Objectives: In Korea, health insurance payment systems are applied differently for mentally ill patients depending on the type of medical insurance. Moreover, medical use differs according to the type of medical insurance. In 2017, the payment system for outpatients with mental disorders under the medical aid program was changed to fee-for-service. This study examined the medical use of outpatients with mental disorders after the policy change. Methods: This study used the data of claims from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from 2015 to 2019. A controlled interrupted time series analysis of medical aid and health insurance patients was used as target and control groups. The dependent variables were the number of visits and prescription days for monthly outpatients, which can represent the medical use. Results: 5020773 health insurance beneficiaries, and 433435 were medical beneficiaries. The Charlson Comorbidity Index was higher for medical aid patients than for health insurance patients. Before the policy, compared to health insurance patients, medical aid patients had a lower number of hospital visits and a higher number of days prescribed. After the policy, the number of hospital visits for medical aid patients increased (p<0.0001) compared to health insurance ones, and the trend increased (p=0.0070). The number of days prescribed decreased (p<0.0001) and the trend showed a decrease (p<0.0001). Conclusion After changes in the medical payment system, the differences in psychiatric outpatient treatment utilization decreased depending on the type of health insurance.

BACKGROUND: Bronchogenic carcinoma is generally considered as a disease that predominantly affects middle-aged and elderly men. A small percentage of patients with lung cancer are diagnosed in the third or fourth decade of life or earlier. The current study was performed to review the clinical characteristics of bronchogenic carcinoma in patients younger than 40 years of age at Chungnam National University Hospital. METHOD: To determine the clinicopathologic characteristics including survival rates of lung cancer patients younger than 40 years of age and to compare them with those of patients older than 40 years of age at diagnosis, data of 905 patients diagnosed as lung cancer from January 1990 to March 1997 were analyzed. RESULT: Twenty-three of 805 patients(2.5%) belonged to the young age group (less than 40 years). Male to female ratios of young age group and control group were 2.8 : 1 and 5.3 : 1, respectively. The mean duration of symptoms from onset to the definite diagnosis was 3.2 months in the young age group. The most common initial symptoms in the young age group were cough(52.2%) and dyspnea(43.5%). Adenocarcinoma(43.5%) was more frequent in the young age group than in the control group(20.1%). Stage III and IV(70%) tumors were more frequent in the young age group than in the control group(52.3%). Distant metastasis rae of the young age group(56.6%) was higher than that of the control group(22.3%). CONCLUSION: The predominance of adenocarcinoma, the lower male-female ratio, and the high incidence of advanced stage tumor at diagnosis are the characteristics of lung cancer in patients younger than 40 years of age.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Survival Rate

Most reports on serious MTX toxicity have focused on hepatic abnormalities, while other effects, including hematologic reactions, have not been emphasized. We experienced a case of pancytopenia secondary to MTX therapy in a patient with RA and renal insufficiency. A 67-year-old woman with a 12-year history of active seropositive RA that was a response to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hydroxychloroquinine and intra-articular steroid injections, had been followed up and was diagnosed as early chronic renal failure in October, 1993. Recently, because of significant morning stiffness and polyarthralgia, the decision was made to institute MTX treatment. This was begun as a single oral dose of 5mg/week. After 2 doses, the patient was admitted to the hospital with general weakness. Laboratory tests showed a hemoglobin level of 7.9 g/dl, WBC count 1800/mm3 and platelet count of 64000/mm3. The serum creatinine level was 6.1 mEq/dl and the BUN level was 82 mEq/dl. Liver function test results were normal, but the serum albumin level was 2.7 g/dl. The patient subsequently developed fever and blood transfusions, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and intravenous prophylactic antibiotic therapy were required. Her condition was improved. In summary, Low-dose MTX-related adverse hematologic side effects, including fatal pancytopenia, are rare but are a cause of increasing concern in patients with RA and renal insufficiency. Close monitoring of associated risk factors, particularly impaired renal function, should be mandatory for all patients who are receiving MTX therapy.
Aged ; Antirheumatic Agents/adverse effects* ; Antirheumatic Agents/administration & dosage ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/complications ; Case Report ; Female ; Human ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications ; Methotrexate/adverse effects* ; Methotrexate/administration & dosage ; Pancytopenia/chemically induced* ; Risk Factors