BMJ Open
Volume 6, Issue 6, 2016

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its related factors among North Korean refugees in South Korea: A cross-sectional study (Article) (Open Access)

Kim Y.J. , Lee Y.H. , Lee Y.J. , Kim K.J. , An J.H. , Kim N.H. , Kim H.Y. , Choi D.S. , Kim S.G.*
  • a Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hallym University, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
  • b Department of Public Healthcare Services, Seoul Bukbu Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
  • c Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Anyang Sam Hospital, Anyang, South Korea
  • d Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
  • e Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
  • f Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
  • g Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
  • h Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
  • i Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea

Abstract

Objectives To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its related factors among North Korean refugees (NKR) in South Korea. Design Cross-sectional study conducted using a questionnaire and anthropometric and biochemical data on NKR in South Korea. Setting Seoul, South Korea. Participants A sample of NKR who voluntarily underwent medical examinations in Anam Hospital of Korea University, Seoul, South Korea (N=708, consisting of 161 males and 547 females). To compare the prevalence of MetS, 1416 age- and gender-matched individuals from the South Korean population (SKP, at a ratio of 1:2 to NKR) were randomly selected from the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Main outcome measures The prevalence of MetS and its related factors among NKR in South Korea and comparison with its prevalence among the general SKP. Results The prevalence of MetS among male and female NKR in South Korea was 19.7% and 17.2%, respectively. Although obesity is more prevalent in South than in North Korea, we found no difference in the prevalence of MetS between the female NKR and SKP groups (17.2% vs 16.6%, respectively; p=0.830). As regards the males, the small sample size of the NKR group yielded insufficient evidence of any difference in MetS prevalence between the NKR and SKP groups (19.7% vs 26.2%, respectively; p=0.134). We found that excess weight gain (≥5%) in South Korea was significantly associated with MetS among NKR. Conclusions The prevalence of MetS among NKR did not differ from that in the SKP group despite the lower prevalence of obesity in NKR than in the general SKP. The fact that excess weight gain in South Korea was associated with the risk of MetS suggests that public health policy makers should focus on preventing excess weight gain in NKR during resettlement in South Korea. © Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited.

Author Keywords

Health Refugee Metabolic syndrome North Korea

Index Keywords

South Korea Republic of Korea refugee metabolic syndrome X North Korean Democratic People's Republic of Korea cholesterol blood level Metabolic Syndrome human abdominal obesity Refugees epidemiology middle aged Asian continental ancestry group statistics and numerical data obesity comparative study Logistic Models ethnology South Korean Cross-Sectional Studies cross-sectional study Humans smoking male Hypertriglyceridemia female risk factor Risk Factors North Korea prevalence Article glucose blood level nutrition major clinical study adult Nutrition Surveys high density lipoprotein elevated blood pressure glucose statistical model weight gain
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84974727492&doi=10.1136%2fbmjopen-2015-010849&partnerID=40&md5=4a4108f155af92314fa7e02aa31c037f
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010849
ISSN: 20446055
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English