Background: The associations between thyroid cancer and skeletal outcomes have not been thoroughly investigated. We aimed to investigate the risk of osteoporotic fractures in patients with thyroid cancer compared to that in a matched control group. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 2,514 patients with thyroid cancer and 75,420 matched controls from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC, 2006–2019). The rates of osteoporotic fractures were analyzed, and associations with the levothyroxine dose were evaluated. Results: Patients with thyroid cancer had a significantly lower risk of fracture than did the control group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69 to 0.94; P=0.006). Patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer after the age of 50 years (older cancer group) had a significantly lower risk of fracture than did those in the control group (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.6 to 0.85; P<0.001), especially those diagnosed with spinal fractures (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.85; P=0.001). Patients in the older cancer group started osteoporosis treatment earlier than did those in the control group (65.5±7.5 years vs. 67.3±7.6 years, P<0.001). Additionally, a lower dose of levothyroxine was associated with a reduced risk of fractures. Conclusion In the clinical setting, the risk of fracture in women diagnosed with thyroid cancer after the age of 50 years was lower than that in the control group, which was caused by more proactive osteoporosis treatment in postmenopausal women with thyroid cancer.

Background: The associations between thyroid cancer and skeletal outcomes have not been thoroughly investigated. We aimed to investigate the risk of osteoporotic fractures in patients with thyroid cancer compared to that in a matched control group. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 2,514 patients with thyroid cancer and 75,420 matched controls from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC, 2006–2019). The rates of osteoporotic fractures were analyzed, and associations with the levothyroxine dose were evaluated. Results: Patients with thyroid cancer had a significantly lower risk of fracture than did the control group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69 to 0.94; P=0.006). Patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer after the age of 50 years (older cancer group) had a significantly lower risk of fracture than did those in the control group (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.6 to 0.85; P<0.001), especially those diagnosed with spinal fractures (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.85; P=0.001). Patients in the older cancer group started osteoporosis treatment earlier than did those in the control group (65.5±7.5 years vs. 67.3±7.6 years, P<0.001). Additionally, a lower dose of levothyroxine was associated with a reduced risk of fractures. Conclusion In the clinical setting, the risk of fracture in women diagnosed with thyroid cancer after the age of 50 years was lower than that in the control group, which was caused by more proactive osteoporosis treatment in postmenopausal women with thyroid cancer.

Background: The associations between thyroid cancer and skeletal outcomes have not been thoroughly investigated. We aimed to investigate the risk of osteoporotic fractures in patients with thyroid cancer compared to that in a matched control group. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 2,514 patients with thyroid cancer and 75,420 matched controls from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC, 2006–2019). The rates of osteoporotic fractures were analyzed, and associations with the levothyroxine dose were evaluated. Results: Patients with thyroid cancer had a significantly lower risk of fracture than did the control group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69 to 0.94; P=0.006). Patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer after the age of 50 years (older cancer group) had a significantly lower risk of fracture than did those in the control group (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.6 to 0.85; P<0.001), especially those diagnosed with spinal fractures (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.85; P=0.001). Patients in the older cancer group started osteoporosis treatment earlier than did those in the control group (65.5±7.5 years vs. 67.3±7.6 years, P<0.001). Additionally, a lower dose of levothyroxine was associated with a reduced risk of fractures. Conclusion In the clinical setting, the risk of fracture in women diagnosed with thyroid cancer after the age of 50 years was lower than that in the control group, which was caused by more proactive osteoporosis treatment in postmenopausal women with thyroid cancer.

Background: The associations between thyroid cancer and skeletal outcomes have not been thoroughly investigated. We aimed to investigate the risk of osteoporotic fractures in patients with thyroid cancer compared to that in a matched control group. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 2,514 patients with thyroid cancer and 75,420 matched controls from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC, 2006–2019). The rates of osteoporotic fractures were analyzed, and associations with the levothyroxine dose were evaluated. Results: Patients with thyroid cancer had a significantly lower risk of fracture than did the control group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69 to 0.94; P=0.006). Patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer after the age of 50 years (older cancer group) had a significantly lower risk of fracture than did those in the control group (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.6 to 0.85; P<0.001), especially those diagnosed with spinal fractures (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.85; P=0.001). Patients in the older cancer group started osteoporosis treatment earlier than did those in the control group (65.5±7.5 years vs. 67.3±7.6 years, P<0.001). Additionally, a lower dose of levothyroxine was associated with a reduced risk of fractures. Conclusion In the clinical setting, the risk of fracture in women diagnosed with thyroid cancer after the age of 50 years was lower than that in the control group, which was caused by more proactive osteoporosis treatment in postmenopausal women with thyroid cancer.

Though the role of the family is important in diabetes management, the increase in one-person household is complicating this role. Therefore, we divided diabetes patients who lived alone with overall health vulnerability into age groups to understand their lives and seek educational methods that can help them. Young one-person household diabetes patients suffered greatly from anxiety and depression about the future, while patients who managed well accurately understood information about their health and tried to manage it on their own. Middle-aged one-person household diabetes patients who were men had greater difficulty preparing meals, while women had greater anxiety about worsening health, but they tried to improve their lifestyle habits to look after their health and become independent. Elderly one-person household diabetes patients had great difficulty living independently due to old age and needed help with diabetes care. This study aimed to understand the lives of one-person household diabetes patients and learn about their experiences with self-management. Based on this, diabetes educators should pay attention to the personal and environmental factors of patients and strive to provide customized education. They should also identify and connect to various resources available in the community.

Though the role of the family is important in diabetes management, the increase in one-person household is complicating this role. Therefore, we divided diabetes patients who lived alone with overall health vulnerability into age groups to understand their lives and seek educational methods that can help them. Young one-person household diabetes patients suffered greatly from anxiety and depression about the future, while patients who managed well accurately understood information about their health and tried to manage it on their own. Middle-aged one-person household diabetes patients who were men had greater difficulty preparing meals, while women had greater anxiety about worsening health, but they tried to improve their lifestyle habits to look after their health and become independent. Elderly one-person household diabetes patients had great difficulty living independently due to old age and needed help with diabetes care. This study aimed to understand the lives of one-person household diabetes patients and learn about their experiences with self-management. Based on this, diabetes educators should pay attention to the personal and environmental factors of patients and strive to provide customized education. They should also identify and connect to various resources available in the community.

Though the role of the family is important in diabetes management, the increase in one-person household is complicating this role. Therefore, we divided diabetes patients who lived alone with overall health vulnerability into age groups to understand their lives and seek educational methods that can help them. Young one-person household diabetes patients suffered greatly from anxiety and depression about the future, while patients who managed well accurately understood information about their health and tried to manage it on their own. Middle-aged one-person household diabetes patients who were men had greater difficulty preparing meals, while women had greater anxiety about worsening health, but they tried to improve their lifestyle habits to look after their health and become independent. Elderly one-person household diabetes patients had great difficulty living independently due to old age and needed help with diabetes care. This study aimed to understand the lives of one-person household diabetes patients and learn about their experiences with self-management. Based on this, diabetes educators should pay attention to the personal and environmental factors of patients and strive to provide customized education. They should also identify and connect to various resources available in the community.

Background: Scabies, a common contagious skin disease caused by ectoparasites, is a significant public health concern in healthcare facilities, including tertiary hospitals. Objective: This study aimed to assess the clinical characteristics of hospitalized patients who were diagnosed with scabies. We focused on determining whether patient-related factors such as height, weight, underlying diseases, mobility, mental alertness, cognitive impairment, catheter insertion, and the presence of caregivers influenced the failure of the initial diagnosis or treatment. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 81 patients who were diagnosed with scabies during hospitalization between January 2011 and June 2023. Results: Of the 81 patients, 45 (55.6%) were male, with a mean age of 76.5 years. The most common primary diagnosis was an infectious disease (66.7%). The main suspected routes of infection were care facilities (63.5%) for patients who already had pruritic skin lesions before admission, and contact with caregivers (80.0%) for patients who developed new skin lesions after admission. The initial consultation failed to diagnose scabies in 19.8% of the patients, and among those, 62.5% had not undergone initial microscopic examination. Patients who were initially misdiagnosed had significantly longer hospitalizations and scabies treatment durations. Among the patients who underwent follow-up microscopic examination after the initial treatment, 60.0% showed positive results. Overall, 54.2% of the patients experienced initial treatment failure. Patient-related factors did not significantly differ between patients with and without initial diagnostic failure and between patients with and without initial treatment failure. Conclusion Dermatologists should consider performing microscopic examinations more frequently in hospitalized patients to improve diagnostic accuracy. Considering the high treatment failure rate, follow-up microscopic evaluation is recommended after initial treatment.

Background: According to the Diabetes Fact Sheet published by the Korean Diabetes Association, as of 2020, one in six adults (16.7%) over the age of 30 were diagnosed with diabetes. In this rapidly increasing prevalence of diabetes in Korea, the severity of diabetes to raise awareness of the importance of awareness, early detection, and active management. A public diabetes awareness survey was conducted in 2022 and 2023, and the survey contents by year were compared and presented. Methods: This survey was a structured online questionnaire conducted in October 2023, targeting a total of 1,000 adult men and women aged 20 or older nationwide through population proportional allocation according to age, sex, and residential area. Results: The survey results indicated that 91.4% of respondents perceive diabetes as a serious disease, and 68.3% of those without a diabetes diagnosis have expressed concerns about diabetes or hyperglycemia. However, awareness of ‘prediabetes’ and ‘glycated hemoglobin’ was only 61.3% and 38.1%, respectively. On the other hand, only one-third of the respondents reported maintaining an appropriate weight and waist circumference, eating regular meals, and engaging in regular exercise. While awareness and perceived necessity of insulin injections were high, the willingness to undergo injection therapy was only about 50%, indicating a need to provide information on the benefits of insulin therapy and its positive impact on quality of life. Conclusion Therefore, raising awareness about the severity of diabetes, along with education and intervention, is necessary to facilitate early detection and proactive management of diabetes.

Though the role of the family is important in diabetes management, the increase in one-person household is complicating this role. Therefore, we divided diabetes patients who lived alone with overall health vulnerability into age groups to understand their lives and seek educational methods that can help them. Young one-person household diabetes patients suffered greatly from anxiety and depression about the future, while patients who managed well accurately understood information about their health and tried to manage it on their own. Middle-aged one-person household diabetes patients who were men had greater difficulty preparing meals, while women had greater anxiety about worsening health, but they tried to improve their lifestyle habits to look after their health and become independent. Elderly one-person household diabetes patients had great difficulty living independently due to old age and needed help with diabetes care. This study aimed to understand the lives of one-person household diabetes patients and learn about their experiences with self-management. Based on this, diabetes educators should pay attention to the personal and environmental factors of patients and strive to provide customized education. They should also identify and connect to various resources available in the community.