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Ho Chun Choi

Seoul National University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Ho Chun Choi's research lab focuses on the intersection of metabolic health, endocrine function, and chronic disease prevention, with a particular emphasis on metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), thyroid dysfunction, and systemic inflammation. The lab investigates the role of hormonal imbalances—such as low testosterone and thyroid hormone abnormalities—alongside insulin resistance and visceral adiposity in the development of cardiometabolic disorders. Using large-scale population-based cohorts and clinical data, the lab aims to identify early biomarkers and modifiable risk factors for chronic diseases in the Korean population. Their work also explores medication adherence and inflammatory markers like hs-CRP in predicting long-term health outcomes.

metabolic syndromenonalcoholic fatty liver diseasetestosteroneinflammatory markersthyroid dysfunction

Research Overview

Papers
82
Total Citations
1,552
Papers (5y)
15
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
15total
2018
2019
2020
2021
2023
Citations per year (5y)
265total
20182019202020212023

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|153 citations·2012
A low level of serum total testosterone is independently associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Sun‐Mi Kim, Hyuktae Kwon, Jin‐Ho Park, Belong Cho, Donghee Kim, Seung‐Won Oh, Cheol Min Lee, Ho-Chun Choi
SJR Q2BMC GastroenterologyOA

BACKGROUND: The association between low serum testosterone levels, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and metabolic syndrome is now well known. However, the relationship between hepatic steatosis and serum testosterone levels has not been extensively studied. Our aim was to investigate the association of serum total testosterone levels with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), adjusting for the influence of VAT and insulin resistance. METHODS: This study is a retrospective observational cross-s

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
2
Article|116 citations·2019
Impact of number of medications and age on adherence to antihypertensive medications
Seung Jae Kim, Oh‐Deog Kwon, Eunice Bormee Han, Cheol Min Lee, Seung‐Won Oh, Hee‐Kyung Joh, Bumjo Oh, Hyuktae Kwon, Belong Cho, Ho-Chun Choi
SJR Q3MedicineOA

This study tried to investigate the effects of number of medications and age on antihypertensive medication adherence in a real-world setting using a nationwide representative cohort.We obtained data from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) of Korea, which is a sample of 2.2% (N = 1,048,061) of total population (N = 46,605,433). Patients aged 20 years or older (N = 150,550) who took antihypertensive medications for at least 1 year were selected. Medication pos

Family PracticeMedicine
3
Article|96 citations·2011
The Relation of Thyroid Function to Components of the Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Men and Women
Sat Byul Park, Ho-Chun Choi, Nam Seok Joo
SJR Q2Journal of Korean Medical ScienceOA

This study was to assess the relation of thyroid dysfunction to metabolic syndrome (MetS) at an earlier stage in Korean population. Metabolic parameters such as body composition, blood pressure (BP), fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine 4 (fT(4)) were measured. During a mean follow-up of 3 yr, 5,998 Koreans ages over 18 yr were assessed. There were 694 cases of MetS at follow-

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
4
Article|83 citations·2012
High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels and Cancer Mortality
Young-Jin Ko, Young-Min Kwon, Kyae Hyung Kim, Ho-Chun Choi, Sohyun Chun, Hyung‐Jin Yoon, Eurah Goh, Belong Cho, Minseon Park
SJR Q1Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & PreventionOA

BACKGROUND: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is an important inflammatory marker, and inflammation is known to be involved in the initiation and progression of cancer. We investigated the association between serum hs-CRP levels and all-cause mortality, cancer mortality, and site-specific cancer mortality in apparently cancer-free Koreans. METHODS: A total of 33,567 participants who underwent routine check-ups at a single tertiary hospital health-screening center between May 1995 and

OncologyMedicine
5
Article|82 citations·2013
Metabolic effects of aloe vera gel complex in obese prediabetes and early non-treated diabetic patients: Randomized controlled trial
Ho-Chun Choi, Seok-Joong Kim, Ki Young Son, Bumjo Oh, Be-Long Cho
SJR Q2Nutrition
Plant ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
6
Article|72 citations·2015
The Effectiveness of Mobile Phone-Based Care for Weight Control in Metabolic Syndrome Patients: Randomized Controlled Trial
Bumjo Oh, Belong Cho, Min Kyu Han, Ho-Chun Choi, Mi Na Lee, Hee‐Cheol Kang, Chang Hee Lee, Heeseong Yun, Young-Ho Kim
SJR Q1JMIR mhealth and uhealthOA

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01344811; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01344811 (Archived by Webcite at http://www.webcitation.org/6alT2MmIB).

General Health ProfessionsHealth Professions
7
Article|71 citations·2012
Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and Helicobacter pylori Infection Diagnosed by Histologic Status and Serological Status
Dong Wook Shin, Hyuk Tae Kwon, Jung Min Kang, Jin‐Ho Park, Ho-Chun Choi, Min Seon Park, Sang Min Park, Ki Young Son, Belong Cho
SJR Q2Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology

The stronger association between metabolic syndrome and histologic positivity than serological positivity suggests that the effects of HP infection on the pathogenesis of cardiometabolic outcomes may be reversible. Further prospective studies are needed.

SurgeryMedicine
8
Article|68 citations·2013
The influence of lower-extremity function in elderly individuals’ quality of life (QOL): An analysis of the correlation between SPPB and EQ-5D
Bumjo Oh, Belong Cho, Ho-Chun Choi, Ki Young Son, Sang Min Park, Sohyun Chun, Sung‐Il Cho
SJR Q1Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
Economics and EconometricsEconomics, Econometrics and Finance
9
Article|37 citations·2018
Cut-Off Values for Visceral Fat Area Identifying Korean Adults at Risk for Metabolic Syndrome
Arang Lee, Ye Ji Kim, Seung‐Won Oh, Cheol Min Lee, Ho-Chun Choi, Hee‐Kyung Joh, Bumjo Oh, Seung-Sik Hwang, Seung Jae Kim, Oh‐Deog Kwon
SJR Q2Korean Journal of Family MedicineOA

This large population study proposed the cut-off values for VFA and WC for identifying subjects at risk of MetS among Korean adults. For more accurate diagnosis, different age-specific cut-off values for VFA and WC may be considered.

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
10
Article|35 citations·2017
The Association between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Thyroid Cancer
Young‐Gyun Seo, Ho-Chun Choi, Ah Reum An, Do Joon Park, Young Joo Park, Kyu Eun Lee, Sue K. Park, Yunji Hwang, Belong Cho
SJR Q2Journal of Diabetes ResearchOA

AIM: The incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing worldwide. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is also increasing. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the effect of T2DM on thyroid cancer. METHODS: A case-control study was performed. A total of 415 healthy controls with thyroid ultrasound screening and physician consultation were selected from the Thyroid Cancer Longitudinal Study (T-CALOS). Among patients with thyroid cancer who were enrolled in T-CALOS, 415 patients were matched to

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
11
Article|27 citations·2016
The Relationship between Metabolically Obese Non-Obese Weight and Stroke: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Young‐Gyun Seo, Ho-Chun Choi, Belong Cho
SJR Q1PLoS ONEOA

Our study findings may better emphasize the risk of stroke among more lean but unhealthy individuals, who appear healthy but may be suffering from MetS. These findings also highlight the need for stroke risk factor assessment in non-obese weight individuals.

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational HealthMedicine
12
Article|25 citations·2019
Effects of combination drugs on antihypertensive medication adherence in a real-world setting: a Korean Nationwide Study
Seung Jae Kim, Oh‐Deog Kwon, Belong Cho, Seung‐Won Oh, Cheol Min Lee, Ho-Chun Choi
SJR Q1BMJ OpenOA

OBJECTIVES: We tried to clarify, by using representative national data in a real-world setting, whether single-pill combinations (SPCs) of antihypertensives actually improve medication adherence. DESIGN: A nationwide population-based study. SETTING: We used a 2.2% cohort (n=1 048 061) of the total population (n=46 605 433) that was randomly extracted by National Health Insurance of Korea from 2008 to 2013. PARTICIPANTS: We included patients (n=116 677) who were prescribed with the same antihyper

Family PracticeMedicine
13
Article|20 citations·2016
Weight Change and Associated Factors in Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors
Hye Yeon Koo, Young‐Gyun Seo, Mi Hee Cho, Min-Jung Kim, Ho-Chun Choi
SJR Q1PLoS ONEOA

Long-term breast cancer survivors who were non-obese at diagnosis are more likely to gain weight than obese survivors. Younger survivors and survivors who have never used AI are also likely to gain weight.

OncologyMedicine
14
Article|18 citations·2011
An implication of the short physical performance battery (SPPB) as a predictor of abnormal pulmonary function in aging people
Ho-Chun Choi, Ki Young Son, Belong Cho, Sang Min Park, Sung‐Il Cho
SJR Q1Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
15
Article|12 citations·2023
Association of intraabdominal fat with the risk of incident chronic kidney disease according to body mass index among Korean adults
Jeonghwan Lee, Seran Min, Seung‐Won Oh, Sohee Oh, Yoon-Hye Lee, Hyuktae Kwon, Cheol Min Lee, Ho-Chun Choi, Nam Ju Heo
SJR Q1PLoS ONEOA

BACKGROUND: The association between abdominal visceral adipose tissue and the risk of incident chronic kidney disease according to body mass index in the Asian population, remains unclear. We evaluated the impact of abdominal adiposity stratified by body mass index on the risk of incident chronic kidney disease. METHODS: A cohort study included 11,050 adult participants who underwent health check-ups and re-evaluated the follow-up medical examination at a single university-affiliated healthcare

Cardiology and Cardiovascular MedicineMedicine

Research Areas

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismPulmonary and Respiratory MedicineOncologySurgeryCardiology and Cardiovascular MedicineGeneral Health Professions

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