OBJECTIVES: This study aims to analyze the association between the severity of sleep apnea, sleep and mood related scales, and activity during sleep in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients. METHODS: One hundred seventy six drug-free male patients confirmed as OSAS (average age=43+/-11 years) were selected through nocturnal polysomnography (NPSG). OSAS was diagnosed with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) >5, mean AHI was 39.6+/-26.0. Sleep related scales were Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Morningness-Eveningness Scale (MES). Mood related scales were Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) I, II and Profile of Mood States (POMS). NPSG was performed overnight with both wrist actigraphy (WATG). Parameters produced from WATG were total activity score, mean activity score and fragmentation index. We analyzed the correlation between each scale, AHI scored from NPSG and activity score analyzed from WATG. RESULTS: ESS showed significant positive correlation with PSQI, BDI, BAI and STAI I, II, respectively (p<0.01). SSS showed significant positive correlation with PSQI and BAI (p<0.05, p<0.01). BAI showed significant positive correlation with total activity score, mean activity score and fragmentation index (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.05). Total activity score showed significant positive correlation with ESS and BAI, respectively (p<0.05). Fragmentation index showed significant positive correlation with ESS, PSQI and BAI (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.05). AHI, indicator of sleep apnea is showed no significant correlation with each sleep and mood related scale. CONCLUSION: The degree of daytime sleepiness tends to be associated with night sleep satisfaction, depression and anxiety, and the activity during sleep rather than the severity of sleep apnea.
Actigraphy ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Humans ; Male ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Weights and Measures ; Wrist

This study examined the trend of healthcare status and compared the status of South Korea and other member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) using the OECD health statistics 2022. We used the OECD health statistics from 2022 and a position value for relative comparison (PARC) index to compare the five elements of the healthcare system. The study also used a Mann-Kendall test to analyze the trend of the PARC values from 2000 to the present year. The findings of the study indicate that many South Korea’s PARC values were higher than the OECD median. But practicing physician in supply part and medical cost were lower than OECD median but the trend significantly increased. Medical accessibility part and quality of care part except primary care, and mental health had a high relative position but the trend did not increased significantly. After outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019, there were changes in medical accessibility. Health screening and vaccinations showed an overall decline in 2020 compared to 2019. These results suggest that policymakers need to take necessary steps for a sustainable healthcare system in the country.

This study aims to compare the healthcare status of South Korea and other member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) using the OECD health statistics 2021. We used the position value for relative comparison (PARC) index to measure the five elements of the healthcare system, demand, supply, accessibility, quality, and cost. For the statistical analysis, Mann-Kendall test was performed to examine the trend of the PARC values from 2000 to the most recent year. The results showed that supply, demand, accessibility, and quality were above median than the OECD median and the cost was below median. In sectors such as primary care, health employment and mental health care were below median average. With these result, necessary steps for a sustainable healthcare should be taken into effort by policy makers.

Background: On October 1, 2017, a new coinsurance reduction policy for children under 15 was introduced to minimize the lack of inpatient medical services for economic reasons and secure children’s access to medical care. Methods: This study analyzes the effect of this coinsurance reduction policy on healthcare utilization using data from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort between 2015 and 2019. Groups were classified by 3 case groups and a control group according to age. The dependent variables were inpatient cost, admission, length of hospitalization, outpatient cost and visit, and total cost. The difference-in-differences method was used to examine changes in healthcare utilization among the case and control groups after policy implementation. Results: Children of the age group 1–5 exhibited an increase in inpatient services and a decrease in outpatient services. There was a 16.17% increase in inpatient cost, 8.55% increase in inpatient admission, 10.67% increase in inpatient length of hospitalization, −9.14% decline in outpatient cost, and −6.79% decline in outpatient visits. Regarding children in the age groups of 6–10 and 11–15, the effect of the policy was inconclusive. Conclusion The reduction in coinsurance rate policy in hospitalization among children has increased inpatient services and reduced outpatient services for 1–5-year-olds—a substitute effect was observed in this group. There is need for further research to examine the longterm effects of the coinsurance reduction policy.

In schizophrenia, while antipsychotic medications are the primary treatment, auditory hallucinations may sometimes persist despite pharmacotherapy, and negative symptoms and cognitive impairments often show a limited response to these medications. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has emerged as a promising adjunctive treatment, capable of modulating neuronal activity in targeted brain regions. Low-frequency repetitive TMS (rTMS) directed at the left temporoparietal cortex has demonstrated efficacy in reducing auditory hallucinations. In addressing negative symptoms, high-frequency rTMS applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex has shown some effectiveness, though outcomes can vary. Innovative techniques, including theta burst stimulation and personalized approaches utilizing neuroimaging, are currently under investigation to further enhance the therapeutic potential of TMS. This review examines the application of TMS in the treatment of schizophrenia, emphasizing the necessity of ongoing research to refine and optimize its efficacy across diverse symptom domains.

In schizophrenia, while antipsychotic medications are the primary treatment, auditory hallucinations may sometimes persist despite pharmacotherapy, and negative symptoms and cognitive impairments often show a limited response to these medications. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has emerged as a promising adjunctive treatment, capable of modulating neuronal activity in targeted brain regions. Low-frequency repetitive TMS (rTMS) directed at the left temporoparietal cortex has demonstrated efficacy in reducing auditory hallucinations. In addressing negative symptoms, high-frequency rTMS applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex has shown some effectiveness, though outcomes can vary. Innovative techniques, including theta burst stimulation and personalized approaches utilizing neuroimaging, are currently under investigation to further enhance the therapeutic potential of TMS. This review examines the application of TMS in the treatment of schizophrenia, emphasizing the necessity of ongoing research to refine and optimize its efficacy across diverse symptom domains.

In schizophrenia, while antipsychotic medications are the primary treatment, auditory hallucinations may sometimes persist despite pharmacotherapy, and negative symptoms and cognitive impairments often show a limited response to these medications. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has emerged as a promising adjunctive treatment, capable of modulating neuronal activity in targeted brain regions. Low-frequency repetitive TMS (rTMS) directed at the left temporoparietal cortex has demonstrated efficacy in reducing auditory hallucinations. In addressing negative symptoms, high-frequency rTMS applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex has shown some effectiveness, though outcomes can vary. Innovative techniques, including theta burst stimulation and personalized approaches utilizing neuroimaging, are currently under investigation to further enhance the therapeutic potential of TMS. This review examines the application of TMS in the treatment of schizophrenia, emphasizing the necessity of ongoing research to refine and optimize its efficacy across diverse symptom domains.

In schizophrenia, while antipsychotic medications are the primary treatment, auditory hallucinations may sometimes persist despite pharmacotherapy, and negative symptoms and cognitive impairments often show a limited response to these medications. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has emerged as a promising adjunctive treatment, capable of modulating neuronal activity in targeted brain regions. Low-frequency repetitive TMS (rTMS) directed at the left temporoparietal cortex has demonstrated efficacy in reducing auditory hallucinations. In addressing negative symptoms, high-frequency rTMS applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex has shown some effectiveness, though outcomes can vary. Innovative techniques, including theta burst stimulation and personalized approaches utilizing neuroimaging, are currently under investigation to further enhance the therapeutic potential of TMS. This review examines the application of TMS in the treatment of schizophrenia, emphasizing the necessity of ongoing research to refine and optimize its efficacy across diverse symptom domains.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the association between cohabitation status and sleep quality in family members of people with dementia (PwDs). Methods: Data of 190 365 participants aged ≥19 years from the 2018 Korea Community Health Survey were analyzed. Participants were categorized according to their cohabitation status with PwDs. Multiple logistic regression and ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between the cohabitation status of PwDs’ relatives and sleep quality measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and PSQI subscales. Results: Compared to participants without PwDs in their families, both cohabitation and non-cohabitation with PwDs were associated with poor sleep quality (cohabitation, male: odds ratio [OR],1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 1.52; female: OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.20 to 1.64; non-cohabitation, male: OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.24; female: OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.33). In a subgroup analysis, non-cohabiting family members showed the highest odds of experiencing poor sleep quality when the PwD lived alone (male: OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.91; female: OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.24 to 2.01). Cohabiting male and female participants had higher odds of poor subjective sleep quality and use of sleeping medications than non-cohabiting male and female participants, respectively. Conclusions The residence of PwDs and cohabitation status may contribute to poor sleep quality among PwDs’ family members. The circumstances faced by cohabiting and non-cohabiting family members should be considered when evaluating sleep quality in family members of PwDs, and appropriate interventions may be needed to improve sleep quality in both cohabiting and non-cohabiting family members.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the association between cohabitation status and sleep quality in family members of people with dementia (PwDs). Methods: Data of 190 365 participants aged ≥19 years from the 2018 Korea Community Health Survey were analyzed. Participants were categorized according to their cohabitation status with PwDs. Multiple logistic regression and ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between the cohabitation status of PwDs’ relatives and sleep quality measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and PSQI subscales. Results: Compared to participants without PwDs in their families, both cohabitation and non-cohabitation with PwDs were associated with poor sleep quality (cohabitation, male: odds ratio [OR],1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 1.52; female: OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.20 to 1.64; non-cohabitation, male: OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.24; female: OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.33). In a subgroup analysis, non-cohabiting family members showed the highest odds of experiencing poor sleep quality when the PwD lived alone (male: OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.91; female: OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.24 to 2.01). Cohabiting male and female participants had higher odds of poor subjective sleep quality and use of sleeping medications than non-cohabiting male and female participants, respectively. Conclusions The residence of PwDs and cohabitation status may contribute to poor sleep quality among PwDs’ family members. The circumstances faced by cohabiting and non-cohabiting family members should be considered when evaluating sleep quality in family members of PwDs, and appropriate interventions may be needed to improve sleep quality in both cohabiting and non-cohabiting family members.