PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.14 No.10, March 04, 2021 Article TypeEpidemiology and SurveillanceNoncommunicable Disease Statistics

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-03-04

  0 1302 422

  Animal Bite and Rabies Case Surveillance in South Korea, 2020

  Lee Ji Yeon, Song Ju Ha, Kim Hwa Mi, Park Sook Kyung

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(10): 530-537

  

  

  Abstract

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  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 3 billion people live in dog-mediated rabies endemic areas. Domestic dogs are the most common transmitter of the rabies virus, with 99% of human deaths caused by dog-mediated rabies. Despite goals to eliminate rabies worldwide, the virus remains an under-reported neglected zoonosis with a case-fatality rate of almost 100% in humans and animals. Although 100% preventable, dog-mediated rabies causes tens of thousands of human deaths. However, due to South Korea’s eradication efforts, there have not been any confirmed cases of human rabies since 2005. However, animal bite patients have been reported due to an increase in outdoor activities and international travel. Since 2011, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has enhanced the National Animal Bite Patient Surveillance (NABPS) to effectively monitor animal-associated bite incidents. The aim of this report was to analyze the KDCA’s 2020 animal bite and rabies surveillance. Findings indicated that the numbers of animal bite cases increased from 359 in 2005 to 670 in 2019, but it was estimated that the number decreased to 302 in 2020 because of COVID-19, which limited people’s domestic and international travel. This report analyzed characteristics of animal bite cases recorded on the NABPS system from January 1 to December 31, 2020. Among the 302 cases reported in 2020, males (55.0%) had a higher incidence of animal bites than females (45.0%) and the highest incidence of animal bites was observed in the age group of 50 to 59 years of age (20.5%). By time, the higher proportion of bite incidents occurred between July and August (24.5%). Also, the geographical frequency was the highest in Gangwon province (70.5%), followed by Gyeonggi province (19.2%). Lastly, at 82.5%, domestic dogs were the most common biting animal. To minimize the risk of animal bites and rabies, it is essential that South Korea maintain its rabies-free status through an enhanced national rabies control program.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-03-04

  0 812 255

  Combined effects of physical activity and air pollution on diabetes and cardiovascular disease

  Choi Seulggie, Kim Seong Rae, Kim Kyae Hyung, Park Sang Min, Kim Geun-Young, Kim Won-Ho

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(10): 538-548

  

  

  Abstract

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  There is scientific evidence that air pollution from particulate matter (PM) is associated with the increase in cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality. The main aims of this study were to determine the combined effects of PM and physical activity and to make recommendations to minimize PM’s impact on cardiovascular risk and diabetes. While previous studies have demonstrated the association of PM with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, there is a relative lack of evidence on the combined effects of PM and physical activity with subsequent diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk.
  Using the area-level PM database along with the Korean National Health Insurance Service database on individual-level health claims data, we determined the combined effects of PM and physical activity with subsequent diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk using a large-scale cohort study design. Analysis revealed that participants exposed to low and high levels of PM had lower risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease upon increasing physical activity levels.
  Based on this study’s findings, reduced diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk upon physical activity regardless of PM exposure is expected. However, this study suggested that further study is required to fully explain and support these findings.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-03-04

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  Pilot Study of the Quality of Life for Rare Disease Patients in Korea

  Jang Jiyoung, Ahn Younjhin

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(10): 549-559

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  Most rare diseases are degenerative and chronic because there is no effective treatment or medicine. Theses factors are thought to be related to poor quality of life (QoL) in rare disease patients. There is a need for a policy to improve patients’ QoL, but basic research on QoL of rare disease patients is still lacking in Korea. This study performed a pilot study to assess the feasibility of the ‘World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Brief’ for rare disease patients. The online survey method was used to protect personal information. In this pilot study, rare disease patients had a lower QoL value compared to people without a rare disease. Domains of QoL were highly correlated except for the ‘social relationship’ domain. In addition, this study could not find any contribution of social relationship to overall QoL. Further study is needed to evaluate QoL considering each rare disease’s feature and the factors affecting QoL in a large number of patients with rare diseases.

• Noncommunicable Disease Statistics 2021-03-04

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  Trends in the prevalence of permanent tooth caries, 2008-2019

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(10): 560-561

  

  

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