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This study aimed to investigate the changes in physical activity levels and the rate of falls during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Korean population. The Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS) conducted in 2019 was compared with that conducted in 2020. Simple or multiple linear regression with complex sampling was conducted to calculate the estimated value (EV) of physical activity in the 2020 group vs. the 2019 group. The odds ratio (OR) of fall histories was calculated using simple or multiple logistic regression with complex sampling for the 2020 group compared to the 2019 group. The time spent on vigorous and moderate physical activity was lower in the 2020 group than in the 2019 group (EV = −10.0, 95% CI = −12.1 to −8.0, P < 0.001 for vigorous exercise and EV = −24.0, 95% CI = −26.7 to −21.4, P < 0.001 for moderate exercise). The rate of falls was lower in the 2020 group than in the 2019 group (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.62 to 0.70, P < 0.001). Vigorous and moderate exercise decreased after the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the pandemic. The occurrence of falls was lower during the COVID-19 pandemic than in the pre-pandemic period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in Herpes zoster patients from a representative population cohort. Design: A longitudinal follow-up study Study sample: Data were obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort for the period from 2002 to 2013. We matched 61,702 subjects in the Herpes zoster group with subjects in a control group (246,808 subjects with no history of Herpes zoster) based on demographic factors (age, sex, income, and region of residence) and medical history (diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension). The crude (simple) and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for Herpes zoster with SSNHL were analysed using the Cox-proportional hazard model. Results: Only 0.5% (338/61,364) of the Herpes zoster group and 0.7% (1664/245,144) of the control group showed SSNHL. The Herpes zoster group did not exhibit a higher rate of SSNHL (adjusted HR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.72–0.91, p < 0.001) than the control group. In subgroup analyses, no age subgroups showed a significant risk of SSNHL in the Herpes zoster group. Conclusions: After adjusting for confounding factors, the risk of SSNHL did not increase in the Herpes zoster group compared with the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]