Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science

Original articles

Public Health, Environmental, and Occupational Health
Radiologic evaluation of subclinical cardiovascular structural changes in school cafeteria workers: a chest computed tomography study with age-matched controls: Jung Hee Hong, Jin Young Kim, Kiook Baek; J Yeungnam Med Sci. 2025;42:76. Published online November 16, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/jyms.2025.42.76

Abstract PDF: Background
Chronic exposure to cooking oil fumes (COFs) is associated with adverse health outcomes. Although previous studies have focused on respiratory effects, the impact on cardiovascular structures remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the subclinical cardiovascular changes in school cafeteria workers with long-term COF exposure.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective analysis of the low-dose chest computed tomography (CT) scans of 88 school cafeteria workers and an age- and sex-matched control group of 88 individuals. The cardiothoracic ratio; ascending aortic diameter; and presence of coronary artery, aortic valve, and ascending aortic calcifications were evaluated and compared between the groups.
Results
The cafeteria worker group demonstrated a significantly greater ascending aortic diameter (31.69±3.28 mm vs. 30.64±3.21 mm, p=0.032) and cardiothoracic ratio (0.47±0.04 vs. 0.45±0.04, p=0.026) compared to controls. No significant differences were observed in the prevalence of coronary artery, aortic valve, or ascending aortic calcification between the two groups.
Conclusion
Our findings suggest that long-term occupational exposure to COFs contributes to subtle cardiovascular alterations detectable on chest CT, even in the absence of overt calcification. These results highlight the need for occupational health surveillance and longitudinal studies to evaluate the clinical implications of these changes.

Public Health, Environmental, and Occupational Health
Factors associated with musculoskeletal pain in professional dancers, including lapse period of group practice due to the COVID-19 outbreak: repeated-measures analysis: Kiook Baek, Yu-Mi Choi, Joon Sakong; J Yeungnam Med Sci. 2024;41(3):196-206. Published online May 17, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/jyms.2024.00171

Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Background
This study investigated the prevalence and associated factors of musculoskeletal pain among professional dancers who experienced a lapse in group practice due to coronavirus disease 2019.
Methods
General characteristics, practice time, region of musculoskeletal pain due to injury using the visual numeric scale (VNS), and causative motion were surveyed among professional dancers. Pain of VNS 0 to 3 was categorized as “no or minor,” 4 to 6 was categorized as “moderate,” and 7 to 10 was categorized as “severe.” The causal motions of musculoskeletal pain were analyzed according to body region. Factors other than motion associated with pain were also analyzed.
Results
In total, 368 participants were included. In the univariate analysis, age and practice time were positively associated with “moderate” pain. Practice time, dance experience, and postural accuracy were positively associated with “severe” pain, as was performing Korean traditional dance. In the multivariable analysis, practice time, group practice, and age were positively associated with pain of VNS 4 to 10, and practice time, group practice, and Korean traditional dance were positively associated with pain of VNS 7 to 10.
Conclusion
Among the factors related to dancer training, practice time, group practice, and dance type affect the occurrence of pain.

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