OBJECTIVES: We compared mortality rates among various housing statuses within the homeless population and investigated factors contributing to their deaths, including housing status, gender, and age. METHODS: Using a comprehensive multi-year dataset (n=15,445) curated by the National Tuberculosis Screening and Case Management Programs, matched with the 2019-2021 Vital Statistics Death Database and National Health Insurance claims data, we calculated age-standardized mortality rates and conducted survival analysis to estimate differences in mortality rates based on housing status. RESULTS: The mortality rate among the homeless population was twice as high as that of the general population, at 1,159.6 per 100,000 compared to 645.8 per 100,000, respectively. Cancer and cardiovascular diseases were the primary causes of death. Furthermore, individuals residing in shelter facilities faced a significantly higher risk of death than those who were rough sleeping, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.70 (95% confidence interval, 1.37 to 2.11). This increased risk was especially pronounced in older adults and women. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions, as the homeless population faces significantly higher mortality rates. Older adults and women in shelter facilities are at the highest risk.

OBJECTIVES: We compared mortality rates among various housing statuses within the homeless population and investigated factors contributing to their deaths, including housing status, gender, and age. METHODS: Using a comprehensive multi-year dataset (n=15,445) curated by the National Tuberculosis Screening and Case Management Programs, matched with the 2019-2021 Vital Statistics Death Database and National Health Insurance claims data, we calculated age-standardized mortality rates and conducted survival analysis to estimate differences in mortality rates based on housing status. RESULTS: The mortality rate among the homeless population was twice as high as that of the general population, at 1,159.6 per 100,000 compared to 645.8 per 100,000, respectively. Cancer and cardiovascular diseases were the primary causes of death. Furthermore, individuals residing in shelter facilities faced a significantly higher risk of death than those who were rough sleeping, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.70 (95% confidence interval, 1.37 to 2.11). This increased risk was especially pronounced in older adults and women. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions, as the homeless population faces significantly higher mortality rates. Older adults and women in shelter facilities are at the highest risk.

OBJECTIVES: We compared mortality rates among various housing statuses within the homeless population and investigated factors contributing to their deaths, including housing status, gender, and age. METHODS: Using a comprehensive multi-year dataset (n=15,445) curated by the National Tuberculosis Screening and Case Management Programs, matched with the 2019-2021 Vital Statistics Death Database and National Health Insurance claims data, we calculated age-standardized mortality rates and conducted survival analysis to estimate differences in mortality rates based on housing status. RESULTS: The mortality rate among the homeless population was twice as high as that of the general population, at 1,159.6 per 100,000 compared to 645.8 per 100,000, respectively. Cancer and cardiovascular diseases were the primary causes of death. Furthermore, individuals residing in shelter facilities faced a significantly higher risk of death than those who were rough sleeping, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.70 (95% confidence interval, 1.37 to 2.11). This increased risk was especially pronounced in older adults and women. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions, as the homeless population faces significantly higher mortality rates. Older adults and women in shelter facilities are at the highest risk.

OBJECTIVES: We compared mortality rates among various housing statuses within the homeless population and investigated factors contributing to their deaths, including housing status, gender, and age. METHODS: Using a comprehensive multi-year dataset (n=15,445) curated by the National Tuberculosis Screening and Case Management Programs, matched with the 2019-2021 Vital Statistics Death Database and National Health Insurance claims data, we calculated age-standardized mortality rates and conducted survival analysis to estimate differences in mortality rates based on housing status. RESULTS: The mortality rate among the homeless population was twice as high as that of the general population, at 1,159.6 per 100,000 compared to 645.8 per 100,000, respectively. Cancer and cardiovascular diseases were the primary causes of death. Furthermore, individuals residing in shelter facilities faced a significantly higher risk of death than those who were rough sleeping, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.70 (95% confidence interval, 1.37 to 2.11). This increased risk was especially pronounced in older adults and women. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions, as the homeless population faces significantly higher mortality rates. Older adults and women in shelter facilities are at the highest risk.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand and describe the experiences of patients with glaucoma. Methods: Data were collected from March to April in 2023, through individual in-depth interviews with 10 glaucoma patients. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological analysis. Results: Six theme clusters were extracted that described patients’ experiences: 1) The frightening disease unexpectedly discovered; 2) A dismal life gradually trapped in darkness; 3) Fear of the unseen; 4) Following treatment without any other options; 5) Grateful for the help but feeling miserable; 6) Realizing the importance of eyes and health. Conclusion The results of this study provide a deep understanding and insight into the experience of Glaucoma patients. Glaucoma patients experienced physical, mental, and social pain through the disease process. Therefore, psychological nursing interventions are needed to understand and reduce mental pain along with medical treatment to relieve physical symptoms in glaucoma patients. Furthermore, it will be necessary to prepare institutional support measures to minimize various social restrictions.

Background: Despite the global increase in nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD), clinical characteristics show geographical variations. We investigated the clinical characteristics of patients with NTM-PD in South Korea. Methods: We systematically reviewed articles concerning patients with NTM-PD in South Korea until February 2022. Individual participant data, regardless of treatment, were collected using a standard case report form. Results: Data of 6,489 patients from 11 hospitals between 2002 and 2019 were analyzed. The mean age was 61.5±11.7 years, of whom 57.7% were women. Mycobacterium avium (41.4%) and Mycobacterium intracellulare (38.4%) comprised most of the causative species, followed by Mycobacterium abscessus subspecies abscessus (8.6%) and M. abscessus subspecies massiliense (7.8%). Bronchiectasis (59.4%) was the most common pulmonary comorbidity. Although reported cases of NTM-PD increased over the years, the proportions of causative species and radiologic forms remained similar. Distinct clinical characteristics were observed according to age and sex. Men were older at the time of diagnosis (median 63.8 years vs. 59.9 years, p<0.001), and had more cavitary lesions than women (38.8% vs. 21.0%, p<0.001). The older group (≥65 years) had higher proportions of patients with body mass index <18.5 kg/m2 (27.4% vs. 18.6%, p<0.001) and cavitary lesions (29.9% vs. 27.6%, p=0.009) than the younger group. Conclusion We conducted a meta-analysis of the clinical characteristics of patients with NTM-PD in South Korea, and found age- and sex-related differences in disease- specific severity. Further investigation would enhance our comprehension of the nature of the disease, and inherited and acquired host factors.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), which is considered the most common genetic form of obesity, results from the absence of imprinted genes in the paternally derived PWS critical region located on chromosome 15q11.2−13. Infants with PWS exhibit poor sucking, neonatal hypotonia, and delayed motor milestones. These patients begin to experience hyperphagia and obesity from 2 to 3 years of age. PWS is a multisystemic disorder, and its clinical manifestations include developmental delay/ intellectual disability, behavioral problems, dysmorphic facial features, short stature, scoliosis, and endocrine abnormalities such as hypogonadism, growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, and central adrenal insufficiency. Although the underlying mechanism of hyperphagia is not completely understood, hypothalamic and endocrine dysregulation is believed to be responsible for the lack of satiety and abnormal food-seeking behaviors that lead to severe obesity. The management of PWS requires a multidisciplinary team approach. Early diagnosis and comprehensive early intervention are essential to prevent the development of obesity-related morbidities, including metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension, and cardiovascular complications. Although several clinical trials have been conducted on the pharmacologic treatment of obesity in PWS, no drugs have demonstrated a consistently beneficial effect to date. Nevertheless, ongoing research efforts should be directed toward understanding the mechanism of the unique obesity phenotype of PWS and developing pharmacological therapies.