The Association Chronic Liver Diseases with Health Related Behaviors in South Korea

Lim, Juwon; Kim, Soyeun; Ke, Soshin; Cho, Belong

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The chronic liver disease is a relatively common health problem in primary care in Korea. But there are few studies of the prevalence and management status of chronic liver disease in Korea. The aim of this study is to estimate the ratio of health relative behavior among the patients of chronic liver disease, and analyse the association of chronic liver disease with health related behaviors such as private insurance, liver cancer screening examination, smoking, drinking, and exercise.
METHODS
We analyzed data from the third Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNANES III) 2005. The subjects of this study included the persons over 40 years. We used data about demographics, chronic liver disease, and health behavior data.
RESULTS
The prevalence of chronic liver disease was 2.4%. The ratios of private insurance, liver cancer screening examination among the patients of chronic liver disease were 72.6%, 44.2% respectively. The ratios of no smoking, abstinence from drinking, and exercise were 70.0%, 52.6%, and 33.8% respectively. After adjusted with demographic data, the odds ratio of liver cancer screening among the patients of chronic liver disease was 8.4 (P < 0.001), that of abstinence from drinking was 1.2 (P = 0.434). Adjusted odds ratio of private insurance, no smoking and exercise were 1.3 (P = 0.425), 1.2 (P = 0.578), 0.6 (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
The primary prevention is less satisfactory than secondary prevention among the patients with chronic liver disease in Korea. In primary care, it is necessary for them not only to check liver cancer screening examination but also encourage no smoking, abstinence from drinking, and exercise.