Background: Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is the leading cause of hospitalization and is associated with in-hospital mortality. This study aimed to elucidate the epidemiology and clinical outcomes of ARF. Methods: We retrospectively screened patients admitted to three hospitals in South Korea between January 2018 and December 2022. We included individuals aged 18 years, diagnosed with either type 1 ARF (arterial oxygen partial pressure [PaO2] <60 mm Hg) or type 2 ARF (arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2) >45 mm Hg) with a pH of <7.35, or diagnosed with the combined-type ARF. Results: Among the 768,700 hospitalized patients, 33,278 (4.3%) developed ARF. The most common cause of ARF was sepsis (15,757 patients, 47.3%), and the most frequent comorbidity was malignancy (15,403 patients, 43.6%). Among ARF patients, 15,671 (47.1%) required intensive care unit transfer, while 8,980 (27.0%) experienced in-hospital mortality. Over 5 years, the proportion of ARF patients aged 80 years and older has shown a consistent annual increase (coefficient, 0.085 and Ptrend <0.001). Concurrently, the in-hospital mortality rate exhibited an upward trend, increasing from 25.5% in 2018 to 29.3% in 2022 (coefficient, 1.017 and Ptrend<0.001). Among the respiratory support methods used for patients with ARF over the 5-year period, high-flow nasal cannula usage steadily increased (coefficient, 4.137 and Ptrend<0.001), whereas the use of invasive mechanical ventilation declined (coefficient, –0.983 and Ptrend<0.001). Conclusions ARF frequency and in-hospital mortality rates are increasing, driven by various etiologies. Despite these trends, research on the epidemiology and individualized treatments for older patients is limited, highlighting the need for nationwide prospective multicenter studies.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) survivors have an increased risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study assessed the risk of COPD development and COPD-related hospitalization in TB survivors compared to controls. Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study of TB survivors and 1:1 age- and sex-matched controls using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database collected from 2010 to 2017. We compared the risk of COPD development and COPD-related hospitalization between TB survivors and controls. Results: Of the subjects, 9.6% developed COPD, and 2.8% experienced COPD-related hospitalization. TB survivors had significantly higher COPD incidence rates (36.7/1,000 vs. 18.8/1,000 person-years, P < 0.001) and COPD-related hospitalization (10.7/1,000 vs.4.3/1,000 person-years, P < 0.001) than controls. Multivariable Cox regression analyses revealed higher risks of COPD development (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.54–1.73) and COPD-related hospitalization (aHR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.81–2.27) in TB survivors. Among those who developed COPD, the hospitalization rate was higher in individuals with post-TB COPD compared to those with non-TB COPD (10.7/1,000 vs. 4.9/1,000 person-years, P < 0.001), showing an increased risk of COPD-related hospitalization (aHR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.17–2.92). Conclusion TB survivors had higher risks of incident COPD and COPD-related hospitalization compared to controls. These results suggest that previous TB is an important COPD etiology associated with COPD-related hospitalization.

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are escalating, and their socioeconomic burden is increasing. However, large-scale prospective studies investigating ADRs during hospitalization are rare in Korea. We prospectively investigated the incidence, characteristics, and economic burden of ADRs in hospitalized patients based on electronic medical records (EMRs). Methods: Among patients admitted to three hospitals from October 2016 to October 2017, 5,000 patients were randomly selected and prospectively observed during hospitalization.Research nurses monitored and detected patients who had symptoms, signs, or laboratory findings suspicious for ADRs using an EMR-based detection protocol. Next, allergy and ADR specialists reviewed the medical records to determine the relationship between adverse reactions and drugs. Cases in which a causal relationship was certain, probable/likely, or possible were included in the ADR cases. Clinically meaningful ADR cases or those leading to prolonged hospitalization were defined as significant ADRs. Results: ADRs occurred in 510 (10.2%) patients. The mean length of hospital stay was approximately 5 days longer in patients with ADRs. Opioids accounted for the highest percentage of total ADRs. Significant ADRs were observed in 148 (3.0%) patients. Antibiotics accounted for the highest percentage of significant ADRs. Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) occurred in 88 (1.8%) patients. Antibiotics accounted for the highest percentage of DHRs. The average medical expenses for one day of hospitalization per patient were highest in significant ADRs, followed by non-significant ADRs, and non-ADRs. Conclusion ADRs in hospitalized patients are an important clinical issue, resulting in a substantial socioeconomic burden. EMR-based strategy could be a useful tool for ADR monitoring and early detection.

The objective of this study was to compare recommendations of the Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder 2022 (KMAP-BP 2022) with other recently published guidelines for treating bipolar disorder. We reviewed a total of six recently published global treatment guidelines and compared treatment recommendation of the KMAP-BP 2022 with those of other guidelines. For initial treatment of mania, there were no significant differences across treatment guidelines. All guidelines recommended mood stabilizer (MS) or atypical antipsychotic (AAP) monotherapy or a combination of an MS with an AAP as a first-line treatment strategy in a same degree for mania. However, the KMAP-BP 2022 recommended MS + AAP combination therapy for psychotic mania, mixed mania and psychotic depression as treatment of choice. Aripiprazole, quetiapine and olanzapine were the first-line AAPs for nearly all phases of bipolar disorder across guidelines. Some guideline suggested olanzapine is a second-line options during maintenance treatment, related to concern about long-term tolerability. Most guidelines advocated newer AAPs (asenapine, cariprazine, long-acting injectable risperidone, and aripiprazole once monthly) as first-line treatment options for all phases while lamotrigine was recommended for depressive and maintenance phases. Lithium and valproic acid were commonly used as MSs in all phases of bipolar disorder. KMAP-BP 2022 guidelines were similar to other guidelines, reflecting current changes in prescription patterns for bipolar disorder based on accumulated research data. Strong preference for combination therapy was characteristic of KMAP-BP 2022, predominantly in the treatment of psychotic mania, mixed mania and psychotic depression.

Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) viability scan is used to determine whether patients with a myocardial scar on single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) may need revascularization. However, the clinical utility of revascularization decision-making guided by PET viability imaging has not been proven yet. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of PET to determine revascularization on clinical outcomes. Methods: Between September 2012 and May 2021, 53 patients (37 males; mean age = 64 ± 11 years) with a myocardial scar on MIBI SPECT who underwent PET viability test were analyzed in this study. The primary outcome was a temporal change in echocardiographic findings.The secondary outcome was all-cause mortality. Results: Viable myocardium was presented by PET imaging in 29 (54.7%) patients.Revascularization was performed in 26 (49.1%) patients, including 18 (34.0%) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and 8 (15.1%) with coronary artery bypass grafting.There were significant improvements in echocardiographic findings in the revascularization group and the viable myocardium group. All-cause mortality was significantly lower in the revascularization group than in the medical therapy-alone group (19.2% vs. 44.4%, log-rank P = 0.002) irrespective of viable (21.4% vs. 46.7%, log-rank P = 0.025) or non-viable myocardium (16.7% vs. 41.7%, log-rank P = 0.046). All-cause mortality was significantly lower in the PCI group than in the medical therapy-alone group (11.1% vs. 44.4%, log-rank P < 0.001). Conclusion Revascularization improved left ventricular systolic function and survival of patients with a myocardial scar on SPECT scans, irrespective of myocardial viability on PET scans.

Objective: Dysphagia is a common clinical condition characterized by difficulty in swallowing. It is sub-classified into oropharyngeal dysphagia, which refers to problems in the mouth and pharynx, and esophageal dysphagia, which refers to problems in the esophageal body and esophagogastric junction. Dysphagia can have a significant negative impact one’s physical health and quality of life as its severity increases. Therefore, proper assessment and management of dysphagia are critical for improving swallowing function and preventing complications. Thus a guideline was developed to provide evidence-based recommendations for assessment and management in patients with dysphagia. Methods: Nineteen key questions on dysphagia were developed. These questions dealt with various aspects of problems related to dysphagia, including assessment, management, and complications. A literature search for relevant articles was conducted using Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and one domestic database of KoreaMed, until April 2021. The level of evidence and recommendation grade were established according to the Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology. Results: Early screening and assessment of videofluoroscopic swallowing were recommended for assessing the presence of dysphagia. Therapeutic methods, such as tongue and pharyngeal muscle strengthening exercises and neuromuscular electrical stimulation with swallowing therapy, were effective in improving swallowing function and quality of life in patients with dysphagia. Nutritional intervention and an oral care program were also recommended. Conclusion This guideline presents recommendations for the assessment and management of patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia, including rehabilitative strategies.

Background/Aims: The short- and long-term effects of adalimumab (ADA) on Korean patients with intestinal Behcet’s disease (BD) for remain unclear. Therefore, a multicenter study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ADA in Korean patients with intestinal BD in a real-world setting. Methods: The medical records of 67 patients with BD prescribed ADA between January 2012 and December 2020 at five referral centers in Korea were retrospectively analyzed and the safety and efficacy of ADA within 52 weeks were assessed. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of ADA, the Disease Activity Index for Intestinal BD (DAIBD) and representative blood biochemical markers were compared at 0, 12, 24, and 52 weeks of ADA treatment. Results: During the follow-up period of 52 weeks, 46 patients continued ADA treatment. The cumulative drug survival rate was 83.5%. The DAIBD score decreased over the study period (p < 0.001). Moreover, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum C-reactive protein levels, and serum albumin levels significantly improved at 12, 24, and 52 weeks of ADA treatment (all, p <0.05). Conclusions As ADA is effective for refractory intestinal BD with few safety concerns in real-world situations, it is a potential treatment option for Korean patients with intestinal BD.

The Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Depressive Disorder (KMAP-DD) first was published in 2002, and has been revised four times, in 2006, 2012, 2017, and 2021. In this review, we compared recommendations from the recently revised KMAP-DD 2021 to four global clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for depression published after 2010. The recommendations from the KMAP-DD 2021 were similar to those from other CPGs, although there were some differences. The KMAP-DD 2021 reflected social culture and the healthcare system in Korea and recent evidence about pharmacotherapy for depression, as did other recently published evidence-based guidelines. Despite some intrinsic limitations as an expert consensus-based guideline, the KMAP-DD 2021 can be helpful for Korean psychiatrists making decisions in clinical settings by complementing previously published evidence-based guidelines, especially for some clinical situations lacking evidence from rigorously designed clinical trials.

Purpose: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a rare disease in children and there are some different characteristics between children and adult. We aimed to evaluate incidence, clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of pediatric APL in Korea. Materials and Methods: Seventy-nine pediatric APL patients diagnosed from January 2009 to December 2016 in 16 tertiary medical centers in Korea were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Of 801 acute myeloid leukemia children, 79 (9.9%) were diagnosed with APL. The median age at diagnosis was 10.6 years (range, 1.3 to 18.0). Male and female ratio was 1:0.93. Thirty patients (38.0%) had white blood cell (WBC) count greater than 10×109/L at diagnosis. All patients received induction therapy consisting of all-trans retinoic acid and chemotherapy. Five patients (6.6%) died during induction chemotherapy and 66 patients (86.8%) achieved complete remission (CR) after induction chemotherapy. The causes of death were three intracranial hemorrhage, one cerebral infarction, and one sepsis. Five patients (7.1%) suffered a relapse during or after maintenance chemotherapy. The estimated 4-year event-free survival and overall survival (OS) rates were 82.1%±4.4%, 89.7%±5.1%, respectively. The 4-year OS was significantly higher in patients with initial WBC < 10×109/L than in those with initial WBC ≥ 10×109/L (p=0.020). Conclusion This study showed that the CR rates and survival outcomes in Korean pediatric APL patients were relatively good. The initial WBC count was the most important prognostic factor and most causes of death were related to serious bleeding in the early stage of treatment.