Korean J Fam Med.  2018 May;39(3):161-167. 10.4082/kjfm.2018.39.3.161.

Low Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Is Prevalent among North Korean Refugees in South Korea

• Song YS
• Choi SW

• KMID: 2418270
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2018.39.3.161

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The number of North Korean refugees entering South Korea is rising. Few studies have investigated the risk of non-communicable disease in North Korean refugees. Moreover, kidney insufficiency, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, has not been studied in this population. We compared the prevalence of non-communicable disease and kidney function in North Korean refugees and South Koreans.
METHODS
Our study was conducted using a case-control design. We enrolled 118 North Korean refugees from the Hana Center and selected 472 randomly sampled South Korean individuals as controls, who were age- and sex-matched with the North Korean refugees in a ratio of 1:4, from the 2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database.
RESULTS
The prevalence of non-communicable disease did not differ significantly between the groups; however, a low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; < 90 mL/min per 1.73 m2) was more prevalent in the North Korean refugees than in the South Korean population (52.1% vs. 29.9%, P < 0.001). After adjusting for covariates and weight gain after escape, the prevalence of a low eGFR was associated with the length of residence in South Korea (odds ratio, 2.84; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-7.89).
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of non-communicable disease did not differ between North Korean refugees and the South Korean population, while a low eGFR was more prevalent in North Korean refugees than in South Koreans. Moreover, after adjusting for other covariates, the prevalence of a low eGFR in North Korean refugees was associated with the length of residence in South Korea.

Keyword

North Korean Refugees; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Chronic Renal Insufficiency

MeSH Terms

Cardiovascular Diseases
Case-Control Studies
Glomerular Filtration Rate*
Humans
Kidney
Korea*
Nutrition Surveys
Prevalence
Refugees*
Renal Insufficiency
Renal Insufficiency, Chronic
Risk Factors
United Nations
Weight Gain