The Korean Academy of Preventive Dentistry and Oral Health (KAPDOH) has been dedicated to improving the nation’s oral health for over half a century. However, with the rapid societal changes of today, KAPDOH is also encountering new challenges.Demographic shifts, including a declining birth rate and rapid population aging, are reshaping national oral health priorities.In the 1980s, dental caries among school-age children was a major public health concern; however, oral health issues among older adults are now emerging as a significant societal challenge. In the past, addressing children’s oral health primarily involved the relatively straightforward task of preventing dental caries. In contrast, ensuring oral health in older adults requires a broader academic focus, encompassing the prevention of dental caries and periodontitis, improvement of chewing function, and prevention of pneumonia in older adults hospitalized for long periods in nursing hospitals. Tackling these issues necessitates close collaboration and interdisciplinary research.A defining characteristic of the 21st century is the blurring of boundaries between disciplines. The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has brought about transformative changes across all fields, surpassing previous expectations.For society to continue progressing, all KAPDOH members must remain open to collaboration with other disciplines and embrace change with a flexible mindset. While concerns about AI technology exist, its potential to drive academic progress is undeniable. In particular, AI-based prediction models and diagnostic technologies for oral diseases are expected to play a pivotal role in oral health research.Having attended the conference over the past few years, I have been able to confirm that the society is consistently striving to pioneer new areas of research. This is a highly encouraging development, and I hope that KAPDOH will continue to contribute to the advancement of oral health in the years to come.With these expectations, I conclude my foreword.

Background: Barriers to treatment with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in South Korea remain incompletely characterized. We analyze a nationwide prospective cohort to determine patient-level features associated with delayed presentation and non-treatment of potential IVT-eligible patients. Methods: We identified consecutive patients with AIS from 01/2011 to 08/2023 from a multicenter and prospective acute stroke registry in Korea. Patients were defined as IVT candidates if they presented within 4.5 hours from the last known well, had no lab evidence of coagulopathy, and had National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≥ 4. Multivariable generalized linear mixed regression models were used to investigate the associations between their characteristics and the IVT candidates or the use of IVT among the candidates. Results: Among 84,103 AIS patients, 41.0% were female, with a mean age of 69 ± 13 years and presentation NIHSS of 4 [interquartile range, 1–8]. Out of these patients, 13,757 (16.4%) were eligible for IVT, of whom 8,179 (59.5%) received IVT. Female sex (adjusted risk ratio [RR], 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86–0.94) and lower years of education (adjusted RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.84–0.97 for 0–3 years, compared to ≥ 13 years) were associated with a decreased likelihood of presenting as eligible for IVT after AIS; meanwhile, young age (adjusted RR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01–1.24 for ≤ 44 years, compared to 75–84 years) was associated with an increased likelihood of being an IVT candidate. Among those who were eligible for IVT, only age was significantly associated with the use of IVT (adjusted RR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.03–1.16 for age 65–74 and adjusted RR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.76–0.90 for ≥ 85 years, respectively). Conclusion Most patients with AIS present outside IVT eligibility in South Korea, and only 60% of eligible patients were ultimately treated. We identified increased age, female sex and lower education as key features on which to focus interventions for improving IVT utilization.

Background: With growing elderly populations, management of patients with acute stroke is increasingly important. In South Korea, the Acute Stroke Quality Assessment Program (ASQAP) has contributed to improving the quality of stroke care and practice behavior in healthcare institutions. While the mortality of hemorrhagic stroke remains high, there are only a few assessment indices associated with hemorrhagic stroke. Considering the need to develop assessment indices to improve the actual quality of care in the field of acute stroke treatment, this study aims to investigate the current status of human resources and practices related to the treatment of patients with acute stroke through a nationwide survey. Methods: For the healthcare institutions included in the Ninth ASQAP of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA), data from January 2022 to December 2022 were collected through a survey on the current status and practice of healthcare providers related to the treatment of patients with acute stroke. The questionnaire consisted of 19 items, including six items on healthcare providers involved in stroke care and 10 items on the care of patients with acute stroke. Results: In the treatment of patients with hemorrhagic stroke among patients with acute stroke, neurosurgeons were the most common providers. The contribution of neurosurgeons in the treatment of ischemic stroke has also been found to be equivalent to that of neurologists. However, a number of institutions were found to be devoid of healthcare providers who perform definitive treatments, such as intra-arterial thrombectomy for patients with ischemic stroke or cerebral aneurysm clipping for subarachnoid hemorrhage. The intensity of the workload of healthcare providers involved in the care of patients with acute stroke, especially those involved in definitive treatment, was also found to be quite high. Conclusion Currently, there are almost no assessment indices specific to hemorrhagic stroke in the ASQAP for acute stroke. Furthermore, it does not reflect the reality of the healthcare providers and practices that provide definitive treatment for acute stroke. The findings of this study suggest the need for the development of appropriate assessment indices that reflect the realities of acute stroke care.

The Korean Academy of Preventive Dentistry and Oral Health (KAPDOH) has been dedicated to improving the nation’s oral health for over half a century. However, with the rapid societal changes of today, KAPDOH is also encountering new challenges.Demographic shifts, including a declining birth rate and rapid population aging, are reshaping national oral health priorities.In the 1980s, dental caries among school-age children was a major public health concern; however, oral health issues among older adults are now emerging as a significant societal challenge. In the past, addressing children’s oral health primarily involved the relatively straightforward task of preventing dental caries. In contrast, ensuring oral health in older adults requires a broader academic focus, encompassing the prevention of dental caries and periodontitis, improvement of chewing function, and prevention of pneumonia in older adults hospitalized for long periods in nursing hospitals. Tackling these issues necessitates close collaboration and interdisciplinary research.A defining characteristic of the 21st century is the blurring of boundaries between disciplines. The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has brought about transformative changes across all fields, surpassing previous expectations.For society to continue progressing, all KAPDOH members must remain open to collaboration with other disciplines and embrace change with a flexible mindset. While concerns about AI technology exist, its potential to drive academic progress is undeniable. In particular, AI-based prediction models and diagnostic technologies for oral diseases are expected to play a pivotal role in oral health research.Having attended the conference over the past few years, I have been able to confirm that the society is consistently striving to pioneer new areas of research. This is a highly encouraging development, and I hope that KAPDOH will continue to contribute to the advancement of oral health in the years to come.With these expectations, I conclude my foreword.

Background: Barriers to treatment with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in South Korea remain incompletely characterized. We analyze a nationwide prospective cohort to determine patient-level features associated with delayed presentation and non-treatment of potential IVT-eligible patients. Methods: We identified consecutive patients with AIS from 01/2011 to 08/2023 from a multicenter and prospective acute stroke registry in Korea. Patients were defined as IVT candidates if they presented within 4.5 hours from the last known well, had no lab evidence of coagulopathy, and had National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≥ 4. Multivariable generalized linear mixed regression models were used to investigate the associations between their characteristics and the IVT candidates or the use of IVT among the candidates. Results: Among 84,103 AIS patients, 41.0% were female, with a mean age of 69 ± 13 years and presentation NIHSS of 4 [interquartile range, 1–8]. Out of these patients, 13,757 (16.4%) were eligible for IVT, of whom 8,179 (59.5%) received IVT. Female sex (adjusted risk ratio [RR], 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86–0.94) and lower years of education (adjusted RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.84–0.97 for 0–3 years, compared to ≥ 13 years) were associated with a decreased likelihood of presenting as eligible for IVT after AIS; meanwhile, young age (adjusted RR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01–1.24 for ≤ 44 years, compared to 75–84 years) was associated with an increased likelihood of being an IVT candidate. Among those who were eligible for IVT, only age was significantly associated with the use of IVT (adjusted RR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.03–1.16 for age 65–74 and adjusted RR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.76–0.90 for ≥ 85 years, respectively). Conclusion Most patients with AIS present outside IVT eligibility in South Korea, and only 60% of eligible patients were ultimately treated. We identified increased age, female sex and lower education as key features on which to focus interventions for improving IVT utilization.

Background: With growing elderly populations, management of patients with acute stroke is increasingly important. In South Korea, the Acute Stroke Quality Assessment Program (ASQAP) has contributed to improving the quality of stroke care and practice behavior in healthcare institutions. While the mortality of hemorrhagic stroke remains high, there are only a few assessment indices associated with hemorrhagic stroke. Considering the need to develop assessment indices to improve the actual quality of care in the field of acute stroke treatment, this study aims to investigate the current status of human resources and practices related to the treatment of patients with acute stroke through a nationwide survey. Methods: For the healthcare institutions included in the Ninth ASQAP of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA), data from January 2022 to December 2022 were collected through a survey on the current status and practice of healthcare providers related to the treatment of patients with acute stroke. The questionnaire consisted of 19 items, including six items on healthcare providers involved in stroke care and 10 items on the care of patients with acute stroke. Results: In the treatment of patients with hemorrhagic stroke among patients with acute stroke, neurosurgeons were the most common providers. The contribution of neurosurgeons in the treatment of ischemic stroke has also been found to be equivalent to that of neurologists. However, a number of institutions were found to be devoid of healthcare providers who perform definitive treatments, such as intra-arterial thrombectomy for patients with ischemic stroke or cerebral aneurysm clipping for subarachnoid hemorrhage. The intensity of the workload of healthcare providers involved in the care of patients with acute stroke, especially those involved in definitive treatment, was also found to be quite high. Conclusion Currently, there are almost no assessment indices specific to hemorrhagic stroke in the ASQAP for acute stroke. Furthermore, it does not reflect the reality of the healthcare providers and practices that provide definitive treatment for acute stroke. The findings of this study suggest the need for the development of appropriate assessment indices that reflect the realities of acute stroke care.

The Korean Academy of Preventive Dentistry and Oral Health (KAPDOH) has been dedicated to improving the nation’s oral health for over half a century. However, with the rapid societal changes of today, KAPDOH is also encountering new challenges.Demographic shifts, including a declining birth rate and rapid population aging, are reshaping national oral health priorities.In the 1980s, dental caries among school-age children was a major public health concern; however, oral health issues among older adults are now emerging as a significant societal challenge. In the past, addressing children’s oral health primarily involved the relatively straightforward task of preventing dental caries. In contrast, ensuring oral health in older adults requires a broader academic focus, encompassing the prevention of dental caries and periodontitis, improvement of chewing function, and prevention of pneumonia in older adults hospitalized for long periods in nursing hospitals. Tackling these issues necessitates close collaboration and interdisciplinary research.A defining characteristic of the 21st century is the blurring of boundaries between disciplines. The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has brought about transformative changes across all fields, surpassing previous expectations.For society to continue progressing, all KAPDOH members must remain open to collaboration with other disciplines and embrace change with a flexible mindset. While concerns about AI technology exist, its potential to drive academic progress is undeniable. In particular, AI-based prediction models and diagnostic technologies for oral diseases are expected to play a pivotal role in oral health research.Having attended the conference over the past few years, I have been able to confirm that the society is consistently striving to pioneer new areas of research. This is a highly encouraging development, and I hope that KAPDOH will continue to contribute to the advancement of oral health in the years to come.With these expectations, I conclude my foreword.