results
The average±standard deviation [SD] age of the glaucoma prevalence study group was 56.59±10.48, and 42.98% were male. Notably, every unit increase in the STOP-Bang score was associated with a greater risk of glaucoma (odds ratio, 1.097; P=0.044). In the IOP subgroup, the average±SD age was 56.49±10.45 years, with 42.88% being males. The linear regression showed a statistically significant relationship between the STOP-Bang score and IOP after adjusting for confounding variables (β=0.171, P<0.001).
Conclusion
Our findings revealed a significant positive association between OSA risk, as measured using the STOP-Bang score, and both the likelihood of glaucoma and high IOP.

Citations

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Glaucoma
  Vitorino Modesto Dos Santos, Kin Modesto Sugai, Vitor Ruas Domingues Arruda Modesto
  Turkish Journal of Internal Medicine.2026; 8: 1.     CrossRef
• Glaucoma de pressão normal associado à apneia obstrutiva do sono: relato de caso com progressão sob pressão intraocular controlada
  Camyla Lemos Budib, Guilherme de Oliveira Ferreira, Caio Henrique Peres Oliani, Guilherme Novoa Colombo Barboza, Marcello Novoa Colombo Barboza, Priscilla Fernandes Nogueira
  Revista Brasileira de Oftalmologia.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The Pathophysiological Association Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Glaucoma: A Current Update
  Wojciech Mazurek, Łukasz Mazurek, Barbara Rękas-Mazurek, Marek Rękas
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2026; 15(13): 5215.     CrossRef
• Sleep duration modifies the association between obstructive sleep apnea risk and glaucoma: evidence from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
  Jae Hyeok Kwak, Do Young Park, Jong Chul Han
  Eye and Vision.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a Potentiator of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Necessity for Interventional Therapy
  Pranav Vasu, Isabella V. Wagner, Paul Connor Lentz, Priyanka Gumaste, Yazan Abubaker, Bryan C.H. Ang, Abhimanyu S. Ahuja, Emily Dorairaj, Ibrahim Qozat, Darby D. Miller, Syril Dorairaj
  Ophthalmology Glaucoma.2025; 8(6): 553.     CrossRef
• Multimodal Assessment of Ocular Parameters in Patients with Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Emphasis on Retinal Structural Changes
  Anita Pusic Sesar, Anja Cehajic, Antonela Geber, Mia Zoric Geber, Ivan Cavar, Antonio Sesar
  Life.2025; 15(8): 1307.     CrossRef
• Reversing Aging and Improving Health Span in Glaucoma Patients: The Next Frontier?
  Shibal Bhartiya, Tanuj Dada, Karthikeyan Mahalingam
  Journal of Current Glaucoma Practice.2024; 18(3): 87.     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

• Independent and joint associations of psychological resilience and social support with cognitive impairment among middle-aged and older Chinese adults
  Xiaoxia Wei, Fangqin Tan, Weihao Shao, Ji Zhang, Yihao Zhao, Yue Zhang, Jean-Pierre Michel, Enying Gong, Philipe de Souto Barreto, Ruitai Shao
  Aging Clinical and Experimental Research.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The association between stereoscopic vision and cognitive function on community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study
  Yeon Jung Park, Hyun Jin Cho, Kiyoung Kim, Chang Won Won, Miji Kim
  BMC Geriatrics.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• A Multidimensional Perspective on Resilience in Later Life: A Systematic Literature Review of Protective Factors and Adaptive Processes in Ageing
  Benjamin A. Jacob, Cameron Walker, Michael O’Sullivan, Paul Rouse, Matthew Parsons
  Geriatrics.2025; 10(6): 154.     CrossRef
• 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

Background
Predicting the risk of osteoporotic fractures is vital for prevention. Traditional methods such as the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) model use clinical factors. This study examined the predictive power of the FRAX score and machine-learning algorithms trained on FRAX parameters.
Methods
We analyzed the data of 2,147 female participants from the Ansan cohort study. The FRAX parameters employed in this study included age, sex (female), height and weight, current smoking status, excessive alcohol consumption (>3 units/d of alcohol), and diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoporotic fracture was defined as one or more fractures of the hip, spine, or wrist during a 10-year observation period. Machine-learning algorithms, such as gradient boosting, random forest, decision tree, and logistic regression, were employed to predict osteoporotic fractures with a 70:30 training-to-test set ratio. We evaluated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) scores to assess and compare the performance of these algorithms with the FRAX score.
Results
Of the 2,147 participants, 3.5% experienced osteoporotic fractures. Those with fractures were older, shorter in height, and had a higher prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as higher FRAX scores. The AUROC for the FRAX was 0.617. The machine-learning algorithms showed AUROC values of 0.662, 0.652, 0.648, and 0.637 for gradient boosting, logistic regression, decision tree, and random forest, respectively.
Conclusion
This study highlighted the immense potential of machine-learning algorithms to improve osteoporotic fracture risk prediction in women when complete FRAX parameter information is unavailable.

Citations

• Moderate-intensity exercise reduces osteoporotic fracture risk in older women: a dose-response analysis from a nationwide Korean cohort
  Dojoon Park, Hae-Seok Koh, Song-Beom Kim, Ju-Yeong Park, Kyungdo Han, Youn-Ho Choi
  Osteoporosis International.2026; 37(2): 469.     CrossRef
• Systematic Review of Osteoporotic Fracture Risk Prediction Models: Algorithm Comparison, Clinical Applicability, and Development Pathways
  钟 王
  Advances in Clinical Medicine.2026; 16(03): 3553.     CrossRef
• Machine learning is changing osteoporosis detection: an integrative review
  Yuji Zhang, Ming Ma, Xingchun Huang, Jinmin Liu, Cong Tian, Zhenkun Duan, Hongyin Fu, Lei Huang, Bin Geng
  Osteoporosis International.2025; 36(8): 1313.     CrossRef
• Artificial intelligence in nutrition and ageing research – A primer on the benefits
  Pol Grootswagers, Tijl Grootswagers
  Maturitas.2025; 200: 108662.     CrossRef
• Assessing the risk of osteoporotic fracture recurrence using CT-based radiomics and machine learning
  Xiaoyang Zheng, Caihong Zhu, Rui Zhang, Hongyu Sun
  Current Problems in Surgery.2025; 72: 101876.     CrossRef
• AI-driven Technologies for Wrist Fracture Prediction: A Narrative Review of Emerging Approaches
  Stefania Briano, Maria Cesarina May, Giacomo Demontis, Giulia Pachera, Vittoria Mazzola, Federico Vitali, Alessandra Galuppi, Emanuela Dapelo, Andrea Zanirato, Matteo Formica
  Journal of Wrist Surgery.2025; 14(06): 500.     CrossRef
• Interpretable machine learning model for low bone density screening in older adults using demographic and anthropometric data: findings from 2005 to 2020 NHANES
  Weiyan Huang, Qimou Pan, Jiewei Peng, Yufeng Wu, Dawei Gao
  BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Clinical Applicability of Machine Learning in Family Medicine
  Jungun Lee
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(3): 123.     CrossRef
• Integrating Machine Learning for Personalized Fracture Risk Assessment: A Multimodal Approach
  Sheikh Mohd Saleem, Shah Sumaya Jan
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(6): 356.     CrossRef

Background
Physical activity (PA) is associated with a favorable metabolic risk profile in adults. However, its role in adolescents remains unclear. In this study, using data (2019–2021) from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we investigated the optimal exercise type for preventing metabolic complications in adolescents.
Methods
A total of 1,222 eligible adolescent participants (12–18-year-old) were divided into four groups as follows: aerobic exercise (AE), resistance exercise (RE), combined aerobic and resistance exercise (CE), and no exercise (NE). Daily PA was assessed using the international PA questionnaire. Blood samples were collected to measure lipid, glucose, and insulin levels. Additionally, the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and triglyceride-glucose (TyG) indices were measured. Multivariate regression analysis was used to compare the metabolic risk factors across the PA groups before and after propensity score matching (PSM) adjustment for confounding variables.
Results
The CE group exhibited improved fasting glucose levels, lower TyG index, reduced white blood cell count, and higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels than the NE group. The RE group exhibited lower mean blood pressure, triglyceride, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, TyG index and a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome than the NE group. The AE group had higher total and HDL cholesterol levels. In detailed comparison of the AE and RE groups, the RE group consistently exhibited favorable metabolic parameters, including lower blood pressure and total and low-density cholesterol levels, which persisted after PSM.
Conclusion
These findings highlight the positive effects of PA on cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents. Thus, RE may have a more favorable metabolic effect than AE. Further studies are needed to validate the benefits of exercise according to the exercise type.

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
• Lifestyle interventions for hypertension management in primary care: a narrative review
  Byoungduck Han, Gyu Bae Lee, Jihyun Yoon, Yang-Hyun Kim
  Ewha Medical Journal.2025; 48(4): e56.     CrossRef