Kim J, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2022 Mar;37(13):e101. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e101

This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between shift work and reflux esophagitis verified by endoscopic findings. Participants underwent a comprehensive health examination and esophagogastroduodenoscopy between January 2011 and December 2018. We examined endoscopic findings and performed multivariate-adjusted regression analysis of the association between shift work and reflux esophagitis using multiple demographic and clinical factors. Among the 247,450 participants, 49,767 (20.1%) had reflux esophagitis; Los Angeles (LA)-M (31,132, 12.6%) was most common, followed by LA-A (16,213, 6.6%), LA-B (2333, 0.9%), and ≥LA-C (89, 0.04%). The multivariate-fully adjusted odds ratio (OR) of overall reflux esophagitis for shift work compared to fixed day work was 1.15 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11–1.19). When classified according to shift work type and severity of reflux esophagitis, the ORs of LA-A for regular day and night, and irregular shifts compared to fixed day works were 1.14 (95% CI: 1.03–1.26) and 1.26 (95% CI: 1.11–1.44), respectively. However, there was no significant association between any shift work schedule and ≥LA-B. Overall, we demonstrated the cross-sectional association between shift work (especially rotating and irregular shifts) and mild reflux esophagitis (≤LA-A) compared with daily fixed time shifts.

Lee YS, et al. Ann Occup Environ Med. 2020 Jun;32:e15. https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2020.32.e15

Kim HC, et al. Ann Occup Environ Med. 2021 Jun;33(1):e21. https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2021.33.e21

Objectives Hepatitis A incidence in Korea has dramatically increased in recent years. Individuals in their twenties and thirties, who account for majority of the workforce in Korea, are particularly susceptible to infection owing to a low seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) immunoglobulin G (IgG). This study aimed to identify behavioural and occupational factors related to anti-HAV IgG seropositivity. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting A large university hospital in Seoul, Korea. Participants Workers in formal employment having an annual routine health screening. Primary outcome measure Anti-HAV IgG seropositivity. Results Of 131 711 individuals who had an annual health screening at the study hospital in 2018, 68 612 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Study participants were predominantly men (64.3%) and in their thirties (55.3%). The overall seroprevalence of anti-HAV IgG was 36.2%. In multivariate analyses, anti-HAV IgG seropositivity was independently associated with working in a workplace with ≥2 health managers (vs no health manager, adjusted OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.43); age 40–49 years (vs 20–29 years, OR 2.51, 95% CI 2.36 to 2.68); female sex (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.48 to 1.59); experience of any general disease (vs no general disease history, OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.25), obesity (vs normal weight, OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.97); and hepatitis B antibody seropositivity (OR 2.39, 95% CI 2.31 to 2.49). Conclusions The low prevalence of anti-HAV IgG seropositivity points to a need for implementation of workplace-based hepatitis A vaccine programmes. To promote workers’ health and prevent hepatitis A outbreaks, occupational health managers, healthcare providers and policy-makers should focus on individuals who are susceptible to HAV, such as young men.

There is currently no governmental body in South Korea resembling the type of poison center (PC) recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). All Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries except for South Korea maintain such a PC tasked with both preventing poisoning accidents and supporting the prompt treatment of poisoned patients. Such a PC could very possibly have allowed the country to more promptly recognize the widespread wave of humidifier disinfectant (HD) associated health effects, including fatal lung injury and death, that lasted started roughly in 2000 and continued through 2011. Despite this chemical poisoning tragedy, South Korea still lacks a surveillance system to monitor health effects caused by the use and consumption of materials that include products containing chemicals, foodborne pathogens, drugs, pesticides, etc. There have been no legal procedures for examining the potential risk of products or materials manufactured by industry. The reporting of national poisoning data or causes of poisoning, which is near ubiquitous in advanced countries with a PC, has not taken place We recommend that a PC should be established within the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). In addition, in order to perform surveillance of poisoning cases across the country, a certain number of regional PCs, including at large hospitals, will also be necessary.