The Korea Nurses' Health Study: A Prospective Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Women's Health

Background:

• The Korea Nurses' Health Study (KNHS) is a prospective cohort study designed to examine the health of Korean women.
• It focuses on the impact of occupational, environmental, and lifestyle risk factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of lifestyle-related and occupational factors on the health of Korean women.
• To identify risk factors contributing to the development of chronic diseases and reproductive health issues.

Main Methods:

• Recruited female registered nurses aged 20-45 in the Republic of Korea starting July 2013.
• Utilized a web-based baseline survey, adapted from the US Nurses' Health Study 3 (NHS3), collecting data on demographics, lifestyle, medical history, and occupational exposures.
• Follow-up questionnaires administered at 6-8 month intervals, with additional pregnancy-related modules.

Main Results:

• 157,569 eligible nurses, with 20,613 (13.1%) completing the baseline survey.
• Mean participant age was 29.4 ± 5.9 years; 88% had night shift experience.
• Prevalent health issues included gastrointestinal diseases (25.9%); 80% had a BMI < 23 kg/m².

Conclusions:

• Findings will elucidate the influence of lifestyle and occupational factors on Korean women's health.
• This study is crucial for understanding chronic disease development and reproductive health outcomes in this population.