Effect of Opioids on All-cause Mortality and Opioid Addiction in Total Hip Arthroplasty: a Korea Nationwide Cohort Study

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to investigate the use of opioids before and after total hip arthroplasty (THA), to find out the effect of opioid use on mortality in patients with THA, and to analyze whether preoperative opioid use is a risk factor for sustained opioid use after surgery using Korean nationwide cohort data.MethodsThis retrospective nationwide study identified subjects from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Sample cohort (NHIS-Sample) compiled by the Korean NHIS. The index date (time zero) was defined as 90 days after an admission to a hospital to fulfill the eligibility criteria of the THA.ResultsIn the comparison of death risk according to current use and the defined daily dose of tramadol and strong opioids in each patient group according to past opioid use, there were no statistically significant differences in the adjusted hazard ratio for death compared to the current non-users in all groups (P > 0.05). Past tramadol and strong opioid use in current users increased the risk of the sustained use of tramadol and strong opioids 1.45-fold (adjusted rate ratio [aRR]; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–1.87; P = 0.004) and 1.65-fold (aRR; 95% CI, 1.43–1.91; P < 0.001), respectively, compared to past non-users.ConclusionIn THA patients, the use of opioids within 6 months before surgery and within 3 months after surgery does not affect postoperative mortality, but a past-use history of opioid is a risk factor for sustained opioid use. Even after THA, the use of strong opioids is observed to increase compared to before surgery.     

Do Intensive Care Unit treatment modalities predict mortality in geriatric patients: An observational study from an Indian Intensive Care Unit

Background:Ageing being a global phenomenon, increasing number of elderly patients are admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICU). Hence, there is a need for continued research on outcomes of ICU treatment in the elderly.Objectives:Examine age-related difference in outcomes of geriatric ICU patients. Analyze ICU treatment modalities predicting mortality in patients >65 years of age.Results:The observed overall ICU mortality rate in the study population was 19.6%; no statistical difference was observed between the control and geriatric age group in overall mortality (P > 0.05). Mechanical ventilation (P = 0.003, odds ratio [OR] =0.573, 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.390–0.843) and use of inotropes (P = 0.018, OR = 0.661, 95% CI = 0.456–0.958) were found to be predictors of mortality in elderly population. On multivariate analysis, inotropic support was found to be an independent ICU treatment modality predicting mortality in the geriatric age group (β coefficient = 1.221, P = 0.000).Conclusion:Intensive Care Unit mortality rates increased in the geriatric population requiring mechanical ventilation and inotropes during ICU stay. Only inotropic support could be identified as independent risk factor for mortality.     

Long-Term Aspirin Use and 5-Year Survival in Healthy Adults: A Population-Based Cohort Study in South Korea

PurposeWe investigated whether long-term aspirin use is associated with 5-year all-cause mortality.Materials and MethodsParticipants were individuals aged ≥40 years who were registered in the 2010 sample cohort database of the National Health Insurance Service in South Korea. Aspirin users were divided into three groups: continuous users (2006–2010), previous users (2006–2009), and new users (2010). Individuals with a history of coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease were excluded. Five-year all-cause mortality was defined as mortality due to any cause from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015. Data were analyzed by multivariable Cox regression.ResultsIn total, 424444 individuals were included. Five-year all-cause mortality was 9% lower in continuous aspirin users than in unexposed individuals [hazard ratio (HR): 0.91, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.86–0.97; p=0.003]. Five-year all-cause mortality rates in the new aspirin users (HR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.90–1.11; p=0.995) and previous aspirin users (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.94–1.09; p=0.776) were not significantly different from that in unexposed individuals. In the 40–60-year age group, 5-year all-cause mortality in the continuous aspirin users was 24% lower (HR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.64–0.90; p=0.002) than that in unexposed individuals. However, in the >60-year age group, there was no significant association between aspirin use and 5-year all-cause mortality (HR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.90–1.02; p=0.199).ConclusionLong-term aspirin use is associated with reduced 5-year all-cause mortality in healthy adults, especially those aged <60 years.     

Effect of Opioids on All-cause Mortality and Sustained Opioid Use in Elderly Patients with Hip Fracture: a Korea Nationwide Cohort Study

BackgroundThe purpose of our study was to assess the use of opioids before and after hip fracture in elderly patients in order to determine the effect of opioid use on all-cause mortality, and to analyze how the history of opioid use before fracture increases the risk of sustained use following hip fracture using a Korea nationwide cohort.MethodsOur study identified hip fracture patients from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Senior cohort. The index date was defined as 90-days after admission to the acute care hospital that fulfilled the eligibility criteria of elderly hip fracture. Patients were classified into past user, current user, and sustained user according to the use of opioid at each period based on the time of admission and index date. The opioids were classified into strong opioids and tramadol. A generalized estimating equation model with a Poisson distribution and logarithmic link function was performed to estimate the adjusted rate ratios (aRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the association between past use and sustained use. A multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard model was used to investigate the effects of strong opioid and tramadol use on all-cause mortality.ResultsA total of 12,927 patients were included in our study. There were 7,384 (57.12%) opioid past-users, 11,467 (88.71%) opioid current-users, and 7,172 (55.48%) sustained users. In comparison of the death risk according to current use or the defined daily dose of the opioids or past opioid use, there were no significant differences in the adjusted hazard ratio for death in all groups, compared to the current non-users (P > 0.05). Among survivors 1 year after hip fracture, opioid past-use increased the risk of opioid sustained use by 1.52-fold (aRR; 95% CI, 1.45–1.8; P < 0.001).ConclusionCurrent use and past use of opioid did not increase all-cause mortality after hip fracture in elderly patients over 65 years of age. Past use of opioid before hip fracture increased risk of sustained use of opioid compared to the current opioid used without past use.     

Effect of Dementia on Postoperative Mortality in Elderly Patients with Hip Fracture

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of dementia as an underlying disease in elderly patients with hip fracture, to investigate the effect of dementia on postoperative mortality after surgery of hip fracture, and to analyze the differences in postoperative mortalities according to the severity of dementia through subgroup analysis.MethodsThis study selected 2,346 elderly patients who were diagnosed with unilateral intertrochanteric or femoral neck fractures who underwent surgery between January 2004 and December 2018. The patients were classified into the non-dementia group (2,196 patients) and dementia group (150 patients; no-medication [66 patients] and medication [84 patients] subgroups). The cumulative crude mortality rate was calculated, and 30-day, 60-day, 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year mortality rates were compared between the groups. A univariate regression test was performed using age, sex, diagnosis, surgery type, and Charlson''s comorbidity index (CCI), as these variables had P values of < 0.10. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors associated with mortality.ResultsThe 30-day, 60-day, 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year postoperative cumulative mortality rates were 1.8%, 3.8%, 5.6%, 8.9%, and 13.6%, respectively, in the non-dementia group, and 2%, 7.3%, 14%, 19.3%, and 24%, respectively, in the dementia group (P = 0.748, P = 0.048, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.001). The factors that affected the 1-year mortality were age (odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.08; P < 0.001), sex (OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 2.07–3.47; P < 0.001), CCI (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.23–1.47; P < 0.001), and dementia (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.46–1.08; P = 0.016). In subgroup analysis, severity of dementia influenced the 6-month mortality (OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.70–2.01; P = 0.018), and 1-year mortality (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.17–1.90; P = 0.027).ConclusionIn elderly hip fracture patients, the comparison between patients with and without dementia revealed that dementia was an independent risk factor for mortality at a minimum of 1 year of follow-up, and the severity of dementia in hip fracture patients was a risk factor for mortality within 6 months and 1 year, postoperatively.     

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Is More Beneficial Than Optimal Medical Therapy in Elderly Patients with Angina Pectoris

PurposeData comparing the clinical benefits of medical treatment with those of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in an elderly population with angina pectoris are limited. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of elective PCI versus optimal medical treatment (OMT) in elderly patients (between 75 and 84 years old) with angina pectoris.ResultsMajor adverse events occurred in 5 patients (5.6%) of the PCI group and in 17 patents (19.5%) of the OMT group (p=0.015). There were no significant differences between the PCI group and the OMT group in cardiac death [hazard ratio (HR) for the PCI group 0.454; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.041–5.019, p=0.520], myocardial infarction (HR 0.399; 95% CI 0.039–4.050, p=0.437), or stroke (HR 0.919; 95% CI 0.057–14.709, p=0.952). However, the PCI group showed a significant preventive effect of the composite of major adverse events (HR 0.288; 95% CI 0.106–0.785, p=0.015) and against the need for coronary revascularization (HR 0.157; 95% CI 0.035–0.703, p=0.016).ConclusionElective PCI reduced major adverse events and was found to be an effective treatment modality in elderly patients with angina pectoris and significant coronary artery stenosis, compared to OMT.     

Association between Daily Sunlight Exposure and Fractures in Older Korean Adults with Osteoporosis: A Nationwide Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

PurposeWe aimed to investigate the association between daily sunlight exposure duration and fractures in older Korean adults with osteoporosis.Materials and MethodsWe utilized data from the 2008–2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Osteoporosis was diagnosed based on a T-score of ≤−2.5 using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The duration of daily sunlight exposure and fracture were assessed via intensive health interviews by trained staff using standardized health questionnaires. Fracture was defined as one or more fractures of the femur, wrist, and spine.ResultsA total of 638 patients with osteoporosis aged ≥65 years were included. The odds ratio (OR) of total fractures was 0.55 times lower in the group with ≥5 h of daily sunlight exposure than in the group with <5 h of exposure after adjusting for age, sex, family history of osteoporosis or fracture, body mass index, bone mineral density of the femoral neck, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, current smoking, alcohol intake, daily calcium intake, and physical activity [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.31–0.97, p=0.040]. In patients with vitamin D insufficiency, the OR of total fracture was 0.52 times lower in the group with ≥5 h of daily sunlight exposure than in the group with less exposure after adjusting the above variables (95% CI 0.28–0.97, p=0.041).ConclusionSunlight exposure for ≥5 h a day was significantly associated with a decreased OR of fracture in older Korean adults with osteoporosis. This association was also significant in patients with vitamin D insufficiency.     

Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality Among Older Patients

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this study was to determine predictors of in-hospital mortality among older patients admitted to a geriatric care unit.

INTRODUCTION:

The growing number of older individuals among hospitalized patients demands a thorough investigation of the factors that contribute to their mortality.

METHODS:

This was a prospective observational study implemented from February 2004 to October 2007 in a tertiary university hospital. A consecutive sample of 922 patients was evaluated for possible inclusion in this study. Patients hospitalized for palliative care, those who declined to participate, and those with incomplete data were excluded, resulting in a group of 856 patients aged 60 to 104 years. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine associations between in-patient mortality and gender, age, length of stay, number of prescribed medications and diagnoses at admission, history of heart failure, neoplastic disease, immobility syndrome, delirium, infectious disease, and laboratory tests at admission (serum albumin and creatinine).

RESULTS:

The overall mortality rate was 16.4%. The following factors were associated with higher in-hospital mortality: delirium (OR=4.13, CI=2.65–6.44, P<.001), neoplastic disease (OR=3.38, CI=2.11–5.42, P<.001), serum albumin levels at admission <3.3mg/dL (OR=3.23, CI=2.03–5.13, P<.001), serum creatinine levels at admission ≥ 1.3mg/dL (OR=2.39, CI=1.53–3.72, P<.001), history of heart failure (OR=1.97, CI=1.20–3.22, P=.007), immobility (OR=1.84, CI=1.16–2.92, P =.009), and advanced age (OR=1.03, CI=1.01–1.06, P=.019).

CONCLUSIONS:

This study strengthens the perception of delirium as a mortality predictor among older inpatients. Cancer, immobility, low albumin levels, elevated creatinine levels, history of heart failure and advanced age were also related to higher mortality rates in this population.     

Predicting Mortality of Korean Geriatric Trauma Patients: A Comparison between Geriatric Trauma Outcome Score and Trauma and Injury Severity Score

PurposeThe Geriatric Trauma Outcome Score (GTOS) is a new prognostic tool used to predict mortality of geriatric trauma patients. We aimed to apply this model to Korean geriatric trauma patients and compare it with the Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) method.Materials and MethodsPatients aged ≥65 years who were admitted to a level 1 trauma center from 2014 to 2018 were included in this study. Data on age, Injury Severity Score (ISS), packed red blood cell transfusion within 24 h, TRISS, admission disposition, mortality, and discharge disposition were collected. We analyzed the validity of GTOS and TRISS by comparing the area under the survival curve. Subgroup analysis for age, admission disposition, and ISS was performed.ResultsAmong 2586 participants, the median age was 75 years (interquartile range: 70–81). The median ISS was 9 (interquartile range: 4–12), with a transfusion rate (within 24 h) of 15.9% and mortality rate of 6.1%. The areas under the curve (AUCs) were 0.832 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.817–0.846] and 0.800 (95% CI, 0.784–0.815) for GTOS and TRISS, respectively. On subgroup analysis, patients with ISS ≥9 showed a higher AUC of GTOS compared to the AUC of TRISS (p<0.05). Other subgroup analyses showed equally good power of discrimination for mortality.ConclusionGTOS can be used to predict mortality of severely injured Korean geriatric patients, and also be helpful in deciding whether invasive or aggressive treatments should be administered to them.     

Length of stay and readmission in older adults hospitalized for heart failure

IntroductionHospital length of stay (LoS) and hospital readmissions are metrics of healthcare performance. We examined the association between these two metrics in older patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure (HF).Material and methodsEight thousand and forty-nine patients hospitalized for HF in 106 U.S. hospitals had a median LoS of 5 days; among them, 3777 had a LoS > 5 days. Using propensity scores for LoS > 5 days, we assembled 2723 pairs of patients with LoS 1–5 vs. > 5 days. The matched cohort of 5446 patients was balanced on 40 baseline characteristics. We repeated the above process in 7045 patients after excluding those with LoS > 10 days, thus assembling a second matched cohort of 2399 pairs of patients with LoS 1–5 vs. 6–10 days. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for outcomes associated with longer LoS were estimated in matched cohorts.ResultsIn the primary matched cohort (n = 5446), LoS > 5 days was associated with a higher risk of all-cause readmission at 30 days (HR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.04–1.31; p = 0.010), but not during longer follow-up. A longer LoS was also associated with a higher risk of mortality during 8.8 years of follow-up (HR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.06–1.21; p < 0.001). LoS had no association with HF readmission. Similar associations were observed among the matched sensitivity cohort (n = 4798) that excluded patients with LoS > 10 days.ConclusionsIn propensity score-matched balanced cohorts of patients with HF, a longer LoS was independently associated with poor outcomes, which persisted when LoS > 10 days were excluded.     

Incidence and Mortality Associated with Cardiovascular Medication among Hypertensive COVID-19 Patients in South Korea

PurposeWe aimed to investigate whether the use of cardiovascular drugs in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with hypertension as a comorbidity has a significant effect on the incidence and associated mortality rate of COVID-19.Materials and MethodsData covering the period between January 1, 2020 and June 4, 2020 were extracted from The National Health Insurance Service-COVID-19 (NHIS-COVID-19) database in South Korea and analyzed as a population-based cohort study.ResultsA total of 101657 hypertensive adults aged 20 years or older were included for final analysis. Among them, 1889 patients (1.9%) were diagnosed with COVID-19 between January 1, 2020 and June 4, 2020, and hospital mortality occurred in 193 patients (10.2%). In a multivariable model, the use of beta-blockers was associated with an 18% lower incidence of COVID-19 [odds ratio (OR): 0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.69–0.98; p=0.029]. Among 1889 hypertensive patients diagnosed with COVID-19, the use of a calcium channel blocker (CCB) was associated with a 42% lower hospital mortality rate (OR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.38–0.89; p=0.012). The use of other cardiovascular drugs was not associated with the incidence of COVID-19 or hospital mortality rate among COVID-19 patients. Similar results were observed in all 328374 adults in the NHIS-COVID-19 database, irrespective of the presence of hypertension.ConclusionIn South Korea, beta-blockers exhibited potential benefits in lowering the incidence of COVID-19 among hypertensive patients. Furthermore, CCBs may lower the hospital mortality rate among hypertensive COVID-19 patients. These findings were also applied to the general adult population, regardless of hypertension.     

Assessing nutrition in the critically ill elderly patient: A comparison of two screening tools

Context:Few malnutrition screening tests are validated in the elderly Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patient.Aim:Having previously established malnutrition as a cause of higher mortality in this population, we compared two screening tools in elderly patients.Results:The mean age of the patients screened was 74.7 ± 8.4 (65–97 years). The standard definition, MUST and GNRI identified 52.2%, 65.4%, and 64.9% to be malnourished, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the tests were 96.5% computed tomography (CI) (87.9–99.5%) and 72.3% CI (57.5–84.5%) for MUST and 89.5% CI (75.2–96.7%) and 55.0% CI (75.2–96.9%) for GNRI, respectively. Screening was not possible by GNRI and MUST tool in 31% versus 4% of patients, respectively. The agreement between the tools was moderate for Standard-MUST k = 0.65 and MUST-GNRI k = 0.60 and fair for Standard-GNRI k = 0.43.Conclusions:The risk of malnutrition is high among our patients as identified by all the tools. Both GNRI and MUST showed a high sensitivity with MUST showing a higher specificity and greater applicability.     

Allergic diseases in the elderly population: a single-center experience

Background/aim Although allergic diseases are generally considered to be diseases of childhood and youth, the first symptoms of allergic diseases can be seen in old age sometimes. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of allergic diseases in the elderly population admitted to the allergy unit on an outpatient basis.Materials and methods The files of the patients who applied to our clinic’s allergy unit during the 8-year period were retrospectively analyzed. The data of patients aged ≥ 65 years were obtained from the files of our allergy unit archive.ResultsA total of 1272 patients aged ≥ 65 years old were included in the study. The mean age was 70 years (range: 65–97 years). Most of the patients were female (n = 704, 55.3%). Of the patients, 887 (69.8%) presented with cutaneous symptoms, and urticaria was identified in 500 of them (56.3%). Drug hypersensitivity reactions were detected in 175 (13.7%) patients. A total of 71 (5.6%) patients had asthma, 65 (5.1%) had anaphylaxis, 48 (3.8%) had allergic rhinitis, 24 (1.9%) had hymenoptera venom allergy, and 18 (1.4%) had food allergies.Atopy history (OR = 2.323, 95% CI = 1.590–3.393, p < 0.001) and comorbidity (OR = 1.631, 95% CI = 1.050–2.533, p = 0.029) were found to be risk factors for drug hypersensitivity reactions. Male sex (OR = 3.462, 95% CI = 1.097–10.933, p = 0.034) and atopy history (OR = 14.877, 95% CI = 6.081–36.393, p < 0.001) were found to be risk factors for hymenoptera venom allergy.ConclusionDiagnosis becomes difficult due to the perception that allergic diseases mainly affect young people. Clinical symptoms are not evident in the elderly and age-related difficulties are encountered in diagnostic tests. There is a need to develop specific guidelines for the diagnosis of allergic diseases in the elderly.     

Association of objectively measured sleep with frailty and 5-year mortality in community-dwelling older adults

Study ObjectivesTo determine whether actigraphy-measured sleep was independently associated with risk of frailty and mortality over a 5-year period among older adults.MethodsWe used data from Waves 2 (W2) and 3 (W3) (2010–2015) of the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project, a prospective cohort of community-dwelling older adults born between 1920 and 1947. One-third of W2 respondents were randomly selected to participate in a sleep study, of whom N = 727 consented and N = 615 were included in the analytic sample. Participants were instructed to wear a wrist actigraph for 72 h (2.93 ± 0.01 nights). Actigraphic sleep parameters were averaged across nights and included total sleep time, percent sleep, sleep fragmentation index, and wake after sleep onset. Subjective sleep was collected via questionnaire. Frailty was assessed using modified Fried Frailty Index. Vital status was ascertained at the time of the W3 interview. W3 frailty/mortality status was analyzed jointly with a four-level variable: robust, pre-frail, frail, and deceased. Associations were modeled per 10-unit increase.ResultsAfter controlling for baseline frailty (robust and pre-frail categories), age, sex, education, body mass index, and sleep time preference, a higher sleep fragmentation index was associated with frailty (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.02–2.84) and mortality (OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.09–4.09). Greater wake after sleep onset (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.02–1.50) and lower percent sleep (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.17–0.97) were associated with mortality.ConclusionsAmong community-dwelling older adults, actigraphic sleep is associated with frailty and all-cause mortality over a 5-year period. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the physiological mechanisms underlying these associations.     

Outcomes after Elective Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair in Octogenarians Compared to Younger Patients in Korea

BackgroundAlthough the first choice of treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is endovascular aneurysm repair, especially in elderly patients, some patients require open surgical repair. The purpose of this study was to compare the mortality outcomes of open AAA repair between octogenarians and younger counterparts and to identify the risk factors associated with mortality.MethodsAll consecutive patients who underwent elective open AAA repair due to degenerative etiology at a single tertiary medical center between 1996 and June 2020 were included in this retrospective review. Medical records and imaging studies were reviewed to collect the following information: demographics, comorbid medical conditions, clinical presentations, radiologic findings, surgical details, and morbidity and mortality rates. For analysis, patients were divided into two groups: older and younger than 80 years of age. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with mortality after elective open AAA repair.ResultsAmong a total of 650 patients who underwent elective open AAA repair due to degenerative AAA during the study period, 58 (8.9%) were octogenarians and 595 (91.1%) were non-octogenarians. Patients in the octogenarian group were predominantly female and more likely to have lower body weight and body mass index (BMI), hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and lower preoperative serum hemoglobin and albumin compared with patients in the non-octogenarian group. Maximal aneurysm diameter was larger in octogenarians. During the median follow-up duration of 34.4 months for 650 patients, the median length of total hospital and intensive care unit stay was longer in octogenarians. The 30-day (1.7% vs. 0.7%, P = 0.374) and 1-year (6.9% vs. 2.9%, P = 0.108) mortality rates were not statistically significantly different between the two groups. Multivariate analysis showed that low BMI was associated with increased 30-day (odds ratio [OR], 16.339; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.192–224.052; P = 0.037) and 1-year (OR, 8.236; CI, 2.301–29.477; P = 0.001) mortality in all patients.ConclusionBecause the mortality rate of octogenarians after elective open AAA repair was not significantly different compared with their younger counterparts, being elderly is not a contraindication for open AAA repair. Low BMI might be associated with increased postoperative mortality.     

Neck Circumference and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in Chinese Elderly Individuals: A Community-Based Cohort Study

IntroductionThis study aimed to investigate whether neck circumference (NC) was associated with the incidence of type 2 diabetes in Chinese elderly individuals.MethodsA community-based cohort study was conducted on elderly inhabitants in Shanghai with a mean age of 71.0 ± 5.8 years (n = 2,646). Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between NC and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, while a Cox regression model was used to determine the association between NC and the incidence of type 2 diabetes after a follow-up of 2 years.ResultsLogistic regression analysis showed that a larger NC was significantly associated with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes in men (odds ratio [OR] 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07–1.31; p = 0.001) and women (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.13–1.38; p < 0.001). Cox regression analysis revealed that NC was independently associated with the incidence of type 2 diabetes in both men (hazard ratio [HR] 1.14, 95% CI 1.05–1.23; p = 0.002) and women (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.10–1.27; p < 0.001).ConclusionsA larger NC was associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in Chinese elderly individuals. However, studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up durations are needed to definitively determine the relationship between NC and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.     

Characteristics in Pediatric Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Korea

BackgroundBased on the reports of low prevalence and severity of pediatric severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections, the Korean government has released new SARS-CoV-2 infection response and treatment guidelines for children under the age of 12 years. The government has further directed school reopening under strict preventive measures. However, there is still considerable concern on the impact of school reopening on community transmission of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the appropriateness of these directives and the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections in children as compared to adults using sufficient national sample data.MethodsIn the present study, we evaluated the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pediatric patients as compared to adults by analyzing the length of hospital stays (LOS), medical expenses, and hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates. A multivariate linear regression analysis was carried out to examine the effects of COVID-19 patients that the characteristics on the LOS and medical expenses, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify COVID-19 characteristics that affect hospital and ICU admission rates and to prove the low SARS-CoV-2 infection severity in pediatric patients.ResultsThe hospitalization period for children aged 0–9 was 37% shorter and that of patients aged 10–19 years was 31% shorter than those of older age groups (P < 0.001). The analysis of the medical expenses by age showed that on average, medical expenses for children were approximately 4,900 USD lower for children than for patients over 80 years of age. The linear regression analysis also showed that patients who were 0–9 years old spent 87% and those aged 10–19 118% less on medical expenses than those aged 70 and over, even after the correction of other variables (P < 0.001). The probability of hospitalization was the lowest at 10–19 years old (odds ratio [OR], 0.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.03–0.09), and their ICU admission rate was also the lowest at 0.14 (OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.08–0.24). On the other hand, the likelihood of hospitalization and ICU admission was the highest in children aged 0–9 years, and among patients under the age of 50 years in general.ConclusionThis study demonstrated the low severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in younger patients (0–19 years) by analyzing the LOS, medical expenses, hospital, and intensive care unit admission rates as outcome variables. As the possibility to develop severe infection of coronavirus at the age of 10–19 was the lowest, a mitigation policy is also required for middle and high school students. In addition, children with underlying diseases need to be protected from high-risk infection environments.     

Combined Effects of Depression and Chronic Disease on the Risk of Mortality: The Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2006-2016)

BackgroundThe prevalence of depression is much higher in people with chronic disease than in the general population. Depression exacerbates existing physical conditions, resulting in a higher-than-expected death rate from the physical condition itself. In our aging society, the prevalence of multimorbid patients is expected to increase; the resulting mental problems, especially depression, should be considered. Using a large-scale cohort from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA), we analyzed the combined effects of depression and chronic disease on all-cause mortality.MethodsWe analyzed 10-year (2006–2016) longitudinal data of 9,819 individuals who took part in the KLoSA, a nationwide survey of people aged 45–79 years. We examined the association between multimorbidity and depression using chi-square test and logistic regression. We used the Cox proportional hazard model to determine the combined effects of multimorbidity and depression on the all-cause mortality risk.ResultsDuring the 10-year follow up, 1,574 people (16.0%) died. The hazard ratio associated with mild depression increased from 1.35 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–1.73) for no chronic disease to 1.25 (95% CI, 0.98–1.60) for 1 chronic disease, and to 2.00 (95% CI, 1.58–2.52) for multimorbidity. The hazard ratio associated with severe depression increased from 1.73 (95% CI, 1.33–2.24) for no chronic disease, to 2.03 (95% CI, 1.60–2.57) for 1 chronic disease, and to 2.94 (95% CI, 2.37–3.65) for multimorbidity.ConclusionPatients with coexisting multimorbidity and depression are at an increased risk of all-cause mortality than those with chronic disease or depression alone.     

A Retrospective Population-Based Survival Study of Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Korea

BackgroundFew studies used nationwide data to assess the survival rates (SRs) and death risk for idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH; ICD-10 I27.0) in Korea.MethodsIPAH data (N = 9,017; female:male = 6:4) were collected from the National Health Insurance Service in Korea, from 2006 through 2017. The data consisted of primary diagnoses related to IPAH. The Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional-hazards analyses were carried out.ResultsThe mean age was 62.3 (± 19.4) years, 64.2 (± 18.9) years in female and 59.4 (± 19.8) years in male (P < 0.001). The one-, three-, five- and 10-year SRs for IPAH were 89.0%, 79.8%, 72.3% and 57.0%, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of IPAH was 1.81 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26–2.59) in 60–69 age group, 3.42 (95% CI, 2.40–4.87) in 70–79, and 7.73 (95% CI, 5.43–11.0) in 80s. Other risk factors were male, low-income status, diabetes, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and malignant neoplasm.ConclusionThe 10-year SR of IPAH was 57% in Korea. The HR for IPAH was significantly high in patients with older age and other risk factors.     

Higher Long-Term Mortality in Patients with Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction than ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction after Discharge

PurposeThis study aimed to compare mortality rates after discharge between the patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and those with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and identify each mortality risk factors in these two types of myocardial infarction.Materials and MethodsBetween 2011 and 2015, 13105 consecutive patients were enrolled in the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction-National Institute of Health registry (KAMIR-NIH); 12271 patients with acute myocardial infarction met the inclusion criteria and were further stratified into the STEMI (n=5828) and NSTEMI (n=6443) groups. The occurrence of mortality and cardiac mortality at 3 years were compared between groups, and the factors associated with mortality for NSTEMI and STEMI were evaluated.ResultsThe comparison between these two groups and long-term follow-up outcomes showed that the cumulative rates of all-cause and cardiac mortality were higher in the NSTEMI group than in the STEMI group [all-cause mortality: 10.9% vs. 5.8%; hazards ratio (HR), 0.464; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.359–0.600, p<0.001; cardiac mortality: 6.6% vs. 3.5%, HR, 0.474; 95% CI, 0.344–0.654, p<0.001, respectively). In the NSTEMI group, low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; <40%), no percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), old age (≥65 years), and low hemoglobin level (<12 g/dL) were identified as risk factors for 3-year mortality. In the STEMI group, old age, low glomerular filtration rate (<60 mL/min/1.73 m²), low LVEF, high heart rate (>100 beats/min), no PCI, and low hemoglobin level were identified as the risk factors for 3-year mortality.ConclusionThe NSTEMI group had higher mortality compared to the STEMI group during the 3-year clinical follow-up after discharge. Low LVEF and no PCI were the main risk factors for mortality in the NSTEMI group. In contrast, old age and renal dysfunction were the risk factors for long-term mortality in the STEMI group.