Wen-Chun LIAO

Prof. Wen-Chun LIAO

China Medical University Taichung, Taiwan
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

12Years (2015-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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12 May 2022 in Healthcare
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
TTThi-Lien To
Thi-Lien To
NDNhan Doan
Nhan Doan
WHWen-Chao Ho
Wen-Chao Ho
WLWen-Chun LIAO
Wen-Chun LIAO
This study aimed to synthesize frailty prevalence among community-dwelling older adults in Asia and identify factors influencing prevalence estimates. Five electronic databases were searched by 29 April 2022, including representative samples of community-dwelling adults who were aged 60 years and older and lived in Asia. Cross-sectional or national longitudinal population-based cohort studies completed with validated instruments were selected. Twenty-one studies with 52,283 participants were included. The pooled prevalence rate of frailty was 20.5% (95% CI = 15.5% to 26.0%). The estimated frailty prevalence was 14.6% (95% CI = 10.9% to 18.8%) while assessed by the Fried frailty phenotype, 28.0% (95% CI = 21.3% to 35.3%) by the Cumulative Frailty Index, 36.4% (95% CI = 33.6% to 39.3%) by the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) index, and 46.3% (95% CI = 40.1% to 52.4%) by the Clinical Frailty Scale (p < 0.01). Subgroup analysis in studies using the Fried’s phenotype tool found that frailty prevalence was increased with older age (p = 0.01) and was higher in those who were single (21.5%) than in married participants (9.0%) (p = 0.02). The study results supported a better understanding of frailty prevalence in different geographical distributions and provide references for health policy decision-making regarding preventing frailty progression in older adults.

24 August 2021 in Healthcare
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Hue PhamHue Pham
Hue Pham
HCHsiao-Ling Chuang
Hsiao-Ling Chuang
Ching-Pyng KuoChing-Pyng Kuo
Ching-Pyng Kuo
TYTzu Pei Yeh
Tzu Pei Yeh
WLWen-Chun LIAO
Wen-Chun LIAO
Using electronic devices before bedtime impacts sleep quality and has become a major public health issue. This study aims to investigate the associations between electronic devices (EDs) use before bedtime and sleep quality in Vietnamese university students. A total of 369 university students from three departments were recruited. Participants completed self-report surveys, including demographic characteristics, lifestyle, ED-use behaviors, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. A total of 48.8% of the students experienced poor sleep quality, and 98.1% reported using at least one type of ED every day within two hours before bedtime. Smartphones are the most used devices (92.3%). ED usage within two hours before bedtime (p = 0.031), lack of exercise (p = 0.006), alcohol consumption (p = 0.025), and coffee intake after 4 pm (p = 0.018) were associated with poor sleep quality. ED use near bedtime for a duration longer than 30 min (p = 0.001) and depression (p < 0.001) were associated with poorer sleep quality among university students. ED use near bedtime more than 30 min was significantly associated with poorer sleep quality after adjusting depression status, exercise, and caffeine/alcohol intake in the latter part of the day. This study emphasizes the importance of adequate sleep and restriction of ED use near bedtime, which are necessary for better sleep in university students.

Ching-Pyng KuoChing-Pyng Kuo
Ching-Pyng Kuo
SLShu-Hua Lu
Shu-Hua Lu
CHChien-Ning Huang
Chien-Ning Huang
WLWen-Chun LIAO
Wen-Chun LIAO
Meng-Chih LeeMeng-Chih Lee
Meng-Chih Lee
Purpose: Sleep disturbance is one of the major complaints among patients with diabetes. The status of diabetes control and associated complications may contribute to sleep disturbance. This study explored night time sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness in adults with type 2 diabetes and examined the association of diabetes control and associated complications on their sleep quality. Methods: A retrospective cohort study design was used. Type 2 diabetic patients (87 females and 79 males, aged 63.1 ± 10.5 years) were recruited from the outpatient clinics of the endocrine department. Sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Diabetes control and complications were obtained by retrospectively reviewing patients’ medical records over 1 year prior to study enrollment. Results: 72.3% of recruited patients had poor glycemic control, and 71.1% had at least one diabetic complication. 56.0% of patients experienced poor sleep quality, and 24.1% had excessive daytime sleepiness. Those who were female (OR = 3.45) and who had ophthalmological problems (OR = 3.17) were associated with poor night time sleep quality, but if they did exercise to the point of sweating (OR = 0.48) reduced the risk of poor sleep quality. Furthermore, poor sleep quality (OR = 4.35) and having nephropathy (OR = 3.78) were associated with a higher risk of excessive daytime sleepiness. Conclusions: Sex, ophthalmological problems, nephropathy, and no exercise to the point of sweating are associated with sleep problems in patients with type 2 diabetes. Both lifestyle behaviors and diabetic complications affect sleep disturbances in patients with diabetes.

30 October 2025 in Journal of Diabetes Investigation
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
YWYueh‐Chu Wu
Yueh‐Chu Wu
MMMan‐Ting Mao
Man‐Ting Mao
HHHung‐En Huang
Hung‐En Huang
CHChien‐Ning Huang
Chien‐Ning Huang
WLWen-Chun LIAO
Wen-Chun LIAO
Aims/Introduction: Middle‐aged and elderly individuals in Asia with type 2 diabetes mellitus have an increased risk of developing sarcopenia. This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to estimate sarcopenia prevalence and identify key risk factors among middle‐aged and elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus persons in Asia. Materials and Methods: We searched PubMed , Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and CINAHL up to August 2025. Observational studies on persons aged ≥45 with type 2 diabetes mellitus reporting sarcopenia prevalence and risk factors were included. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale, and random‐effects models calculated pooled estimates. Results: A total of 43 studies with sarcopenia prevalence in type 2 diabetes mellitus ranging from 4.0% to 50.0% were included. The pooled prevalence among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus was 17 (14–21%), 13 (8–18%), and 17% (14–21%) for overall, middle‐aged, and elderly individuals, respectively, with no significant difference between the middle‐aged and elderly individuals. Sarcopenia was higher in Southeast Asia (28%). Key risk factors included advanced age ( OR = 1.12), elevated HbA 1c ( OR = 1.11), diabetes‐related complications (nephropathy OR = 1.76 and neuropathy OR = 3.28), and a higher body fat percentage in men ( OR = 1.26) and women ( OR = 1.27). In contrast, protective factors included a higher BMI ( OR = 0.66), a better Mini Nutritional Assessment score ( OR = 0.37), and the use of metformin ( OR = 0.26). Conclusions: Sarcopenia is common in middle‐aged and older Asian adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Interventions targeting glycemic control, complications, body composition, nutrition, and metformin may help reduce risk. This study highlights the importance of early sarcopenia screening and prevention, especially in middle‐aged individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Further studies are needed to establish causal relationships for prevention.

18 November 2022 in BMC Geriatrics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
TTThi-Lien To
Thi-Lien To
CKChing-Pyng Kuo
Ching-Pyng Kuo
CYChih-Jung Yeh
Chih-Jung Yeh
WLWen-Chun LIAO
Wen-Chun LIAO
Meng-Chih LeeMeng-Chih Lee
Meng-Chih Lee
Background: Frailty in older adults is a common geriatric syndrome that could be prevented; thus, coping strategies for the aging population are essential. Self-management behaviors may represent cost-effective strategies to prevent physical frailty in community-dwelling older adults. This study aimed to describe the changes in frailty status among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan and investigate the association between transitions of self-management behaviors and frailty status over 4 years of follow-up (2007 to 2011). Methods: Data were retrieved from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study of Aging (TLSA), years 2007 and 2011. In this prospective cohort study, 1283 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older without cognitive impairment were recruited. Frailty was defined based on Fried’s frailty phenotype. Self-management behaviors (maintaining body weight, quitting smoking or no smoking, drinking less or no drinking, exercising, keeping diet control, and maintaining a regular lifestyle) were assessed using a questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the associations between changes in self-management behaviors and in frailty status. The age group was further stratified to examine the moderation effect in the relationship between changes in self-management behaviors and in frailty status among older adults. Results: The prevalence of frailty was 8.7% at baseline and 14.9% after 4 years of follow-up, with 196 (15.3%) deaths. Overall, 514 (40.1%) participants maintained their frailty status, 424 (33.0%) worsened, and only 149 (11.6%) improved. Being aged ≥75 years old, having chronic diseases, and an absence of self-management behaviors were associated with frailty at baseline and after follow-up. Among individuals aged 65–74, compared to those who maintained no self-management behaviors, those who decreased the exercise behaviors (yes-to-no) had a higher risk of worsening (RRR = 2.518), while increasing (no-to-yes) and maintaining (yes-to-yes) frequent physical exercise were associated with a lower risk of worsening (RRR = 0.466 and 0.572, respectively) than stable frailty; those who maintained body weight (yes-to-yes) were associated with a lower risk of worsening (RRR = 0.327) than stable frailty after controlling for individual covariates and chronic diseases. Among individuals over 75 years old, compared to no exerciser, older old who decreased their physical exercise had a higher risk of frailty worsening (RRR = 3.255), and increasing frequent physical exercise (no-to-yes) was associated with an improvement in frailty status (RRR = 3.684). Age was a moderator between the effects of maintaining body weight on frailty worsening. There were no associations between the behavioral transitions of smoking, drinking, diet control, or regular lifestyle on the frailty status changes. Conclusions: Maintaining body weight and frequent physical exercise increased the ratio of frailty stability among individuals 65–74 years old. Increasing exercise behavior is the only factor to improve their frailty status among older adults aged 75 years and over. Older adults should be encouraged to perform adequate physical exercise and maintain a healthy body weight to maintain the frailty status in younger old aged 65–74 years, and especially perform more frequent exercise to improve frailty status in older old over 75 years.

MTmengchien tsai
mengchien tsai
HCHsiao-Ling Chuang
Hsiao-Ling Chuang
CHCY Huang
CY Huang
SLShu-Hsin Lee
Shu-Hsin Lee
WLWen-Chun LIAO
Wen-Chun LIAO
Ching-Pyng KuoChing-Pyng Kuo
Ching-Pyng Kuo
Objective: Diabetic foot ulcers are an invasive complication of diabetes and are increasing. This study investigates the relationship between health beliefs and foot self-care behaviors, among people with type II diabetes. Methods: A cross-sectional design was adopted, and 98 patients were recruited from outpatient clinics of the endocrine department. The questionnaires of Demographic, Diabetes Foot Ulcer Health Belief Scale (Health Beliefs, DFUHBS), and Diabetes Foot Self-Care Behavior Scale (Self Care, DFSBS) were used to collect data. Results: Among the subjects living alone or who had diabetes less than ten years, the score of DFSBS was significantly lower than among those living with families or who had diabetes for ten years or more. The frequency of performing diabetes foot self-care behavior, among males was lower than among females significantly. Although there was no significant difference in the Health Belief total score, there were differences in the benefit subscale. Those who had junior high school level or less or had diabetes less than ten years, their score was significantly lower than those with senior high school level or more or had diabetes ten years or more. In a multivariable regression model, living with family, diabetes duration, and health beliefs explained 42.9% of the variance of diabetic-foot self-care behaviors. Conclusions: Living alone, shorter duration of diabetes, male gender, and lower health belief scores predict less adequate diabetic foot self-care behavior. Health care providers should assess these factors when designing individual care plans.