Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026
Electroencephalography Network Indices as Biomarkers of Upper Limb Impairment in Chronic Stroke
Published on: July 14, 2023
Work-related cerebro-cardiovascular diseases in Korea
Dae-Seong Kim1, Seong-Kyu Kang
1Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Incheon, Korea.
Insights
Cerebro-cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are compensable occupational illnesses in Korea, with rates decreasing significantly after 2008 due to improved diagnostics and prevention. Strategic approaches are vital for managing these common, serious, and preventable conditions.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Public Health Policy
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Cerebro-cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are recognized as compensable occupational diseases in Korea, unlike in many other countries that primarily cover ischemic heart diseases.
- Korea established a diagnostic criterion for CVD in 1994, and it was officially included in the list of compensable occupational diseases in 1993 following a landmark court decision.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in compensated cerebro-cardiovascular diseases in Korea.
- To evaluate the impact of diagnostic criteria and preventive activities on CVD compensation rates.
- To highlight the need for strategic approaches to manage CVD as a significant occupational health issue.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of compensated cases of cerebrovascular disease and coronary heart disease in Korean workers.
- Examination of trends in crude compensation rates from 2003 to 2008.
- Assessment of the influence of diagnostic criteria amendments and preventive measures on these rates.
Main Results:
- The crude rate of compensated cerebrovascular disease decreased by 60.0% (from 18.5 to 7.4 per 100,000 workers) between 2003 and 2008.
- Compensated coronary heart disease rates also fell by 60.5% (from 3.8 to 1.5 per 100,000 workers) in the same period.
- Compensated CVD cases peaked in 2003, declining thereafter due to preventive efforts and a significant drop after the 2008 amendment of diagnostic criteria.
Conclusions:
- Government and employer-led preventive activities, alongside updated diagnostic criteria, have successfully reduced compensated cerebro-cardiovascular disease rates in Korea.
- Cerebro-cardiovascular diseases remain a significant public health concern due to their prevalence, severity, and preventability, necessitating ongoing strategic management and economic burden considerations.
Abstract:
Cerebro-cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of compensable occupational diseases in Korea as in Japan or Taiwan. However, most countries accept only cardiovascular diseases (ischemic heart diseases) as compensable occupational diseases if any, but not cerebrovascular diseases. Korea has a prescribed list of compensable occupational diseases. CVD was not included in the list until 1993. In the early 1990s, a case of cerebral infarction was accepted as occupational disease by the Supreme Court. The decision was based on the concept that workers' compensation system is one of the social security systems. In 1994, the government has established a diagnostic criterion of CVD. The crude rate of compensated cerebrovascular disease decreased by 60.0% from 18.5 in 2003 to 7.4 in 2008 per 100,000 workers, and that of compensated coronary heart disease decreased by 60.5% from 3.8 in 2003 to 1.5 in 2008 per 100,000 workers. The compensated cases of CVD dramatically increased and reached its peak in 2003. Since many preventive activities were performed by the government and employers, the compensated cases have slowly decreased since 2003 and sharply decreased after 2008 when the diagnostic criterion was amended. The strategic approach is needed essentially because CVDs are common, serious and preventable diseases which lead to economic burden.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
01:26Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
01:20Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
01:17Hemorrhagic Stroke l: Introduction
01:17Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview
Atherosclerosis, the primary malefactor, orchestrates this dangerous condition. It manifests as the accumulation of fatty deposits, akin to insidious plaques, within arterial walls. As time elapses, these plaques metamorphose, hardening and narrowing...
01:22Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology