The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has released a newly integrated dataset combining the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 through 2021 with the 2024 Causes of Death Statistics compiled by the National Data Agency, according to official agency announcements. This resource tracks adult participants to evaluate long-term associations between individual health behaviors, chronic conditions, and mortality outcomes.
Dataset Demographics and High-Resolution Linkage Rates
To build the repository, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency cross-referenced records from adults aged 19 and older who participated in the national health survey and consented to mortality data matching. Out of 89,560 eligible individuals who agreed to participate, 87,432 records were successfully matched, achieving a 97.6% linkage rate. Among the linked cohort, the agency identified 7,955 recorded deaths, providing a substantial statistical foundation for survival and epidemiological analyses.
Primary Causes of Death Identified in the Cohort
Analysis of the 7,955 fatalities within the linked dataset reveals that neoplasms, commonly known as cancers, account for the largest share of deaths at 29.6%, totaling 2,355 individuals. Circulatory system diseases follow closely as the second leading cause at 20.7%, representing 1,645 deaths. Respiratory system diseases constitute the third major category, accounting for 12.8% or 1,018 deaths. Researchers can use these structured classifications to evaluate how baseline dietary habits, physical activity, and clinical measurements correlate with specific fatal disease endpoints decades later.
Access Protocols and Researcher Requirements
Because the repository merges sensitive personal health tracking with government vital statistics, access is strictly regulated. Investigators must submit formal proposals through the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey website. Applications undergo rigorous research ethics and methodology reviews conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency alongside the National Data Agency. According to lifein.news, approved researchers must analyze the data securely within designated onsite facilities, such as the Academic Research Data Processing Center located in Osong, or via authorized remote analysis systems.
Strategic Value for Long-Term Public Health Research
Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan stated that the integrated database serves as an essential national research resource designed to clarify relationships between lifestyle risk factors and mortality while evaluating the long-term impacts of chronic diseases. The agency plans to expand data linkage initiatives to bolster evidence-based policymaking and stimulate academic research across the healthcare sector.
Related reading