Purpose: We estimated the population attributable fraction (PAF) of established risk factors for colorectal cancer, to provide evidence for prioritizing cancer prevention policy. Materials and Methods: The exposure prevalence was calculated by using data from the 2005 Korean National Health Examination Survey for tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, and meat intake. Risk estimates (relative risks) were selected from the published meta-analyses. Cancer incidence data from the Korea Central Cancer Registry were used to estimate the preventable number of colorectal cancer cases in 2015. Results: The PAFs of the tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, and consumption of red and processed meat were as follows: 9.2%, 11.1%, 9.1%, 18.9%, and 10.1% for colon cancer and 21.8%, 12.3%, 3.5%, 5.3%, and 9.2% for rectal cancer among men; 1.0%, 1.3%, 2.7%, 12.3% and 9.2% for colon cancer and 1.7%, 2.3%, 0.8%, 7.2%, and 8.3% for rectal cancer among women. The PAFs of selected risk factors were 46.2% for colon and 42.4% for rectum among men, while 24.3% for colon and 18.9% for rectum among women. The attributable numbers of colon and rectal cancer to selected risk factors were 4,028 and 3,049 cases among men, respectively, while 1,644 and 778 cases among women in the year of 2015. Conclusion Changes in modifiable risk factors could prevent half of the colorectal cancer in the Korean population.

Purpose: We estimated the population attributable fraction (PAF) of established risk factors for colorectal cancer, to provide evidence for prioritizing cancer prevention policy. Materials and Methods: The exposure prevalence was calculated by using data from the 2005 Korean National Health Examination Survey for tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, and meat intake. Risk estimates (relative risks) were selected from the published meta-analyses. Cancer incidence data from the Korea Central Cancer Registry were used to estimate the preventable number of colorectal cancer cases in 2015. Results: The PAFs of the tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, and consumption of red and processed meat were as follows: 9.2%, 11.1%, 9.1%, 18.9%, and 10.1% for colon cancer and 21.8%, 12.3%, 3.5%, 5.3%, and 9.2% for rectal cancer among men; 1.0%, 1.3%, 2.7%, 12.3% and 9.2% for colon cancer and 1.7%, 2.3%, 0.8%, 7.2%, and 8.3% for rectal cancer among women. The PAFs of selected risk factors were 46.2% for colon and 42.4% for rectum among men, while 24.3% for colon and 18.9% for rectum among women. The attributable numbers of colon and rectal cancer to selected risk factors were 4,028 and 3,049 cases among men, respectively, while 1,644 and 778 cases among women in the year of 2015. Conclusion Changes in modifiable risk factors could prevent half of the colorectal cancer in the Korean population.

Systemic sclerosis or scleroderma is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by excessive fibrosis and, vasculopathy, with multiorgan involvement. Anesthetic considerations in patients with systemic sclerosis must take into account the degree of organ dysfunction as well as airway management. Regional anesthesia is a preferable alternative to general anesthesia despite the reports of prolonged sensory block. Spinal anesthesia in patients with systemic sclerosis has been reported for only one patients undergoing cesarean section. Concurrent systemic sclerosis and pregnancy raise many obstetric and anesthetic considerations. We describe the case of a pregnant patient with systemic sclerosis who had a history of dyspnea and interstitial lung disease. The cesarean section was performed uneventfully under spinal anesthesia.
Airway Management ; Anesthesia, Conduction ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Cesarean Section* ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial* ; Pregnancy ; Scleroderma, Systemic*

Background: Pityriasis rosea is a self-limiting, acute, or subacute inflammatory skin disease that usually starts with a herald patch on the trunk and progresses to a generalized rash over the trunk and limbs. Some clinical trials have suggested that antibiotic macrolides help shorten the duration of skin manifestations in pityriasis rosea; however, the extent of the benefits is unclear. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of antibiotic macrolides compared to placebo in pityriasis rosea. Methods: A computerized search was performed using different databases, including Cochrane, Embase, and PubMed. Five randomized controlled trials were included. Then, statistical analyses of the outcome data extracted from the studies were performed using Rex Software (version 3.0.1). Results: Total 160 records were identified by searching databases including Cochrane, Embase, and PubMed. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated statistical differences between the use of antibiotic macrolides and placebo in the complete and partial resolution of pityriasis rosea (effectiveness) (RR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.21∼2.78, p=0.004).However, in subgroup analyses, there were no statistical differences compared to placebo in the skin manifestation effectiveness group for azithromycin and clarithromycin, whereas erythromycin showed statistical differences. Conclusion Erythromycin was superior to placebo in the treatment of pityriasis rosea. However, this study had some limitations, including insufficient articles and data. Therefore, further investigation is required.

Background: Pityriasis rosea is a self-limiting, acute, or subacute inflammatory skin disease that usually starts with a herald patch on the trunk and progresses to a generalized rash over the trunk and limbs. Some clinical trials have suggested that antibiotic macrolides help shorten the duration of skin manifestations in pityriasis rosea; however, the extent of the benefits is unclear. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of antibiotic macrolides compared to placebo in pityriasis rosea. Methods: A computerized search was performed using different databases, including Cochrane, Embase, and PubMed. Five randomized controlled trials were included. Then, statistical analyses of the outcome data extracted from the studies were performed using Rex Software (version 3.0.1). Results: Total 160 records were identified by searching databases including Cochrane, Embase, and PubMed. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated statistical differences between the use of antibiotic macrolides and placebo in the complete and partial resolution of pityriasis rosea (effectiveness) (RR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.21∼2.78, p=0.004).However, in subgroup analyses, there were no statistical differences compared to placebo in the skin manifestation effectiveness group for azithromycin and clarithromycin, whereas erythromycin showed statistical differences. Conclusion Erythromycin was superior to placebo in the treatment of pityriasis rosea. However, this study had some limitations, including insufficient articles and data. Therefore, further investigation is required.

Purpose: The first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea elicited changes in healthcare service utilization. This study aimed to report changes in healthcare service utilization among cancer patients during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea. Materials and Methods: We analyzed records from National Health Insurance Service Database and identified cancer patients as those with specific beneficiary codes (“V193” or “V194”) assigned to cancer patients. We calculated percentage changes in the number of patients between 2019 and 2020 based on claims records for outpatient clinic visits, hospitalization, and emergency room visits by month, age group, residential areas, and hospital location. Results: The number of newly diagnosed cancer patients in 2020 decreased by 3.2%, compared to the previous year. The number of patients who visited an outpatient clinic, were hospitalized, and visited the emergency room decreased by 2.6%, 4.0%, and 3.5%, respectively, in 2020, compared to the year 2019. Conclusion During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of newly diagnosed cancer patients decreased by 3.2%, compared to the previous year, and their utilization of healthcare services declined significantly after the outbreak of COVID-19.

The decision to discontinue intensive care unit (ICU) treatment during the end-oflife stage has recently become a significant concern in Korea, with an observed increase in life-sustaining treatment (LST) withdrawal. There is a growing demand for evidence-based support for patients, families, and clinicians in making LST decisions. This study aimed to identify factors influencing LST decisions in ICU inpatients and to analyze their impact on healthcare utilization. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of ICU patients with neurological disorders, infectious disorders, or cancer who were treated at a single university hospital between January 1, 2019 and July 7, 2021. Factors influencing the decision to withdraw LST were compared between those who withdrew LST and those who did not. Results: Among 54,699 hospital admissions, LST was withdrawn in 550 cases (1%). Cancer was the most common diagnosis, followed by pneumonia and cerebral infarction. Among ICU inpatients, LST was withdrawn from 215 (withdrawal group). The withdrawal group was older (78 vs. 75 years, P=0.002), had longer total hospital stays (16 vs. 11 days, P<0.001), and higher ICU readmission rates than the control group. There were no significant differences in the healthcare costs of ICU stay between the two groups. Most LST decisions (86%) were made by family. Conclusions: The decisions to withdraw LST of ICU inpatients were influenced by age, readmission, and disease category. ICU costs were similar between the withdrawal and control groups. Further research is needed to tailor LST decisions in the ICU.

The decision to discontinue intensive care unit (ICU) treatment during the end-oflife stage has recently become a significant concern in Korea, with an observed increase in life-sustaining treatment (LST) withdrawal. There is a growing demand for evidence-based support for patients, families, and clinicians in making LST decisions. This study aimed to identify factors influencing LST decisions in ICU inpatients and to analyze their impact on healthcare utilization. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of ICU patients with neurological disorders, infectious disorders, or cancer who were treated at a single university hospital between January 1, 2019 and July 7, 2021. Factors influencing the decision to withdraw LST were compared between those who withdrew LST and those who did not. Results: Among 54,699 hospital admissions, LST was withdrawn in 550 cases (1%). Cancer was the most common diagnosis, followed by pneumonia and cerebral infarction. Among ICU inpatients, LST was withdrawn from 215 (withdrawal group). The withdrawal group was older (78 vs. 75 years, P=0.002), had longer total hospital stays (16 vs. 11 days, P<0.001), and higher ICU readmission rates than the control group. There were no significant differences in the healthcare costs of ICU stay between the two groups. Most LST decisions (86%) were made by family. Conclusions: The decisions to withdraw LST of ICU inpatients were influenced by age, readmission, and disease category. ICU costs were similar between the withdrawal and control groups. Further research is needed to tailor LST decisions in the ICU.

The decision to discontinue intensive care unit (ICU) treatment during the end-oflife stage has recently become a significant concern in Korea, with an observed increase in life-sustaining treatment (LST) withdrawal. There is a growing demand for evidence-based support for patients, families, and clinicians in making LST decisions. This study aimed to identify factors influencing LST decisions in ICU inpatients and to analyze their impact on healthcare utilization. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of ICU patients with neurological disorders, infectious disorders, or cancer who were treated at a single university hospital between January 1, 2019 and July 7, 2021. Factors influencing the decision to withdraw LST were compared between those who withdrew LST and those who did not. Results: Among 54,699 hospital admissions, LST was withdrawn in 550 cases (1%). Cancer was the most common diagnosis, followed by pneumonia and cerebral infarction. Among ICU inpatients, LST was withdrawn from 215 (withdrawal group). The withdrawal group was older (78 vs. 75 years, P=0.002), had longer total hospital stays (16 vs. 11 days, P<0.001), and higher ICU readmission rates than the control group. There were no significant differences in the healthcare costs of ICU stay between the two groups. Most LST decisions (86%) were made by family. Conclusions: The decisions to withdraw LST of ICU inpatients were influenced by age, readmission, and disease category. ICU costs were similar between the withdrawal and control groups. Further research is needed to tailor LST decisions in the ICU.

The decision to discontinue intensive care unit (ICU) treatment during the end-oflife stage has recently become a significant concern in Korea, with an observed increase in life-sustaining treatment (LST) withdrawal. There is a growing demand for evidence-based support for patients, families, and clinicians in making LST decisions. This study aimed to identify factors influencing LST decisions in ICU inpatients and to analyze their impact on healthcare utilization. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of ICU patients with neurological disorders, infectious disorders, or cancer who were treated at a single university hospital between January 1, 2019 and July 7, 2021. Factors influencing the decision to withdraw LST were compared between those who withdrew LST and those who did not. Results: Among 54,699 hospital admissions, LST was withdrawn in 550 cases (1%). Cancer was the most common diagnosis, followed by pneumonia and cerebral infarction. Among ICU inpatients, LST was withdrawn from 215 (withdrawal group). The withdrawal group was older (78 vs. 75 years, P=0.002), had longer total hospital stays (16 vs. 11 days, P<0.001), and higher ICU readmission rates than the control group. There were no significant differences in the healthcare costs of ICU stay between the two groups. Most LST decisions (86%) were made by family. Conclusions: The decisions to withdraw LST of ICU inpatients were influenced by age, readmission, and disease category. ICU costs were similar between the withdrawal and control groups. Further research is needed to tailor LST decisions in the ICU.