Purpose: This study aimed to analyze nationwide trends and regional disparities in inguinal hernia surgeries in South Korea between 2016 and 2022. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate changes in surgery frequency, including urban concentration and the introduction of robotic surgery. Methods: This retrospective review used nationwide data on inguinal hernia surgeries from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database. Results: From 2016 to 2022, 254,367 inguinal hernia surgeries were performed in South Korea, with males accounting for 88.9% of cases. The annual number of surgeries fluctuated, particularly in 2020, owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Medical costs increased from $1,218.4 to $1,970 on average, whereas patient copayments rose from $180.2 to $293.3. Robotic inguinal hernia surgeries, introduced in 2019, increased to 226 cases in 2022. Pediatric surgeries steadily declined, whereas adult surgeries remained stable, with a slight increase in 2022. The average hospital stay did not change significantly but varied between pediatric and adult patients. Regional disparities were notable, especially in pediatric surgery rates between metropolitan areas, such as Seoul and the surrounding provinces. Conclusion This study highlights stable overall surgery rates, a decline in pediatric cases, and an increase in robotic inguinal hernia surgeries. The persistent concentration of healthcare services in metropolitan areas suggests a need for policy interventions to address regional disparities and ensure equitable healthcare access. The findings underscore the importance of ongoing efforts to improve healthcare distribution and the need for long-term strategies to address changing surgical trends.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze nationwide trends and regional disparities in inguinal hernia surgeries in South Korea between 2016 and 2022. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate changes in surgery frequency, including urban concentration and the introduction of robotic surgery. Methods: This retrospective review used nationwide data on inguinal hernia surgeries from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database. Results: From 2016 to 2022, 254,367 inguinal hernia surgeries were performed in South Korea, with males accounting for 88.9% of cases. The annual number of surgeries fluctuated, particularly in 2020, owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Medical costs increased from $1,218.4 to $1,970 on average, whereas patient copayments rose from $180.2 to $293.3. Robotic inguinal hernia surgeries, introduced in 2019, increased to 226 cases in 2022. Pediatric surgeries steadily declined, whereas adult surgeries remained stable, with a slight increase in 2022. The average hospital stay did not change significantly but varied between pediatric and adult patients. Regional disparities were notable, especially in pediatric surgery rates between metropolitan areas, such as Seoul and the surrounding provinces. Conclusion This study highlights stable overall surgery rates, a decline in pediatric cases, and an increase in robotic inguinal hernia surgeries. The persistent concentration of healthcare services in metropolitan areas suggests a need for policy interventions to address regional disparities and ensure equitable healthcare access. The findings underscore the importance of ongoing efforts to improve healthcare distribution and the need for long-term strategies to address changing surgical trends.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze nationwide trends and regional disparities in inguinal hernia surgeries in South Korea between 2016 and 2022. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate changes in surgery frequency, including urban concentration and the introduction of robotic surgery. Methods: This retrospective review used nationwide data on inguinal hernia surgeries from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database. Results: From 2016 to 2022, 254,367 inguinal hernia surgeries were performed in South Korea, with males accounting for 88.9% of cases. The annual number of surgeries fluctuated, particularly in 2020, owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Medical costs increased from $1,218.4 to $1,970 on average, whereas patient copayments rose from $180.2 to $293.3. Robotic inguinal hernia surgeries, introduced in 2019, increased to 226 cases in 2022. Pediatric surgeries steadily declined, whereas adult surgeries remained stable, with a slight increase in 2022. The average hospital stay did not change significantly but varied between pediatric and adult patients. Regional disparities were notable, especially in pediatric surgery rates between metropolitan areas, such as Seoul and the surrounding provinces. Conclusion This study highlights stable overall surgery rates, a decline in pediatric cases, and an increase in robotic inguinal hernia surgeries. The persistent concentration of healthcare services in metropolitan areas suggests a need for policy interventions to address regional disparities and ensure equitable healthcare access. The findings underscore the importance of ongoing efforts to improve healthcare distribution and the need for long-term strategies to address changing surgical trends.

PURPOSE: The prevalence of coronary artery disease and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is higher in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) than in the general population. In the general population, BNP, NT-proBNP, and cTnT are useful markers of cardiac disease. Recently, studies on biomarkers in patients with CKD have been reported. However, the effect of renal disease on these markers is still uncertain particularly in hemodialysis patients. We investigated the potential of BNP, NT-proBNP, and cTnT as biomarkers of cardiac disease in hemodialysis patients. Methods: We prospectively studied 27 hemodialysis patients without cardiovascular event within the last 6 months. We performed an echocardiography and blood samples for plasma BNP, NT-proBNP and cTnT. RESULTS: Median BNP, NT-proBNP, and cTnT level (pg/mL) were 433, 10,598, and 0.021, respectively. NT-proBNP was correlated with BNP (r=0.940, p=0.000) and cTnT (r=0.504, p=0.009). There was a negative correlation between BNP and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (r=-0.502, p=0.008), between NT-proBNP and LVEF (r=-0.556, p=0.003), and between cTnT and LVEF (r=-0.513, p=0.007). There was a positive correlation between BNP and LV mass index (LVMI) (g/m2) (r=0.619, p=0.001). Also, a positive correlation between NT-proBNP and LVMI was shown (r=0.718, p=0.000). There was an insignificant positive correlation between cTnT and LVMI (r=0.369, p=0.063). Albumin, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and NT-proBNP had an independent effect on LVEF (R2=0.80). Age, body mass index, LDL-cholesterol, NT-proBNP, and cTnT had an independent effect on LVMI (R2=0.78). Conclusion: BNP, NT-proBNP, and cTnT may be as a noninvasive diagnostic or prognostic marker of cardiac disease in stable hemodialysis patients.
Biomarkers ; Body Mass Index ; Brain* ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Echocardiography ; Heart Diseases* ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain* ; Natriuretic Peptides ; Plasma ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis* ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Stroke Volume ; Troponin T* ; Troponin*