Cause of Death ; Child Mortality ; trends ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; trends ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether the risk-adjusted inhospital mortality rates for non-emergent and isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) patients exhibited a consistent trend from 2001 to 2003. METHODS: The data used in this study came from CABG claims that were submitted to a Korean Health Insurance Review Agency (HIRA) in 2001, 2002, and 2003. Study datasets included data from 17 tertiary hospitals, which had at least 25 claims each year over 3 years. The interhospital differences in patients' risk-factors were identified and controlled in the risk-adjustment model. Actual and predicted mortality rates for each hospital were calculated in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2001+2002, and were then examined to identify consistent rate patterns over time. Kappa analysis was applied to assess the agreements between rates. RESULTS: Hospitals with lower-than-expected inpatient mortality rates showed more consistent rates than those with higher-than-expected mortality rates. The mortality rates that were calculated based on data obtained over multiple years had less variation among hospitals than rates based on single year data. Based on the Kappa score, the highest agreement was found when the rates were compared between the 2-year combined data (2001+2002) and 2003. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent patterns over 3 years were most evident for hospitals which had lower-than expected mortality rates. Policy makers can use this information to identify the degree of outcomes in hospitals and help motivate or channel the behaviors of providers.
Risk Assessment ; Risk Adjustment ; Male ; Korea/epidemiology ; Humans ; Hospital Mortality/*trends ; Female ; Coronary Artery Bypass/*mortality/trends

Objective: To explore the variation for mortality/incidence (MI) ratio on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Tianjin from 2007 to 2015. Methods: Data from both disease and death surveillance systems on AMI in Tianjin from 2007 to 2015, were collected. Incidence and mortality for AMI of people over 35 years old were calculated and fitted by using the exponential model. Annual MI ratios by gender and different age groups were calculated. Join-point regression was used for sensitivity analysis of the ratio. Results: Other than 2007, 2010, 2014 and 2015, the ratios in rest of the years were all bigger than one. From 2007 to 2015, the ratios were ranging from 0.80 to 1.60, with 0.90 to 1.80 for females, and 0.80 to 1.40 for males, respectively. Conclusion: The MI ratio on AMI changed relatively stable in Tianjin from 2007 to 2015, but the AMI incidence data in Tianjin seemed underreported, especially for people over 75 years old, indicating that some elderly AMI cases were not reported to the disease surveillance system.
Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Hospital Mortality/trends* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction/mortality*

OBJECTIVECurrently, China is in short of thorough and systemic data concerning the patterns and incidence of injuries and related deaths. Guangdong Province as one of the economically advanced areas in China is faced with a relatively serious injury problem, and investigation of this problem in this Province will provide valuable information for other provinces and areas in this Country, as well as scientific basis for policy making for injury prevention and control.

METHODSAnalyses are based on the computerized hospital discharge data collected from 322 hospitals in Guangdong Province between 1997 and 2001. Diagnoses are coded according to the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM).

RESULTSThe total hospitalization rate related with injuries increased year by year from 1997 to 2001. The ratio of case-fatality has a decline trend for all injury inpatients, who were mainly caused by motor vehicle accidents, unintentional falls, puncture and cut by machine and others. The constituent ratio of death among patients caused by motor vehicle accidents accounted for 56.13% among the total deaths, which ranked as the first place. The direct medical cost also had an increased trend.

CONCLUSIONSData on injuries requiring hospitalization can be used to design and target more effective injury prevention programs. Injury prevention would decrease human sufferings, disability, and associated economic losses.

Accidents, Traffic ; statistics & numerical data ; trends ; China ; epidemiology ; Hospital Information Systems ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inpatients ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology ; etiology ; mortality

PURPOSE: Evidence suggests that technological innovations and reimbursement schemes of the National Health Insurance Service may have impacted the management of coronary artery disease. Thus, we investigated changes in the practice patterns of coronary revascularization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Revascularization and in-hospital mortality among Koreans > or =20 years old were identified from medical claims filed between 2006 and 2010. The age- and sex-standardized procedure rate per 100000 person-years was calculated directly from the distribution of the 2008 Korean population. RESULTS: The coronary revascularization rate increased from 116.1 (95% confidence interval, 114.9-117.2) in 2006 to 131.0 (129.9-132.1) in 2010. Compared to the rate ratios in 2006, the rate ratios for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in 2010 were 1.16 (1.15-1.17) and 0.80 (0.76-0.84), respectively. Among patients who received PCI, the percentage with drug-eluting stents increased from 89.1% in 2006 to 93.0% in 2010. In-hospital mortality rates from PCI significantly increased during the study period (p=0.03), whereas those from CABG significantly decreased (p=0.01). The in-hospital mortality rates for PCI and CABG were higher in elderly and female patients and at the lowest-volume hospitals. CONCLUSION: The annual volume of coronary revascularization continuously increased between 2006 and 2010 in Korea, although this trend differed according to procedure type. A high percentage of drug-eluting stent procedures and a high rate of in-hospital mortality at low-volume hospitals were noted.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Coronary Artery Bypass/*statistics & numerical data/trends ; Coronary Artery Disease/*surgery ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Revascularization/*methods/*trends ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/*statistics & numerical data/trends ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Data on the epidemiology of alcoholic cirrhosis, especially in Asian countries, are limited. We compared the temporal evolution of patterns of alcoholic and nonalcoholic cirrhosis over the last decade. METHODS: We retrospectively examined the inpatient datasets of five referral centers during 2002 and 2011. The study included patients who were admitted due to specific complications of liver cirrhosis. We compared the causes of hospital admissions and in-hospital deaths between patients with alcoholic and nonalcoholic cirrhosis. RESULTS: Among the included 2,799 hospitalizations (2,165 patients), 1,496 (1,143 patients) were from 2002, and 1,303 (1,022 patients) were from 2011. Over time, there was a reduction in the rate of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) as a cause of hospitalization and an increase in the rate of hepatocellular carcinoma. Deaths that were attributable to HE or spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) significantly decreased, whereas those due to hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) significantly increased over time in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. However, in patients with nonalcoholic cirrhosis, hepatic failure and HRS remained the principal causes of in-hospital death during both time periods. CONCLUSIONS: The major causes of in-hospital deaths have evolved from acute cirrhotic complications, including HE or SBP to HRS in alcoholic cirrhosis, whereas those have remained unchanged in nonalcoholic cirrhosis during the last decade.
Aged ; Asia/epidemiology ; Bacterial Infections/etiology/mortality ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/etiology/mortality ; Cause of Death ; Female ; Hepatic Encephalopathy/etiology/mortality ; Hepatorenal Syndrome/etiology/mortality ; Hospital Mortality/*trends ; Hospitalization/*trends ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/*complications/mortality ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/*complications/mortality ; Liver Neoplasms/etiology/mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritonitis/microbiology/mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors

INTRODUCTIONHighly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has improved outcomes for individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study describes the causes of death in hospitalised HIV-positive patients from 2008 to 2010 in Tan Tock Seng Hospital, the national referral centre for HIV management in Singapore.

MATERIALS AND METHODSData were retrospectively collected from HIV-positive patients who died in Tan Tock Seng Hospital from January 2008 to December 2010.

RESULTSSixty-seven deaths occurred in the study period. A majority of patients died of non-acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining illnesses (54.7%). The median CD4 count was 39.5 (range, 20.0 to 97.0), and 7 patients had HIV viral loads of <200 copies/mL. There were 27 deaths due to opportunistic infections, 27 due to non AIDS-defining infections, 4 due to non AIDS-associated malignancies. This study also describes 3 deaths due to cardiovascular events, and 1 due to hepatic failure. Patients who had virologic suppression were more likely to die from non AIDS-defining causes.

CONCLUSIONCauses of death in HIV-positive patients have changed in the HAART era. More research is required to further understand and address barriers to testing and treatment to further improve outcomes in HIV/AIDS.

Anti-Retroviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Cause of Death ; trends ; Female ; HIV Seropositivity ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Hospital Mortality ; trends ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Audit ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Maintenance dialysis is made decreased the death rate of patients with end-stage renal disease; however, mortality is still high. The aim of this study was to identify the association between clinical parameters at the start of hemodialysis with survival and compare these findings with data from patients who underwent hemodialysis about 15 years ago at the same dialysis center. METHODS: We reviewed 117 patients who started hemodialysis between 2000 and 2004. We analyzed medical histories, laboratory findings, and clinical outcomes, and compared them with patients who started hemodialysis 15 years ago at the same center. RESULTS: The proportion of elderly patients and those with diabetes increased from 17% and 18% in the previous study to 33% and 49% in this study, respectively. Elderly and patients with diabetes had much higher mortalities than their counterparts. Nevertheless, the overall survival rate (66% vs. 71% at 5 years) and survival of patients with diabetes improved (55% vs. 75% at 1.5 years). Common causes of death were infection and cardiovascular disease in the present study; however, inadequate dialysis accounted for 25% of deaths in the previous study. CONCLUSIONS: The overall survival rate of patients undergoing hemodialysis has improved over the 15-year interval, even with an increased proportion of elderly patients and patients with diabetes. Adequate dialysis and further medical improvements could ameliorate mortality in patients undergoing dialysis.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Cause of Death ; Diabetes Mellitus/mortality ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospital Mortality/*trends ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/*mortality/*therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Dialysis/*mortality ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Analysis

OBJECTIVETo survey the treatment status and clinical features of hospitalized patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) of 13 hospitals in Beijing in 2005.

METHODSUniform questionnaires were used to register AMI patients hospitalized from January 1 to December 31, 2005 in the 13 hospitals including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospitals (n = 6) and western medicine hospitals (WM, n = 7) from Beijing. A total of 1663 AMI patients were registered (1366 cases in WM hospitals and 297 cases in TCM hospitals). An Access database was established and patient information was input, the clinical features and treatment status of hospitalized AMI patients were analyzed.

RESULTSThe mean age was (63.9 +/- 12.8) years old [(62.8 +/- 12.8) years for WM Hospitals and (69.1 +/- 11.8) years for TCM hospitals, P < 0.05], male to female ratio was 2.4:1 (2.7:1 for WM hospitals and 1.6:1 for TCM hospitals, P < 0.05). The median time to hospital was 14 hours in TCM hospitals and 11 hours in WM hospitals (P > 0.05). Incidences of history of cerebrovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and complications such as in-patient arrhythmia, cardiac insufficiency, cardiogenic shock were significantly higher in TCM hospitals than in WM hospitals. The total mortality of 1663 AMI cases was 8.2% (15.8% in TCM hospitals vs. 6.6% in WM hospitals, P < 0.01). The reperfusion rate including emergency PCI and thrombolytic therapy rate was 31.3% in 13 hospitals (33.3% in WM hospitals vs. 21.9% in TCM hospitals, P < 0.05). Percent of guideline recommend drug use for AMI was as follows: aspirin 93.6%, ACEI and ARB 85.1%, beta-blocker 78.7%, low molecular weight heparin 85.4%, statins 74.7%.

CONCLUSIONSReperfusion therapy and guideline recommended drugs were widely used although there was a need for further improvement. The hospitalized mortality showed a downward trend compared with results from five years ago, patients in TCM hospitals had an independent clinical features.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; trends ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Inpatients ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Heart failure (HF) complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is common and is associated with poor clinical outcome. Limited data exist regarding the incidence and in-hospital mortality of AMI with HF (AMI-HF). We retrospectively analyzed 1,427 consecutive patients with AMI in the five major university hospitals in Korea at two time points, 1998 (n = 608) and 2008 (n = 819). Two hundred twenty eight patients (37.5%) in 1998 and 324 patients (39.5%) in 2008 of AMI patients complicated with HF (P = 0.429). AMI-HF patients in 2008 were older, had more hypertension, previous AMI, and lower systolic blood pressure than those in 1998. Regarding treatments, AMI-HF patients in 2008 received more revascularization procedures, more evidence based medical treatment and adjuvant therapy, such as mechanical ventilators, intra-aortic balloon pulsation compared to those in 1998. However, overall in-hospital mortality rates (6.4% vs 11.1%, P = 0.071) of AMI-HF patients were unchanged and still high even after propensity score matching analysis, irrespective of types of AMI and revascularization methods. In conclusion, more evidence-based medical and advanced procedural managements were applied for patients with AMI-HF in 2008 than in 1998. However the incidence and in-hospital mortality of AMI-HF patients were not significantly changed between the two time points.
Acute Disease ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Demography ; Female ; Heart Failure/complications/*diagnosis/mortality ; Hospital Mortality/*trends ; Humans ; Hypertension/complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/complications/*diagnosis/mortality ; Odds Ratio ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies