Background Marital status has been suggested as an associated factor for cognitive impairment. The consequences of marital transitions are still understudied. This study evaluated the influence of marital transitions on cognitive function using longitudinal, nationwide data of Korean older adults. Methods This research comprised a longitudinal sample of older adults aged ≥ 45 years old, drawn from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2006–2020). Marital transition was determined through the biennial assessment of change in marital status; cognitive function was measured using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination. We employed general estimating equations to assess the temporal effect of marital transition on cognitive function. Results Compared to married individuals, the odds ratios (ORs) of cognitive decline were higher in not married and transitioned out of marriage participants: men (OR 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.96–1.82; OR 1.42, 95% CI 0.90–2.24), women (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.03–1.42; OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.01–1.52), respectively, despite the findings being not statistically significant in men. The participants who transitioned out of marriage over time also showed greater ORs for mild cognitive impairment: men (OR 1.39, 95% CI 0.79–1.87), women (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.05–1.80), and dementia: men (OR 1.60, 95% CI 0.85–1.99), women: (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.20–2.19). Conclusion Marital transition is found to be associated with cognitive function decline. Not-married individuals and those who became divorced or widowed were associated with the risk of cognitive function decline. Particular attention should be paid to these marital transitioned groups.

Smoking is a risk factor for respiratory diseases, and it worsens sleep quality due to nicotine stimulation and sudden nicotine withdrawal during sleep. This can increase the severity of OSA through alterations upper airway inflammation and neuromuscular function, arousal mechanisms, and sleep architecture. Therefore, it may lead to sleep-disrupted breathing, particularly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Herein, this study aims to research the association between smoking and OSA through the STOP-Bang index. In this study, total sample of 3442 participants (1465 men and 1977 women) were analyzed. We used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2020 by classifying adults into current, ex-, and non-smokers. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between smoking and OSA. Furthermore, multinomial regression analysis was used to investigate the effect of smoking cessation. For males, compared to the non-smokers, the odds ratios (OR) for the OSA were significantly higher in the ex-smokers (OR: 1.53, 95% confidence interval(CI) 1.01–2.32) and current smokers (OR: 1.79, 95% CI 1.10–2.89). In females, higher ORs were observed for OSA risk, similar to the non-smokers, smoking cessation, and pack-years. Among men, OSA was significantly associated with a moderate risk for ex-smokers (OR: 1.61, 95% CI 1.05–2.48) and a severe risk for current smokers (OR: 1.88, 95% CI 1.07–3.29). This study observed that smoking might contribute to OSA risk among adults. Smoking cessation can help to manage sleep quality properly.

Objective: This study examined the relationship between the flexibility of work schedule arrangements and well-being among full-time workers prior to and after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in South Korea. Methods: Data from the fifth 2017 and sixth 2020–2021 Korean Working Conditions Survey, including a final sample of 45,137 participants (22,460 males; 22,677 females), were used. Multiple logistic regression was performed to establish the association between schedule arrangement types and the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index. Results: The study found an association between flexible schedule arrangements and good well-being in 2017: “little flexibility” (odds ratio (OR), 1.33; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.27–1.48), “moderate flexibility” (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.28–1.71), and “high flexibility” (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.06–1.72). During COVID-19, only workers with “high flexibility” were likely to have good well-being (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.18–1.88), while the association between well-being and “low flexibility” (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.96–1.17) and “moderate flexibility” types (OR, 0.66; 95% CI 0.59–0.75) decreased. This study found that flexible working hours may contribute to better well-being among full-time workers. However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on working conditions and employee well-being should be addressed while setting working hours.

ObjectivesGeriatric oral health-related quality of life is a relatively new but rapidly growing concept as it is directly related to the general wellbeing and self-esteem of older adults. This study assessed the impact of worsening depression symptoms on oral health-related quality of life using representative nationwide data of Korean older adults.MethodsThis study comprised a longitudinal sample of older adults aged ≥60 from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2016–2020). After applying the exclusion criteria, 3,286 participants were included in the study. Depression status was determined through the biennial assessment of the short-form Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10); oral health was measured using the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). We employed the lagged general estimating equations to assess the temporal effect of the CESD-10 score change on the GOHAI score.ResultsA decrease in CESD-10 score over a 2-year period was significantly associated with a decrease in GOHAI score in men and women: β = −1.810 and β = −1.278, respectively (p-values < 0.0001). Furthermore, compared to the same or improved CESD-10 score, worsening of the score on 1–2 points detected the β = −1.793 in men and β = −1.356 in women, and worsening on ≥3 points: β = −3.614 in men and β = −2.533 in women.ConclusionsThis study found that depression exacerbation is negatively associated with oral health-related quality of life in later life. Further, a more significant worsening of depression symptoms was correlated with lower scores for oral health-related quality of life in our study population.