The occurrence of an intramuscular mass accompanied by sleep-disturbing pain at the inoculation site lasting for 4 months after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination is rare. A 68-year-old man, who had previously received multiple COVID-19 vaccinations without any issues, encountered the problem described above for the first time. After administering 200 mg of celecoxib and 10 mg of nortriptyline for 1 month, ultrasound assessment revealed that the mass volume was reduced by more than 50%, and the pain disappeared completely.

Background: Although numerous studies examined the association between obesity and colorectal cancer, comparatively less research has focused on the relationship between weight change and physical activity. Methods: This study used health check-up data from the National Health Insurance Service. Participants aged 20–79 years who underwent health check-ups between 2004 and 2007 and again 10 years later were included. Differences were analyzed by dividing the weight change into groups that increased or decreased by 5%, 5%–20%, and 20% or more. Results: Among men, a 5%–20% increase in body weight was significantly associated with a higher risk of colon cancer (hazard ratio [HR], 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–1.52), even among those who exercised on at least 3 days a week. In contrast, women who had undergone a weight loss of more than 20% of their body weight were found to have a significantly reduced risk of colon cancer (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.50–0.93). However, women who reduced their exercise frequency from 3 or more days per week to less than 3 days per week experienced a weight gain of 20% or more, which was associated with a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer (HR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.07–3.12). Conclusion These findings highlight the association between recent increases in colon cancer incidence and weight management, emphasizing the importance of maintain a healthy weight in mitigating obesity-related cancer risk.

Background: Previous studies have shown various positive associations between the usual source of care (USC) and medication adherence in chronic diseases. However, no studies specifically on patients with diabetes have been conducted in Korea. This study examined the association between the USC type and medication adherence in patients with diabetes. Methods: Data from the 2021 Korea Health Panel Survey were used. The final sample comprised 1,493 participants aged ≥20 years. The types of USC were categorized into three groups: no USC, place only (without a regular doctor [RD]), and RD. Medication adherence was assessed using detailed items (dose, frequency, time, and discontinuation) and a four-point Likert scale. Logistic regression analysis was conducted with adjustment for control variables. Results: The odds ratios (ORs) for overall medication adherence were significantly higher in the RD group at 1.66 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15– 2.40) than in the no-USC group. No significant difference was observed in the place-only group at 0.73 (95% CI, 0.49–1.09). The ORs for medication adherence for each item (dosage, frequency, and timing) were also significantly higher in the RD group (2.21, 1.95, and 1.67, respectively). No statistically significant differences in these parameters were observed in the place-only group. Conclusion The presence of an RD positively affected medication adherence in patients with diabetes, but the presence of place-only did not. These findings emphasize the importance of an RD for medication adherence.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases the risk of dyslipidemia, thereby heightening the likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases. Hence, prior to the diagnosis of OSA, it is essential to investigate the association with dyslipidemia in at-risk individuals. Methods: Using raw data obtained from the 2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we examined the details of 2,882 participants aged 40 years and older, who were not diagnosed with sleep apnea and did not use lipid-lowering medications. Participants who had reported snoring, fatigue, or witnessed apnea episodes, were categorized into the “OSA Risk Group” (OSARG), and logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between serum lipid levels and dyslipidemia. Results: OSARG participants were found to have a higher prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia and increased prevalence of dyslipidemia. After adjusting for sex, age, education, economic status, housing type, obesity, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption, only hypertriglyceridemia remained significantly associated with the OSARG, and the odds ratio for OSA was significantly higher among those patients with hypertriglyceridemia (1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.83). Conclusion Among adults aged 40 years and older, compared with those not at risk, individuals at risk of OSA were characterized by a higher prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia. These findings thus indicate that the management of hypertriglyceridemia and dyslipidemia may be warranted prior to the diagnosis of OSA in this population.

Background: We examined the relationship between average weekly work hours and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in workers with diabetes. Methods: Data of 1,556 workers with diabetes mellitus (DM) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning 2007–2016 were analyzed. Multiple regression analysis (SAS v9.4) was used to assess the correlation between average weekly work hours and HbA1c level. Results: Using 40–52 hours per week as the reference range, workers who worked more than 52 hours per week had significantly higher HbA1c levels (β: 0.2514; P=0.0087). This association remained significant (β: 0.2286; P=0.0308) among those working >52 hours in daytime shifts compared to than among those working standard 40–52 hour schedules. However, the correlation was not observed among other subgroup members who performed evening, night, regular, and irregular shifts. Conclusion Workers with DM who worked long hours were prone to significant increases in HbA1c levels. To mitigate this risk, workplaces should adhere to legal work-hour limitations and offer part-time options for employees with diabetes. Additionally, health education programs may help workers with diabetes manage their condition more effectively.

Primary care is a key component in building an efficient and sustainable healthcare system, providing comprehensive health management through a patient-centered approach. Countries worldwide continue to reform their primary care systems to enhance their effectiveness within diverse healthcare environments and socioeconomic contexts. Among them, Australia is recognized for its well-established primary care system. It provides universal health coverage through Medicare. General practitioners offer comprehensive medical services and play a pivotal role in Australia’s primary care system. To further support primary care, the Primary Health Networks (PHNs), a community-based medical service network, has been established. However, challenges remain, such as a shortage of workforce shortages and regional disparity in medical resources. To address these issues, the Australian government announced the “Primary Health Care 10 Year plan.” Through the efforts, Australia is expected to further strengthen its primary care system.

Japan has the highest proportion of older adults worldwide and has consistently strengthened its healthcare system to mitigate the medical and welfare burden associated with population aging. Primary care has been positioned as a key strategy for establishing a sustainable healthcare system within a super-aged society. Japan has pursued this goal through the implementation of community-based integrated care systems, the operation of a long-term care insurance system, the specialized training of primary care physicians, and the establishment of the “Comprehensive Medical Specialist” program. These initiatives aim to optimize the utilization of healthcare resources and ensure the long-term sustainability of the healthcare system. Japan’s experience offers critical insights for Korea, which requires effective strategies to strengthen its primary care system.

Primary care plays a crucial role in the United Kingdom’s healthcare system. General practitioners (GPs) serve as the first point of contact with healthcare system and act as gatekeepers to secondary care. Recent reforms have aimed to enhance integration and efficiency to address resource constraints and improve service coordination. Before 2022, Clinical Commissioning Groups emphasized patient-centered service delivery but faced challenges related to fragmentation. To address this limitation, Integrated Care System (ICS) was introduced to strengthen the integration of healthcare and social services at the regional level. It comprises 42 systems, further divided into smaller units based on geographic regions and population size. ICS collaborates with local authorities, public health agencies, and social care providers to plan and implement healthcare services tailored to regional needs. Primary Care Network (PCN) system fosters collaboration among primary care providers, with approximately 1,250 PCNs, each serving around 50,000 people. PCNs improve accessibility and preventive care while facilitating multidisciplinary teamwork. Financial incentives encourage GP clinics to participate in PCN activities. The UK’s primary care reimbursement system includes global sum payments and performance-based payments, particularly through the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF). Global sum payments compensate GP clinics based on the number of registered patients, adjusted for demographic and regional characteristics. Meanwhile, QOF provides performance-based incentives to individual GP clinics based on quality indicators for chronic disease management and preventive care. These reforms offer valuable insights for strengthening South Korea’s primary care system, particularly in terms of regional healthcare integration and performance-based incentives.

The United States has implemented various payment system reforms to strengthen primary care. Since there is no universal healthcare coverage, individuals are enrolled in private insurance or public programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid. Following the enactment of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, the number of uninsured individuals was halved. To reform the payment system, incorporating multiple payers is essential. Fee-for-service alone makes it difficult to provide multidisciplinary care and high-quality, comprehensive primary care, leading to the implementation of various hybrid payment models, such as capitation and performance-based payment systems. Value-based payment is a performance-based incentive that is typically provided as an additional incentive rather than a standalone payment method. Early physician-focused, value-based payment models included the “Physician Value-Based Payment Modifier,” which was later improved with implementation of the “Merit-based Incentive Payment System” and “Alternative Payment Model.” For primary care institutions, performance-based payments are provided based on rating evaluations, with up to 5% in incentive payments. Hybrid payment approaches have proven to be more effective than single-payment methods. Performancebased incentives are particularly effective when tied to specific conditions, such as per patient visit, per medical service, or improvement over previous performance.

Although obesity increases the risks of obesity-related complications and mortality, obesity-related health conditions can be improved through weight loss. If patients with obesity fail to achieve their weight loss goals through lifestyle modifications, obesity pharmacotherapy can be considered.Recently, the field of pharmacological treatments for obesity has developed rapidly, leading to the development of a wide range of anti-obesity agents. In South Korea, representative anti-obesity agents include orlistat, phentermine, phentermine-topiramate, naltrexone-bupropion, and subcutaneous Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists such as liraglutide and semaglutide. Various anti-obesity agents are emerging, including oral GLP-1 receptor agonists, GLP-1/Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide (GIP) dual agonists, GLP-1/glucagon dual agonists, GLP-1/GIP/glucagon triple agonists, GLP-1/amylin dual agonists, Peptide YY-based drugs, and other pharmacotherapies not based on enteropancreatic hormones. This review examined the efficacy and safety of currently available and upcoming anti-obesity agents.