Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Diseases in Korean Americans and Native Koreans Undergoing Health Checkup

BACKGROUND

Korean Americans constitute the fifth largest subgroup in the Asian American population. Despite their increasing population, research and guidelines regarding their health status assessment and disease screening are lacking. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of diseases in Korean Americans and native Koreans to determine the risk factors and guidelines for disease screening.

METHODS

Patients who visited the Gangnam Severance Hospital from February 2010 to May 2015 for a health checkup were enrolled in this study. Baseline characteristics, laboratory data, and the organs (stomach, colon, thyroid, brain, prostate, lung, liver, kidney, pancreas, adrenal gland, and heart) of patients were examined. Data regarding patients' dietary patterns were also obtained. Overall, 1,514 Korean Americans (group 1) and 1,514 native Koreans (group 2) were enrolled.

RESULTS

The following diseases were more prevalent in group 1 than in group 2: reflux esophagitis (12.9% vs. 10%), gastric ulcer (3.0% vs. 5.5%), colorectal polyp (37.7% vs. 28.7%), hemorrhoids (32.2% vs. 29.9%), and benign prostatic hyperplasia (30.2% vs. 14.3%). Although not statistically significant, coronary artery disease has a high prevalence rate of >20% in both groups. Dietary patterns were not significant between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that the prevalence of several diseases in Korean Americans differed from that observed in native Koreans. Therefore, a foundation for setting up new guidelines for disease screening among Korean Americans is established.

Assessment of radiation dose for surrounding organs and persons approaching implanted patients upon brachytherapy of prostate cancer with Iridium-192

To assess a proper dose for radiation therapy fitting the typical physical characteristics of male Korean bodies, a mathematical phantom was prepared based on standard Korean male measurements. Upon brachytherapy of prostate cancer by implanting 192Ir into the prostate gland (the source organ), the absorbed dose of the prostate gland and surrounding organs and the expected dose of people within the vicinity were assessed. 192Ir, which has been the radionuclide of choice for prostate cancer brachytherapy, was selected for the simulation. It was assumed that 1 Ci of initial radioactivity would be administered. As a result, 1.28E-02 Gy/Ci was exhibited in the prostate gland of the source organ, and the dose to which persons within the vicinity were exposed was exhibited to be 9.19E-06 Sv at a distance of 30 cm from the front.