Background and Objectives: Since polysomnography and positive airway pressure were covered by insurance in 2018, there have been many changes in the number of patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), prescriptions issued for polysomnography, soft palate surgery performed and medical cost. However, there has been no clear analysis regarding such changes.Subjects and Method Data on the number of patients, medical cost, polysomnography prescriptions, and soft palate surgery performed from 2010 to 2022 were extracted from the Healthcare Bigdata Hub and analyzed for trends. In addition, the type of medical institutions, gender and age of patients were also analyzed. Results: From 2010 to 2017, the number of patients with OSA increased moderately, but in 2019, it surged to 64970. Prior to 2018, more patients received treatment from general hospitals than at private clinics, but after 2018, more patients received treatment from private clinics rather than from general hospitals. Male patients were about four times more likely than female patients to receive treatment. Male patients were mostly aged 30-59 years, whereas female patients were more than 50 years old. In 2019, 64970 patients underwent polysomnography. Soft palate surgery was most frequently performed in 2014, and the number of surgeries decreased after that until 2018 when it increased again. The total medical cost of patients with OSA was 8.6 billion won in 2017, but it soared to 20.2 billion won in 2018 and 55 billion won in 2019. Conclusion After insurance coverage was introduced for polysomnography and positive airway pressure in 2018, the number of patients with OSA and polysomnography, and medical cost have increased rapidly. Also, the center of treatment for OSA is shifting from general hospitals to private clinics.

Purpose: To characterize the choroidal microvasculature in glaucomatous eyes with parapapillary intrachoroidal cavitation (PICC) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and its association with parapapillary choroidal microvasculature dropout (MvD). Methods: This study included 47 glaucomatous eyes with PICC, as identified by color fundus photography and optical coherence tomography scanning of the optic nerve head area. Peripapillary choroidal microvasculature was evaluated on en-face OCTA images. Choroidal MvD was defined as a focal sectoral capillary dropout with no visible microvascular network. Results: PICC was visible as a well-demarcated area with homogeneously reduced vessel density in en-face OCTA images of the choroidal layer. MvD was detected in 42 eyes (89.4%). Although located in the juxtapapillary area adjacent to the PICC, MvD was confined to the area of parapapillary atrophy. MvD observed in OCTA en-face images was distinguished from the area of PICC by the absence of vascular signal. Of the 50 PICCs, 49 (98.0%) had hemifield visual field defects at the location corresponding to the hemispheric location of PICC. Conclusions PICC was found to have a characteristic microvascular feature in choroidal en-face OCTA images, and to be topographically associated with glaucomatous visual field defect. PICC was frequently accompanied by MvD and was located adjacent to the area of MvD, suggesting that PICC and MvD have similar pathogenesis.

Trichotillomania (TTM) is a disorder characterized by repetitive hair pulling, frequently from the scalp and/or eyebrows, leading to noticeable hair loss and functional impairment. TTM remains a poorly understood and inadequately treated disorder despite increased recognition of its prevalence. We review available neuroimaging studies conducted in patients with TTM, covering structural and functional neuroimaging in turn. Data from patients' structural and functional neuroimaging results enabled us to identify the neural circuitry involved in the manifestation of hair pulling. Finally, we highlighted the future importance of neuroimaging studies in children and adolescents with TTM.
Adolescent ; Brain ; Child ; Eyebrows ; Functional Neuroimaging ; Hair ; Humans ; Neuroimaging ; Prevalence ; Scalp ; Trichotillomania

BACKGROUND: The patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) suffer from early onset atherosclerotic vascular disease due to high level of cholesterol and subsequent vascular inflammation, especially in the form of coronary artery disease. We investigated the clinical characteristics of FH associated cerebral infarction and its possible mechanism. METHODS: Between January 2014 and May 2017, acute cerebral infarction patients who admitted to Chung-Ang University Hospital were reviewed from stroke registry and the diagnosis of FH was made based on the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network Diagnostic Criteria for FH. We reviewed their initial laboratory and brain imaging information, prescribed medication and followed lipid profile after discharge. Stroke mechanism was determined based on Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment classification. RESULTS: Among 1,401 acute cerebral infarction or transient ischemic attack patients, one probable and three possible FH stroke patients were detected. All the patients denied of previous coronary artery disease history and initial lipid panel revealed high levels of total cholesterol (378±75 mg/dL) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (238±56 mg/dL). Stroke mechanisms were heterogeneous, including one atherosclerotic, two vertebral artery dissection cases and one coagulation disorder. All the patients were combined with noticeable degree of intracranial atherosclerosis and were maintained with statin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrates diverse stroke mechanism among stroke patients with FH. Further research is required to disclose exact incidence of FH among stroke population and effective treatment strategy.
Atherosclerosis ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cholesterol ; Classification ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; Neuroimaging ; Stroke ; Vascular Diseases ; Vertebral Artery Dissection

OBJECTIVES: To identify the factors affecting long-term adherence to methylphenidate treatment in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: A retrospective medical record review of 239 ADHD patients (mean age 9.3+/-2.6 years, range 6.0-17.4 years) who had visited the child and adolescent psychiatry clinic at a university hospital, in Seoul, Korea from March 2005 to February 2008. Subjects were diagnosed as ADHD based on the criteria set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition, text revision version (DSM-IV-TR) and underwent neuropsychological tests including the continuous performance test (CPT). Treatment discontinuation was defined as the last prescription date when the medication possession rate (MPR) became less than 0.80. Subjects were divided into three groups and labeled as Group I, non-adherence without pharmacotherapy, Group II, non-adherence with short-term pharmacotherapy, and Group III, adherence with long-term pharmacotherapy. RESULTS: Ninety (37.7%) patients were grouped as non-adherent (Groups I+II) and 149 (62.3%) as adherent (Group III). The adherence group exhibited lower intelligence, higher symptom severity, and a higher number of comorbid psychiatric disorders than controls. The use of stimulants was significantly associated with long-term adherence to treatment. Additionally, the duration of interval between the date of the first visit and the date of the first prescription was positively associated with long-term adherence. CONCLUSION: About two-thirds of patients diagnosed as ADHD adhered to the treatment six months after the first visit. With respect to patient evaluation and the development of treatment strategies, factors affecting early drop-out and longer follow-up must be considered.
Adolescent ; Adolescent Psychiatry ; Child ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Methylphenidate ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Prescriptions ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: We aimed to determine the demographic and epidemiologic variables that are associated with no treatment in lung cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patient data were collected from the Korean National Health Insurance Database. The lung cancer group included patients with an initial diagnosis of lung cancer between January 2009 and December 2014. Treated cases were defined as those that underwent surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy until death, after the diagnosis of lung cancer. Risk of no treatment was calculated by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among the 2,148 new cases of lung cancer from 2009 to 2104, 612 (28.4%) were not treated. Risk of no treatment was higher in the following patients: patients in their 60s (odds ratio [OR], 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75 to 1.84), 70s (OR, 3.64; 95% CI, 2.41 to 5.50), and >80 years old (OR, 16.55; 95% CI, 10.53 to 25.03) than those in their 50s; patients with previous myocardial infarction (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.01 to 4.25) or chronic kidney disease (OR, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.57 to 5.30); and patients diagnosed at a non-referral hospital (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.92) or primary care provider (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.43 to 2.29) compared with referral hospital. Low-income patients receiving Medicaid were 1.75 times (95% CI, 1.14 to 2.68) more likely to forgo treatment than high-income patients (upper 20%). Risk was not associated with sex or the year in which the lung cancer was diagnosed. CONCLUSION: Age predominantly determines whether patients with lung cancer undergo anti-cancer treatment.
Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung ; Medicaid ; Myocardial Infarction ; National Health Programs ; Primary Health Care ; Referral and Consultation ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has shown excellent clinical effectiveness; however, adverse events of the vaccine remain a concern in Korea. We surveyed adverse events in 2498 healthcare workers vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a university hospital. The survey was conducted using a diary card for 7 days following each injection. The questionnaire response rate was 75.1% (1876/2498) for the first dose and 73.8% (1840/2493) for the second dose. Among local reactions, pain was the most commonly reported (84.9% after the first dose and 90.4% after the second dose). After the second dose, two people visited the emergency room due to severe local pain, but no hospitalization or skin necrosis occurred. Among systemic reactions, fatigue was most frequently reported (52.8% after the first dose and 77.0% after the second dose), followed by myalgia (49.0% and 76.1%), headache (28.7% and 59.2%), chills (16.7% and 54.0%), and arthralgia (11.4% and 39.2%). One or more critical adverse events occurred in 0.2% and 0.7% of the vaccinees. Except for urticaria, more adverse events were reported after the second dose than after the first dose. In the future, adverse events should be investigated in older adults, and a future study with a longer observation period should be conducted.