The ASPRA is a prospective cohort study of older adults who are registered in the NHS and reside in 2 rural towns (Haanmi-ri and Gaesu-ri) in Daehwa-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, Korea. Pyeongchang-gun (County) is located 180 kilometers east of Seoul, with a total population size of 43,660 and older adults comprising 22% (Fig. 1 ). Due to the geographical distance to cities, the residents receive medical care almost exclusively from the regional CHPs.
Between October and December 2014, screening and recruitment took place in Haanmi-ri and Gaesu-ri. From the NHS member roster, potentially eligible residents were identified. They received a letter or a phone call from nurses to visit the CHP for their upcoming annual health examination or vaccination. If they were not able to attend, nurses made a home visit. A resident was considered eligible if he/she was: 1) aged 65 years or older; 2) registered in the NHS; 3) ambulatory with or without an assistive device; 4) living at home at the time of the assessment; and 5) able to provide informed consent. Excluded were those who were: 1) living in a nursing home; 2) hospitalized; or 3) bed-ridden and receiving a nursing-home level care at home. Because the study presents no more than minimal risk to the participants, a verbal informed consent was obtained.
To assess whether the ASPRA cohort is representative of older Koreans in rural communities, we analyzed data from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) (14 (link)), conducted in 2013 and including 8,018 adults aged 65 years or older.
Between October and December 2014, screening and recruitment took place in Haanmi-ri and Gaesu-ri. From the NHS member roster, potentially eligible residents were identified. They received a letter or a phone call from nurses to visit the CHP for their upcoming annual health examination or vaccination. If they were not able to attend, nurses made a home visit. A resident was considered eligible if he/she was: 1) aged 65 years or older; 2) registered in the NHS; 3) ambulatory with or without an assistive device; 4) living at home at the time of the assessment; and 5) able to provide informed consent. Excluded were those who were: 1) living in a nursing home; 2) hospitalized; or 3) bed-ridden and receiving a nursing-home level care at home. Because the study presents no more than minimal risk to the participants, a verbal informed consent was obtained.
To assess whether the ASPRA cohort is representative of older Koreans in rural communities, we analyzed data from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) (14 (link)), conducted in 2013 and including 8,018 adults aged 65 years or older.
