Characteristics of Body Composition and Muscle Strength of North Korean Refugees during South Korean Stay.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of body composition and muscle strength of North Korean refugees (NKRs) according to their duration of stay in South Korea.


METHODS
NKRs who volunteered and were living in South Korea, aged 20 to 75 years were recruited. Body compositions were analyzed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Muscle strength was measured with the hand grip test. Demographic and migration information was obtained with a questionnaire.


RESULTS
A total of 158 volunteers were recruited at a mean age of 48.3±11.4 years. The mean time from when they escaped from North Korea and arrived in South Korea was 5.8±4.3 years. Height, weight, and body surface area were significantly smaller in all NKRs compared to South Korean controls, except for women aged over 50 years. In females of younger ages (<50 years), NKRs with more than a 4-year stay in South Korea had a higher weight and fat mass than that of those who had a shorter stay (less than 4 years) in South Korea. All NKRs had a weaker grip strength than that of the age-matched controls from South Korea.


CONCLUSIONS
The NKRs showed relatively smaller physiques and weaker muscle strength than that of the South Korean controls. In younger female NKRs, shorter South Korean stay group showed small body weight and fat mass than that of longer South Korean stay group. Specific health support programs might be needed.
Department of Internal Medicine, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Sun Wook
SW
Cho
Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. psylsh@gmail.com.
So Hee
SH
Lee
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Eun Sil
ES
Koh
Department of Internal Medicine, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Si Eun
SE
Kim
Department of Family Medicine, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Seok Joong
SJ
Kim
Body composition; Muscle strength; North Korean refugees