INTRODUCTION: Achieving low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels is key to preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular events. However, many high-risk cardiovascular patients still experience poor LDL-C goal attainment and receive suboptimal lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) prescriptions. Herein, we evaluated LLT prescription patterns, LDL-C goal attainment and cardiovascular mortality among this population group in Singapore. METHODS: This prospective observational cohort study included 555 patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) admitted to the hospital in 2020. The LLT prescriptions, corresponding LDL-C levels and cardiovascular outcomes were assessed over a 24-month period. RESULTS: Most participants were male (82.3%), with 48.5% identified as Chinese. High-intensity statin prescriptions increased from 45.4% at hospital admission to 87.1% at discharge and remained stable at approximately 80% at 6, 12, and 24 months post-discharge. Combination LLT prescriptions increased from 12.3% at discharge to 33.8% by 24 months. Ezetimibe was the most commonly prescribed second-line LLT (40.8%), followed by inclisiran (1.09%) and anti-proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 monoclonal antibody therapies (0.87%). Over 24 months, LDL-C goal attainment rates were 22.1% for LDL-C < 1.4 mmol/L and 47.2% for LDL-C < 1.8 mmol/L. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression indicated that achieving LDL-C < 1.8 mmol/L goal was associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality at 24 months (hazard ratio 0.53, 95% confidence interval 0.30-0.94, P = 0.030). CONCLUSION Treatment gaps in lipid management persist in 80% of the study population, indicating that statin monotherapy alone is insufficient to achieve LDL-C goals. Greater efforts to improve LDL-C goal attainment rates in high-risk cardiovascular patients are imperative.
Humans ; Male ; Cholesterol, LDL/blood* ; Female ; Myocardial Ischemia/drug therapy* ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Aged ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Ezetimibe/therapeutic use* ; Anticholesteremic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome

In 2023, the Republic of Korea’s Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) enhanced its event-based surveillance practices by using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) to actively screen and share information about potential public health threats to the country. This report describes the preliminary assessment of the results of implementing these enhanced event-based surveillance activities from June to October 2023. During this period, 425 (0.4%) events were detected globally by the KDCA from 99 945 media articles, with the highest frequency reported in Asia (185, 43.5%) and North America (81, 19.1%). The most frequently reported diseases or conditions were dengue fever (111, 26.1%) and mpox (32, 7.5%). Eight events were detected early by the KDCA using EIOS before being officially listed on WHO’s Event Information Site (EIS) or in Disease Outbreak News (DON), with an average interval of 20 days (range: 5–41) between the detection date and posting on EIS or DON. Thus, EIOS is efficient in aiding early detection of potential public health threats at the national level. This finding highlights the importance of sustaining international cooperation and support to enhance surveillance capabilities in resource-limited settings and expanding the scope of EIOS, including by incorporating additional sources and sources in additional languages, reducing noise. However, as the current report is based on a descriptive analysis, in the future a systematic evaluation of event-based surveillance using EIOS to identify relevant attributes will need to be conducted.

Background: School food service workers are highly likely to develop heat-related illnesses because of their work environment. However, studies that have examined the risk of heat-related illnesses among them are limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of heat exposure, implementation of heat wave countermeasures, and prevalence of heat-related illness symptoms among school food service workers in Korea, and to explore the relationship between them. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey of school food service workers from May 25 to June 12, 2023, via three labor unions. We analyzed 6,244 valid responses. We assessed general characteristics, heat-related illness symptoms (heat rash, heat cramps, heat edema, heat exhaustion, heat syncope), duration of heat exposure during heat waves, and heat wave preventive measures. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed, with adjustments for age, occupation, hypertension, diabetes, and school type. Results: More than one-third of school food service workers reported heat exposure between May and September exceeding 4 hours daily, and 94.6% experienced at least one heat-related illness symptom during the last year. A dose-response relationship was observed between heat exposure duration and heat-related illness symptoms (p for trend < 0.001). School food service workers who did not have increased rest periods or did not reduce high-heat prepared foods showed significantly higher odds ratios for heat-related illness symptoms. Conclusions School food service workers experience substantial heat exposure and a high prevalence of heat-related illness symptoms. The risk of heat-related illness symptoms was associated with extended duration of heat exposure. Increasing rest periods and reducing high-heat food preparation were effective preventive measures. These findings underscore the need for improved heat exposure management and implementation of effective preventive measures to protect the health of school food service workers, with particular attention to appropriate rest periods.

Objectives: This study aimed to summarize the results of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk assessments and to examine the associations between risk levels and various indicators, including COVID-19 incidence, risk perception, community mobility, and government policy. Methods: The results of the risk assessment and the indicators utilized were summarized. From November 2021 to May 2022, the COVID-19 risk level was evaluated on a weekly basis, and its correlation with these indicators was analyzed. Data were obtained from press releases by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, regular surveys conducted by Hankook Research, and information available on the Google and Oxford websites. Results: Weekly risk assessments were conducted for 30 weeks, using different indices depending on the phases. Correlation analysis revealed the strongest positive correlation between risk level and risk perception (r=0.841). The risk level from “1-week lead” demonstrated a strong positive correlation with the time-varying reproduction number (Rt). Similarly, the risk level from “week lagged value” showed a strong positive correlation with the number of severe cases in the hospital. Conclusion At the time of risk assessment, the Rt precedes the risk level, while severe cases in hospitals follow. Therefore, the assessed risk level functioned as an early warning system. Risk perception demonstrated the strongest correlation with the risk level, suggesting consistency throughout the assessment period. Contextual indicators (e.g., risk perception) that consider time lags and implementation scales, could improve the evaluation of future risk assessment results, particularly when there are challenges in reflecting specific situations in coordinated emergency response.

Objectives: This study aimed to summarize the results of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk assessments and to examine the associations between risk levels and various indicators, including COVID-19 incidence, risk perception, community mobility, and government policy. Methods: The results of the risk assessment and the indicators utilized were summarized. From November 2021 to May 2022, the COVID-19 risk level was evaluated on a weekly basis, and its correlation with these indicators was analyzed. Data were obtained from press releases by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, regular surveys conducted by Hankook Research, and information available on the Google and Oxford websites. Results: Weekly risk assessments were conducted for 30 weeks, using different indices depending on the phases. Correlation analysis revealed the strongest positive correlation between risk level and risk perception (r=0.841). The risk level from “1-week lead” demonstrated a strong positive correlation with the time-varying reproduction number (Rt). Similarly, the risk level from “week lagged value” showed a strong positive correlation with the number of severe cases in the hospital. Conclusion At the time of risk assessment, the Rt precedes the risk level, while severe cases in hospitals follow. Therefore, the assessed risk level functioned as an early warning system. Risk perception demonstrated the strongest correlation with the risk level, suggesting consistency throughout the assessment period. Contextual indicators (e.g., risk perception) that consider time lags and implementation scales, could improve the evaluation of future risk assessment results, particularly when there are challenges in reflecting specific situations in coordinated emergency response.

Objectives: This study aimed to summarize the results of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk assessments and to examine the associations between risk levels and various indicators, including COVID-19 incidence, risk perception, community mobility, and government policy. Methods: The results of the risk assessment and the indicators utilized were summarized. From November 2021 to May 2022, the COVID-19 risk level was evaluated on a weekly basis, and its correlation with these indicators was analyzed. Data were obtained from press releases by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, regular surveys conducted by Hankook Research, and information available on the Google and Oxford websites. Results: Weekly risk assessments were conducted for 30 weeks, using different indices depending on the phases. Correlation analysis revealed the strongest positive correlation between risk level and risk perception (r=0.841). The risk level from “1-week lead” demonstrated a strong positive correlation with the time-varying reproduction number (Rt). Similarly, the risk level from “week lagged value” showed a strong positive correlation with the number of severe cases in the hospital. Conclusion At the time of risk assessment, the Rt precedes the risk level, while severe cases in hospitals follow. Therefore, the assessed risk level functioned as an early warning system. Risk perception demonstrated the strongest correlation with the risk level, suggesting consistency throughout the assessment period. Contextual indicators (e.g., risk perception) that consider time lags and implementation scales, could improve the evaluation of future risk assessment results, particularly when there are challenges in reflecting specific situations in coordinated emergency response.

Objectives: This study aimed to summarize the results of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk assessments and to examine the associations between risk levels and various indicators, including COVID-19 incidence, risk perception, community mobility, and government policy. Methods: The results of the risk assessment and the indicators utilized were summarized. From November 2021 to May 2022, the COVID-19 risk level was evaluated on a weekly basis, and its correlation with these indicators was analyzed. Data were obtained from press releases by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, regular surveys conducted by Hankook Research, and information available on the Google and Oxford websites. Results: Weekly risk assessments were conducted for 30 weeks, using different indices depending on the phases. Correlation analysis revealed the strongest positive correlation between risk level and risk perception (r=0.841). The risk level from “1-week lead” demonstrated a strong positive correlation with the time-varying reproduction number (Rt). Similarly, the risk level from “week lagged value” showed a strong positive correlation with the number of severe cases in the hospital. Conclusion At the time of risk assessment, the Rt precedes the risk level, while severe cases in hospitals follow. Therefore, the assessed risk level functioned as an early warning system. Risk perception demonstrated the strongest correlation with the risk level, suggesting consistency throughout the assessment period. Contextual indicators (e.g., risk perception) that consider time lags and implementation scales, could improve the evaluation of future risk assessment results, particularly when there are challenges in reflecting specific situations in coordinated emergency response.

Objectives: This study aimed to summarize the results of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk assessments and to examine the associations between risk levels and various indicators, including COVID-19 incidence, risk perception, community mobility, and government policy. Methods: The results of the risk assessment and the indicators utilized were summarized. From November 2021 to May 2022, the COVID-19 risk level was evaluated on a weekly basis, and its correlation with these indicators was analyzed. Data were obtained from press releases by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, regular surveys conducted by Hankook Research, and information available on the Google and Oxford websites. Results: Weekly risk assessments were conducted for 30 weeks, using different indices depending on the phases. Correlation analysis revealed the strongest positive correlation between risk level and risk perception (r=0.841). The risk level from “1-week lead” demonstrated a strong positive correlation with the time-varying reproduction number (Rt). Similarly, the risk level from “week lagged value” showed a strong positive correlation with the number of severe cases in the hospital. Conclusion At the time of risk assessment, the Rt precedes the risk level, while severe cases in hospitals follow. Therefore, the assessed risk level functioned as an early warning system. Risk perception demonstrated the strongest correlation with the risk level, suggesting consistency throughout the assessment period. Contextual indicators (e.g., risk perception) that consider time lags and implementation scales, could improve the evaluation of future risk assessment results, particularly when there are challenges in reflecting specific situations in coordinated emergency response.

INTRODUCTION: Pleural infections are a significant cause of mortality. Intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy (IPFT) utilising alteplase and dornase is a treatment option for patients unsuitable for surgery. The optimal dose of alteplase is unknown, and factors affecting treatment success in an Asian population are unclear. We sought to determine the factors affecting treatment success in Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore and evaluate the efficacy of lower doses of IPFT. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of patients with pleural infections treated with IPFT between July 2016 and November 2023 was performed. Treatment success was defined as survival without surgery at 3 months. Data, including patient demographics; comorbidities; RAPID (renal, age, purulence, infection source and dietary factor) scores; and radiological characteristics, were extracted from medical records and analysed. Linear mixed effects model and logistic regression were performed to determine factors affecting treatment success. RESULTS: A total of 131 cases were analysed. Of these, 51 (38.9%) reported positive pleural fluid culture, and the most common organism was Streptoccocus anginosus. Mean age was 65 years (standard deviation [SD] 15.5). Mean time from chest tube insertion to first dose of IPFT was 10.2 days (SD 11.5). Median starting dose of alteplase was 5 mg. Treatment success was reported in 112 cases (85.5%). There were no significant differences between the alteplase dose and radiological clearance. Patient age (odds ratio [OR] 0.94, confidence interval [CI] 0.89-0.98) and interval between chest tube insertion to first dose (OR 0.95, CI 0.91-0.99) were statistically significant variables for the treatment success. CONCLUSION Lower starting doses of alteplase remain effective in the treatment of pleural infection. Early IPFT may result in better outcomes.
Humans ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies ; Aged ; Fibrinolytic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Thrombolytic Therapy/methods* ; Treatment Outcome ; Singapore ; Pleural Effusion/drug therapy* ; Pleural Diseases/drug therapy* ; Cohort Studies ; Chest Tubes ; Deoxyribonuclease I ; Recombinant Proteins

OBJECTIVES: Limited evidence is available regarding the impact of paternal occupation and its combined effect with maternal occupation on preterm birth. Therefore, we assessed the association of maternal and paternal occupations with preterm birth. METHODS: We used the national birth data of Korea between 2010 and 2020. Parental occupations were divided into 5 categories: (1) managers; (2) professionals, technicians, and related workers; (3) clerks and support workers; (4) service and sales workers; and (5) manual workers. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of extremely, very, and moderate-to-late preterm births per occupational category considering individual risk factors. RESULTS: For the 4,004,976 singleton births, 40.2% of mothers and 95.5% of fathers were employed. Compared to non-employment, employment was associated with a lower risk of preterm birth. Among employed mothers, service and sales occupations were associated with a higher risk of preterm birth than managerial occupations (aOR, 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 1.10 for moderate-to-late preterm births). The father’s manual occupation was associated with a higher risk of preterm birth (aOR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.13 for moderate-to-late preterm) than managerial occupations. When both parents had high-risk occupations, the risk of preterm birth was higher than in cases where only the mother or neither of the parents had a high-risk occupation. CONCLUSIONS Paternal occupation was associated with preterm birth regardless of maternal employment and occupation and modified the effect of maternal occupation. Detailed occupational environment data are needed to identify the paternal exposures that increase the risk.