ArticleBMJ open2020
Prevalence of osteoporosis among North Korean women refugees living in South Korea: a comparative cross-sectional study.
Article in BMJ open, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 9 citations in OpenAlex.
- Early-life famine exposure and risk of osteoporosis and low bone mineral density: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA · 2025Pooled it
- The global prevalence of osteoporosis in the world: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2021Pooled it
- Nutritional Vulnerabilities and Dietary Disparities Among Migrant Workers in the Informal Sectors: A Global Scoping Review.Journal of immigrant and minority health · 2026Review
- Identification and evaluation of circulating exosomal miRNAs for the diagnosis of postmenopausal osteoporosis.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2023Article
- Incidence of osteoporosis and ambient air pollution in South Korea: a population-based retrospective cohort study.BMC public health · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
12 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
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Abstract
objectiveTo investigate the prevalence of osteoporosis among North Korean women refugees when compared with South Korean women, who have identical genetic backgrounds but experience different environments.
designComparative cross-sectional study.
settingNorth Korean Refugee Health in South Korea (NORNS) study in South Korea.
participantsWe evaluated 122 North Korean women who participated in NORNS study and 366 age-matched/menopausal status-matched South Korean women from the Korea University Medical Center (KUMC) health examination cohort. The median age of the NORNS participants was 46 years (IQR, 40-60 years) with 52 women (42.6%) being postmenopausal.
resultsAmong the postmenopausal women, NORNS participants had a higher body mass index and number of pregnancies and lower physical activity than the KUMC participants. The overall prevalence of osteoporosis was 48% (25/52) and 17% (27/156) in NORNS and KUMC participants, respectively. The bone mineral density (BMD) values at the lumbar spine, femur neck and total hip were significantly lower in postmenopausal NORNS women than in the postmenopausal KUMC women. Old age, low body weight and late age of menarche were associated with low BMD among the postmenopausal North Korean refugees. In premenopausal participants, the NORNS women had lower body weight and physical activity than the KUMC women at baseline. All the NORNS women had normal Z-scores, although the BMD at the lumbar spine was significantly lower in NORNS women than in the KUMC women (0.952 vs 1.002 g/cm
conclusionsOsteoporosis is a prevalent health problem in postmenopausal North Korean women refugees living in South Korea. It is conceivable to prepare vigilant countermeasures for bone health deterioration in this growing population, especially for postmenopausal women. Further research is warranted to determine the cause of the differences between participants of the same ethnic group.
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