Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prophylaxis using palivizumab effectively reduces RSV-associated morbidity in preterm infants. In Korea, national insurance coverage for palivizumab was implemented in October 2016 for moderate-to-late preterm (MLPT) infants born during the RSV season (October-March) who have older siblings. However, no large-scale studies have investigated the changes in the incidence and risk of severe acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) after insurance coverage implementation for MLPT infants. Methods: This large-scale retrospective cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service between October 2013 and December 2019. MLPT infants (32 0/7– 35 6/7 weeks of gestation) with older siblings were stratified into pre-insurance period (PIP;October 2013–September 2016) and insurance period (IP; October 2016–March 2019) groups based on the date of birth with respect to initial insurance palivizumab implementation.Severe ALRI outcomes (hospitalization, respiratory support, and intensive care unit admission) were evaluated up to 1 year of age using multivariable logistic regression models. Results: Of the 11,722 MLPT infants included in the study, 6,716 and 5,006 infants were included in the IP and PIP groups, respectively. The incidences of ALRI-hospitalization and ALRI-respiratory support were significantly lower in the IP group than that in PIP group (24.0% vs. 26.0% and 3.1% vs. 4.0%, respectively). Additionally, ALRI-respiratory support risk was significantly lower in the IP group (adjusted odds ratio 0.771, 95% confidence interval 0.626–0.949, P = 0.014) than that in the PIP group. Among infants born during the RSV season, the risk of ALRI-hospitalization and ALRI-respiratory support were significantly lower in the IP group than that in the PIP group. However, no significant differences were observed between the IP and PIP groups for infants born during the non-RSV season. Conclusion The risks of severe ALRI outcomes decreased in Korea following the 2016 insurance implementation of palivizumab prophylaxis for MLPT infants born during the RSV season with older siblings.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prophylaxis using palivizumab effectively reduces RSV-associated morbidity in preterm infants. In Korea, national insurance coverage for palivizumab was implemented in October 2016 for moderate-to-late preterm (MLPT) infants born during the RSV season (October-March) who have older siblings. However, no large-scale studies have investigated the changes in the incidence and risk of severe acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) after insurance coverage implementation for MLPT infants. Methods: This large-scale retrospective cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service between October 2013 and December 2019. MLPT infants (32 0/7– 35 6/7 weeks of gestation) with older siblings were stratified into pre-insurance period (PIP;October 2013–September 2016) and insurance period (IP; October 2016–March 2019) groups based on the date of birth with respect to initial insurance palivizumab implementation.Severe ALRI outcomes (hospitalization, respiratory support, and intensive care unit admission) were evaluated up to 1 year of age using multivariable logistic regression models. Results: Of the 11,722 MLPT infants included in the study, 6,716 and 5,006 infants were included in the IP and PIP groups, respectively. The incidences of ALRI-hospitalization and ALRI-respiratory support were significantly lower in the IP group than that in PIP group (24.0% vs. 26.0% and 3.1% vs. 4.0%, respectively). Additionally, ALRI-respiratory support risk was significantly lower in the IP group (adjusted odds ratio 0.771, 95% confidence interval 0.626–0.949, P = 0.014) than that in the PIP group. Among infants born during the RSV season, the risk of ALRI-hospitalization and ALRI-respiratory support were significantly lower in the IP group than that in the PIP group. However, no significant differences were observed between the IP and PIP groups for infants born during the non-RSV season. Conclusion The risks of severe ALRI outcomes decreased in Korea following the 2016 insurance implementation of palivizumab prophylaxis for MLPT infants born during the RSV season with older siblings.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prophylaxis using palivizumab effectively reduces RSV-associated morbidity in preterm infants. In Korea, national insurance coverage for palivizumab was implemented in October 2016 for moderate-to-late preterm (MLPT) infants born during the RSV season (October-March) who have older siblings. However, no large-scale studies have investigated the changes in the incidence and risk of severe acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) after insurance coverage implementation for MLPT infants. Methods: This large-scale retrospective cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service between October 2013 and December 2019. MLPT infants (32 0/7– 35 6/7 weeks of gestation) with older siblings were stratified into pre-insurance period (PIP;October 2013–September 2016) and insurance period (IP; October 2016–March 2019) groups based on the date of birth with respect to initial insurance palivizumab implementation.Severe ALRI outcomes (hospitalization, respiratory support, and intensive care unit admission) were evaluated up to 1 year of age using multivariable logistic regression models. Results: Of the 11,722 MLPT infants included in the study, 6,716 and 5,006 infants were included in the IP and PIP groups, respectively. The incidences of ALRI-hospitalization and ALRI-respiratory support were significantly lower in the IP group than that in PIP group (24.0% vs. 26.0% and 3.1% vs. 4.0%, respectively). Additionally, ALRI-respiratory support risk was significantly lower in the IP group (adjusted odds ratio 0.771, 95% confidence interval 0.626–0.949, P = 0.014) than that in the PIP group. Among infants born during the RSV season, the risk of ALRI-hospitalization and ALRI-respiratory support were significantly lower in the IP group than that in the PIP group. However, no significant differences were observed between the IP and PIP groups for infants born during the non-RSV season. Conclusion The risks of severe ALRI outcomes decreased in Korea following the 2016 insurance implementation of palivizumab prophylaxis for MLPT infants born during the RSV season with older siblings.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prophylaxis using palivizumab effectively reduces RSV-associated morbidity in preterm infants. In Korea, national insurance coverage for palivizumab was implemented in October 2016 for moderate-to-late preterm (MLPT) infants born during the RSV season (October-March) who have older siblings. However, no large-scale studies have investigated the changes in the incidence and risk of severe acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) after insurance coverage implementation for MLPT infants. Methods: This large-scale retrospective cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service between October 2013 and December 2019. MLPT infants (32 0/7– 35 6/7 weeks of gestation) with older siblings were stratified into pre-insurance period (PIP;October 2013–September 2016) and insurance period (IP; October 2016–March 2019) groups based on the date of birth with respect to initial insurance palivizumab implementation.Severe ALRI outcomes (hospitalization, respiratory support, and intensive care unit admission) were evaluated up to 1 year of age using multivariable logistic regression models. Results: Of the 11,722 MLPT infants included in the study, 6,716 and 5,006 infants were included in the IP and PIP groups, respectively. The incidences of ALRI-hospitalization and ALRI-respiratory support were significantly lower in the IP group than that in PIP group (24.0% vs. 26.0% and 3.1% vs. 4.0%, respectively). Additionally, ALRI-respiratory support risk was significantly lower in the IP group (adjusted odds ratio 0.771, 95% confidence interval 0.626–0.949, P = 0.014) than that in the PIP group. Among infants born during the RSV season, the risk of ALRI-hospitalization and ALRI-respiratory support were significantly lower in the IP group than that in the PIP group. However, no significant differences were observed between the IP and PIP groups for infants born during the non-RSV season. Conclusion The risks of severe ALRI outcomes decreased in Korea following the 2016 insurance implementation of palivizumab prophylaxis for MLPT infants born during the RSV season with older siblings.

BACKGROUND: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease with high mortality in East Asia. This study aimed to develop, for primary care providers, a prediction score using initial symptoms and basic laboratory blood tests to differentiate between SFTS and other endemic zoonoses in Korea. METHODS: Patients aged ≥ 18 years diagnosed with endemic zoonoses during a 3-year period (between January 2015 and December 2017) were retrospectively enrolled from 4 tertiary university hospitals. A prediction score was built based on multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Of 84 patients, 35 with SFTS and 49 with other endemic zoonoses were enrolled. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, independent predictors of SFTS included neurologic symptoms (odds ratio [OR], 12.915; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.173–76.747), diarrhea (OR, 10.306; 95% CI, 1.588–66.895), leukopenia (< 4,000/mm3) (OR, 19.400; 95% CI, 3.290–114.408), and normal C-reactive protein (< 0.5 mg/dL) (OR, 24.739; 95% CI, 1.812–337.742). We set up a prediction score by assigning one point to each of these four predictors. A score of ≥ 2 had 82.9% sensitivity (95% CI, 71.7%–87.5%) and 95.9% specificity (95% CI, 88.0%–99.2%). The area under the curve of the clinical prediction score was 0.950 (95% CI, 0.903–0.997). CONCLUSION This study finding suggests a simple and useful scoring system to predict SFTS in patients with endemic zoonoses. We expect this strategic approach to facilitate early differentiation of SFTS from other endemic zoonoses, especially by primary care providers, and to improve the clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease with high mortality in East Asia. This study aimed to develop, for primary care providers, a prediction score using initial symptoms and basic laboratory blood tests to differentiate between SFTS and other endemic zoonoses in Korea.METHODS: Patients aged ≥ 18 years diagnosed with endemic zoonoses during a 3-year period (between January 2015 and December 2017) were retrospectively enrolled from 4 tertiary university hospitals. A prediction score was built based on multivariate logistic regression analyses.RESULTS: Of 84 patients, 35 with SFTS and 49 with other endemic zoonoses were enrolled. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, independent predictors of SFTS included neurologic symptoms (odds ratio [OR], 12.915; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.173–76.747), diarrhea (OR, 10.306; 95% CI, 1.588–66.895), leukopenia (< 4,000/mm3) (OR, 19.400; 95% CI, 3.290–114.408), and normal C-reactive protein (< 0.5 mg/dL) (OR, 24.739; 95% CI, 1.812–337.742). We set up a prediction score by assigning one point to each of these four predictors. A score of ≥ 2 had 82.9% sensitivity (95% CI, 71.7%–87.5%) and 95.9% specificity (95% CI, 88.0%–99.2%). The area under the curve of the clinical prediction score was 0.950 (95% CI, 0.903–0.997).CONCLUSION: This study finding suggests a simple and useful scoring system to predict SFTS in patients with endemic zoonoses. We expect this strategic approach to facilitate early differentiation of SFTS from other endemic zoonoses, especially by primary care providers, and to improve the clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Delays in isolating patients admitted to hospital with active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) can contribute to nosocomial transmission; however, in Korea, patients with clinically diagnosed PTB are not routinely isolated while awaiting microbiological confirmation of the diagnosis. We aimed to assess the extent of delays in isolating patients admitted with PTB and to identify the factors associated with delayed isolation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of patients aged ≥ 18 years with active PTB, between January 2008 and December 2017, from two Korean hospitals. RESULTS: Among 1,062 patients, 612 (57.6%) were not isolated on admission day. The median time from admission to isolation was 1 day (interquartile range: 0–2 days). The independent risk factor most strongly associated with delayed isolation was admission to departments other than pulmonology or infectious diseases departments (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.302; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.177–8.847; P < 0.001). Factors associated with isolation on admission day were a past history of tuberculosis (TB) (aOR, 0.669; 95% CI, 0.494–0.906; P = 0.009), night sweats (aOR, 0.530; 95% CI, 0.330–0.851; P = 0.009), and apical infiltrates on chest radiographs (aOR, 0.452; 95% CI, 0.276–0.740; P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Concerning patients subsequently diagnosed with active PTB, > 50% were not isolated on admission day. We suggest that the patients with clinically suspected PTB including the elderly who have a past history of TB, night sweats, or apical infiltration on chest radiographs, be presumptively isolated on admission, without waiting for microbiological confirmation of the diagnosis.
Aged ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Electronic Health Records ; Humans ; Korea ; Odds Ratio ; Pulmonary Medicine ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sweat ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

PURPOSE: Because primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is difficult to recognize, it has a high likelihood of being underdiagnosed. In this study, we estimated the incidence of PHPT and evaluated PHPT diagnosis in Korea. METHODS: To calculate the prevalence of PHPT, we examined the medical records of patients that were hospitalized for urolithiasis between 2013 and 2016 at a single institute, and then identified those who were diagnosed with PHPT from the same group. A Korea-wide insurance claim database was used to ascertain the number of urolithiasis patients and the number of parathyroidectomies performed in Korea. The incidence of PHPT in the Korean population was estimated using the ratio of patients who presented with urolithiasis as the initial symptom of PHPT. RESULTS: During the 4-year study period, 4 patients from the 925 urolithiasis patients enrolled in this study (0.4%) were diagnosed with PHPT. During this same period, there were 85,267 patients with urolithiasis in Korea, and the estimated number of PHPT patients was 341, which was 0.4% of 85,267. Considering that 12% to 23% of patients with PHPT are initially diagnosed with urolithiasis, the total number of PHPT patients was estimated to range from 1,483 to 2,842. The number of patients who underwent parathyroidectomy due to PHPT was 1,935 during the study period. CONCLUSION: The number of patients we estimated to have PHPT corresponded closely with the number of patients undergoing parathyroidectomy during the study period. Considering the number of nonsymptomatic PHPT patients, PHPT may be properly diagnosed in Korea.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary* ; Incidence ; Insurance ; Korea* ; Medical Records* ; Parathyroidectomy ; Prevalence* ; Urolithiasis

OBJECTIVE: The risk factors of reoperation after microdecompression (MD) for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) are unclear. In this study, we presented the outcomes of MD for degenerative LSS and investigated the risk factors associated with reoperation. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted using the clinical records and radiographs of patients with LSS who underwent MD. For clinical evaluation, we used the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scoring system for low back pain, body mass index, and Charlson comorbidity index. For radiological evaluation, disc height, facet angle, and sagittal rotation angle were measured in operated segments. Also the Modic change and Pfirrmann grade for degeneration in the endplate and disc were scored. RESULTS: Forty-three patients aged 69±9 years at index surgery were followed for 48±25 months. The average preoperative JOA score was 6.9±1.6 points. The score improved to 9.1±2.1 points at the latest follow-up (p<0.001). Seven patients (16.3%) underwent reoperation. Clinical and radiological factors except operation level and Pfirrmann grade showed a p-value >0.1. Patients with Pfirrmann grade IV and lower lumbar segment had a 29.1% rate of reoperation (p=0.001), whereas patients without these factors had a 0% rate of reoperation. CONCLUSION: Moderate disk degeneration (Pfirrmann IV) in lower lumbar segments is a risk factor of disk herniation or foraminal stenosis requiring reoperation after MD in LSS.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Mass Index ; Comorbidity ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Laminectomy ; Low Back Pain ; Orthopedics ; Reoperation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Spinal Stenosis*

Gaucher disease is a lysosomal storage disease for which enzyme replacement therapy has proven to be effective. A switch-over clinical trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Abcertin(R) (ISU Abxis, Seoul, Korea) in subjects with type 1 Gaucher disease who were previously treated with imiglucerase. Five Korean patients with type 1 Gaucher disease were enrolled. Previous doses of imiglucerase ranged from 30 to 55 U/kg every other week. The same dose of Abcertin(R) was administered to all patients for 24 weeks. Primary efficacy endpoints were changes in hemoglobin levels and platelet counts, and the secondary efficacy endpoints included changes in liver and spleen volumes, serum biomarkers, skeletal status and bone mineral density (BMD). During the study period, no statistically significant changes were observed in all parameters including hemoglobin levels and platelet counts, liver and spleen volumes, skeletal status and BMD. Abcertin(R) administration was continued in three patients for another 24 weeks as an extension of the study. Hemoglobin levels and platelet counts were maintained in all three patients. In conclusion, the efficacy and safety of Abcertin(R) are similar to those of imiglucerase, and Abcertin(R) is an effective therapeutic agent for patients with type 1 Gaucher disease (Clinical Trial Registry No. NCT02053896 at www.clinicaltrials.gov).
Adolescent ; Adult ; Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals/adverse effects/pharmacokinetics/*therapeutic use ; Child ; *Enzyme Replacement Therapy/adverse effects ; Female ; Gaucher Disease/blood/*drug therapy ; Glucosylceramidase/adverse effects/pharmacokinetics/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Recombinant Proteins/adverse effects/pharmacokinetics/*therapeutic use