Objectives: We aimed to investigate the recent changes in clinical practice in Korea after the introduction of the national health insurance coverage for polysomnography and positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in July 2018. Methods: We assessed the amount, cost, and geographic distribution of healthcare utilization associated with the diagnostic codes of sleep apnea, polysomnography tests, and PAP treatment using the Korea National Health Insurance Database. Furthermore, the specialties of the prescribing physician and the type of health institute were investigated. Results: The number of patients who used health resources under the diagnostic codes of sleep apnea has increased since 2018. In total, 81,016 polysomnography tests were performed from July 2018 to December 2019, and 58,213 patients underwent PAP treatment from July 2018 to March 2020. The total medical cost associated with sleep apnea was 56,517,061 thousand won in 2019. Auto-titrating PAP accounted for 85.1% of all PAP devices prescribed, and the overall adherence rate for PAP was 69.3%. PAP was prescribed most frequently in private clinics (49.9%) and mostly by physicians of ear-nose-throat (66.6%), neurology (18.7%), and psychiatry (10.3%) specializations. PAP was used more frequently by those living in urban areas than by those living in rural areas. Conclusions Recent changes in the national health insurance coverage have resulted in a surge in the healthcare utilization related to OSAS. There was a regional variation in OSAS treatment, suggesting an inequality in the availability of healthcare for OSAS and the need to improve the awareness regarding OSAS.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the recent changes in clinical practice in Korea after the introduction of the national health insurance coverage for polysomnography and positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in July 2018. Methods: We assessed the amount, cost, and geographic distribution of healthcare utilization associated with the diagnostic codes of sleep apnea, polysomnography tests, and PAP treatment using the Korea National Health Insurance Database. Furthermore, the specialties of the prescribing physician and the type of health institute were investigated. Results: The number of patients who used health resources under the diagnostic codes of sleep apnea has increased since 2018. In total, 81,016 polysomnography tests were performed from July 2018 to December 2019, and 58,213 patients underwent PAP treatment from July 2018 to March 2020. The total medical cost associated with sleep apnea was 56,517,061 thousand won in 2019. Auto-titrating PAP accounted for 85.1% of all PAP devices prescribed, and the overall adherence rate for PAP was 69.3%. PAP was prescribed most frequently in private clinics (49.9%) and mostly by physicians of ear-nose-throat (66.6%), neurology (18.7%), and psychiatry (10.3%) specializations. PAP was used more frequently by those living in urban areas than by those living in rural areas. Conclusions Recent changes in the national health insurance coverage have resulted in a surge in the healthcare utilization related to OSAS. There was a regional variation in OSAS treatment, suggesting an inequality in the availability of healthcare for OSAS and the need to improve the awareness regarding OSAS.

Chronic kidney disease is a leading public health problem related to poor quality of life and premature death. As a resource for evidence-informed health policy-making, we evaluated the prevalence of chronic kidney disease using the data of non-institutionalized adults aged ≥ 20 years (n = 15,319) from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2011-2013. Chronic kidney disease was defined as a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥ 30 mg/g or an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 using the Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration equation. The total prevalence estimate of chronic kidney disease for adults aged ≥ 20 years in Korea was 8.2%. By disease stage, the prevalence of chronic kidney disease was as follows: stage 1, 3.0%; stage 2, 2.7%; stage 3a, 1.9%; stage 3b, 0.4%; and stages 4-5, 0.2%. When grouped into three risk categories according to the 2012 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines, the proportions for the moderately increased risk, high risk, and very high risk categories were 6.5%, 1.2%, and 0.5%, respectively. Factors including older age, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, body mass indexes of ≥ 25 kg/m2 and < 18.5 kg/m2, and rural residential area were independently associated with chronic kidney disease. Based on this comprehensive analysis, evidence-based screening strategies for chronic kidney disease in the Korean population should be developed to optimize prevention and early intervention of chronic kidney disease and its associated risk factors.
Adult ; Aged ; Albuminuria/complications ; Creatine/urine ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Kidney/physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Nutrition Surveys ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*epidemiology/pathology ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index

PURPOSE: There were experimental evidences supporting that intrarenal activation of the renin-angiotensin system contributes to increase BP, proteinuria and urinary angiotensinogen (UAGT) excretion. The purpose of this prospective, open label, controlled study was to investigate the effect of losartan on proteinuria and UAGT excretion in chronic non-diabetic proteinuric (0.4 to 2.0 g/day) renal disease with normal renal function (glomerular filtration rate, GFR>60 mL/min/1.73m2). METHODS: Thirty two patients were randomly allocated to the losartan group (100 mg/day; n=17) or the control group (n=15). Systolic BP, diastolic BP, estimated GFR, urinary protein to creatinine ratio (UP/Cr), UAGT and plasma angiotensinogen (PAGT) level were compared between two groups at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. RESULTS: UP/Cr (1.13+/-0.36 g/g vs. 1.07+/-0.34 g/g) was similar in two groups at baseline. Target BP (<140/90 mmHg) was maintained in both groups. After 6 months, UP/Cr (0.63+/-0.35 g/g vs. 0.97+/-0.41 g/g, p<0.01) was significantly decreased in the losartan group compared to the control group. In addition, UAGT (baseline 1.0) was noticeably suppressed in the losartan group (0.72+/-0.42 vs. 1.07+/-0.81, p=0.13). However, PAGT was not changed in both groups. Moreover, our study at 12 months period has demonstrated continuous suppression of UP/Cr (0.79+/-0.53 g/g vs. 1.00+/-0.50 g/g, p=0.06) and UAGT (0.60+/-0.51 vs. 1.51+/-1.36, p<0.05) in the losartan group. UP/Cr was highly correlated with UAGT (Correlation Coefficient=0.74, p<0.01), but not with PAGT. CONCLUSION: Losartan not only induced a remarkable decrease in proteinuria but also contributed a reduction in UAGT in patients with chronic non-diabetic proteinuric renal disease.
Angiotensinogen ; Creatinine ; Filtration ; Humans ; Losartan ; Plasma ; Prospective Studies ; Proteinuria ; Renin-Angiotensin System

PURPOSE: Constipation is a frequent complaint among dialysis patients. However, factors that contribute to constipation in these patients have not been evaluated rigorously. The aim of study was to assess the prevalence and factors that contribute to constipation in patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). METHODS: Patients undergoing HD or PD for more than six months in the six dialysis centers were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire that is designed to assess constipation by Rome- III criteria. Beck depression inventory (BDI) were assessed. A total of 146 patients (HD 91, PD 55) completed the study. RESULTS: The prevalence of constipation was 33% in 91 HD patients and 31% in 55 PD patients. Prevalence of constipation was 32% and did not differ by dialysis mode. Older age, unemployed state, high cumulative illness rating scale and high BDI were associated with constipation. In multivariate analysis, BDI was an independent factor associated with constipation. The prevalence of constipation was 18% and 50% for patients with BDI <15 and > or =15, respectively. The odd ratio for constipation in patients with BDI > or =15 was 3.4 (95% CI, 1.4-8.1). CONCLUSION: Careful psychogenic attention must be paid to ESRD patients with constipation.
Constipation ; Depression ; Dialysis ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Multivariate Analysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Prevalence ; Renal Dialysis ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Purpose: To determine seasonal variations in serum potassium levels among hemodialysis patients. Materials and Methods: This was a multicenter cohort study of patients whounderwent hemodialysis and were registered in DialysisNet at our four associated general hospitals between January and December 2016. Month-to-month potassium variability was quantified as SD/√{n/(n-1)}, and a non-hierarchical method was used to cluster groups according to potassium trajectories. Seasonal variations in potassium levels were analyzed using a cosinor analysis. Results: The analysis was performed on 279 patients with a mean potassium level of 5.08±0.58 mmol/L. After clustering, 52.3% (n=146) of patients were included in the moderate group (K+ , 4.6±0.4 mmol/L) and 47.7% (n=133) in the high group (K+ , 5.6±0.4 mmol/L). The mean potassium level peaked in January in the moderate group (4.83±0.74 mmol/L) and in August in the high group (5.51±0.70 mmol/L). In the high potassium group, potassium levels were significantly higher in summer than in autumn (p<0.001) and spring (p=0.007). Month-to-month potassium variability was greater in the high group than in the moderate group (0.59±0.19 mmol/L vs. 0.52±0.21 mmol/L, respectively, p=0.012). Compared to patients in the first quartile of potassium variability (≤0.395 mmol/L), those with higher variability (2nd–4th quartiles) were 2.8–4.2 fold more likely to be in the high potassium group. Conclusion Different seasonal patterns of serum potassium were identified in the moderate and high potassium groups, with potassium levels being significantly higher in the summer season in the high potassium group and in winter for the moderate potassium group.

Background: The incidence of early-onset diabetes is increasing among young adults.However, there are limited data on the characteristics and management of young Korean adults with diabetes. This study assessed the clinical and demographic characteristics, health behaviors, and mental health among young Korean adults with diabetes mellitus. Methods: This cross-sectional study included young Korean adults with diabetes (n = 225) with an onset age of 20–39 years from four university hospitals. Demographic characteristics, management of diabetes, and mental health were assessed using a questionnaire survey. Results: Type 2 diabetes was the most common type (73.3%), and 13.8% of participants were classified as other types or unknown. Approximately, 64.7% of participants had a strong family history of diabetes, and 76% had treatment within three months of diagnosis.Approximately, 11.1% of participants had diabetic complications; 39.1% of participants received insulin injections, including oral anti-diabetic medications. Additionally, 30.4% were smokers, and only 28% had active physical activity; 26.5% of participants had >3 hours of screen time. One third of participants never had breakfast, and 60.5% went out to eat at least three times a week. Half of the participants showed moderate to severe stress perception, and 21.4% of patients had moderate to severe levels of depression based on the Korean version of Beck Depression Inventory score. Conclusion Early-onset diabetes was associated with a strong family history and early insulin treatment. Young adults with diabetes had poor health behaviors and frequent mental depression. These findings suggest the necessity of health policies for improving health behaviors and mental distress.

Background: The incidence of early-onset diabetes is increasing among young adults.However, there are limited data on the characteristics and management of young Korean adults with diabetes. This study assessed the clinical and demographic characteristics, health behaviors, and mental health among young Korean adults with diabetes mellitus. Methods: This cross-sectional study included young Korean adults with diabetes (n = 225) with an onset age of 20–39 years from four university hospitals. Demographic characteristics, management of diabetes, and mental health were assessed using a questionnaire survey. Results: Type 2 diabetes was the most common type (73.3%), and 13.8% of participants were classified as other types or unknown. Approximately, 64.7% of participants had a strong family history of diabetes, and 76% had treatment within three months of diagnosis.Approximately, 11.1% of participants had diabetic complications; 39.1% of participants received insulin injections, including oral anti-diabetic medications. Additionally, 30.4% were smokers, and only 28% had active physical activity; 26.5% of participants had >3 hours of screen time. One third of participants never had breakfast, and 60.5% went out to eat at least three times a week. Half of the participants showed moderate to severe stress perception, and 21.4% of patients had moderate to severe levels of depression based on the Korean version of Beck Depression Inventory score. Conclusion Early-onset diabetes was associated with a strong family history and early insulin treatment. Young adults with diabetes had poor health behaviors and frequent mental depression. These findings suggest the necessity of health policies for improving health behaviors and mental distress.