Insignificant difference in medication adherence to dyslipidemia drugs between visually impaired and non-disabled people in South Korea: A nationwide cohort study using claims records.

Incidence of visual impairment (VI) and dyslipidemia is increasing with aging. Although good medication adherence (MA) is a crucial factor in achieving therapeutic goals for dyslipidemia, there is a paucity of studies measuring MA in the visually impaired with dyslipidemia. We investigated whether patients with VI had worse MA to dyslipidemia drugs than non-disabled people and determined the factors affecting MA among patients with VI.

Unveiling the chasm of economic burden from metastatic prostate cancer through a nationwide retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To analyze the clinical and economic consequences of the progression to castration-resistant status for patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in South Korea.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted using National Health Insurance claims data from 2013 to 2021. Patients defined as newly diagnosed with mHSPC had an index date of first claim for metastatic PC between 2015 and 2016 and no exposure to CRPC medicines during the washout period.

Determinants of immune checkpoint inhibitor use and factors linked to neurological adverse events in Korean lung cancer.

Studies on immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-related potential neurological adverse events (pNAEs) in Korean lung cancer (LC) patients are scarce. We aimed to examine ICI prescription trends from 2018 to 2022, patient characteristics and factors associated with ICI prescription or concurrent pNAEs in LC. This observational, cross-sectional study of Korean LC patients investigated four ICIs (pembrolizumab, nivolumab, atezolizumab and durvalumab).

Kidney replacement therapy trends in end-stage kidney disease patients in South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background/aims: The corona virus disease 2019 posed a major risk for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) cases. Our study aimed to assess changes in kidney replacement therapy (KRT) trends and healthcare access for these patients during the pandemic.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed nationwide data from July 2017 to June 2022 to assess changes in KRT and ESKD incidence.

Self-testing strategy to eliminate Hepatitis C as per WHO's goal: Analysis of disease burden and cost-effectiveness.

Background/aims: The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to eliminate hepatitis C Virus (HCV) by 2030, therefore, widespread HCV screening is required. The WHO recommends HCV self-testing (HCVST) as a new approach. We aimed to evaluate disease burden reduction using the HCVST screening strategy and identify the most cost-effective approach.

Cost-effectiveness Analysis of COMT-inhibitors as Adjuvant Treatments to Levodopa in Patients with Advanced Parkinson's Disease.

Purpose: We aimed to elicit scientific evidence on the cost-effectiveness of two catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors (COMT-i) versus no COMT-i in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease.

Methods: A mixed model of the decision tree and a Markov model with three health states by OFF-time level (<25%, ≥25%, and death) was constructed to compare opicapone (OPC), entacapone (ENT), and no COMT-i over a lifetime. A hypothetical cohort of 10,000 patients was created and simulated based on the characteristics of the BIPARK trial subjects.

COVID-19 infection in patients with end-stage kidney disease undergoing renal replacement therapies in Korea.

Background: The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) at heightened risk owing to their vulnerability to infections. Our study focused on patients with ESKD, examining COVID-19 incidence, hospitalization, and mortality in relation to their renal replacement therapy (RRT) type and identifying factors influencing COVID-19 hospitalization.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using health insurance claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service for patients with ESKD between July 2017 and June 2022.

Clinical and economic burden of immune tolerance induction in entire patients with hemophilia A: Insights from a real-world Korean setting.

Introduction: The most notable challenge facing hemophilia A treatment is the development of inhibitors against factor VIII, resulting in increased clinical and socioeconomic burdens due to the need for expensive bypassing agents (BPAs). Although immune tolerance induction (ITI) is currently the primary approach for inhibiting and reducing the inhibitors, the lengthy duration of ITI necessitates the continued use of BPA to manage bleeding episodes. In this study, we aimed to obtain real-world evidence on the clinical and economic aspects and associated burdens experienced by patients with hemophilia A with inhibitors undergoing ITI in Korea.

Expert survey on real-world data utilization and real-world evidence generation for regulatory decision-making in drug lifecycle in Korea.

As the importance of utilizing real-world data (RWD)/real-world evidence (RWE) for supporting regulatory scientific decision-making continues to grow, experiences and inputs from experts become crucial for developing a systematic and practice-oriented plan for the use of fit-for-purpose RWD/RWE. This study aimed to survey relevant experts from government agencies, industries, and academia to identify prerequisites for the drug life cycle in Korea. The questionnaire comprised the following: (A) the definition and categories of RWD/RWE, (B) the suitability and feasibility of using RWD/RWE at each authorization stage by the types of RWD, and (C) the challenges and solutions for the use of RWD/RWE.

Recent updates on treatment patterns in patients with treated attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders from a nationwide real-world database in South Korea.

The prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is steadily increasing across Korea. We analyzed ADHD patients with ADHD medications (Rx) characteristics and treatment patterns compared to patients without Rx and identified the differences between pediatric-/adult- and active-/transient-patients with Rx. Using a nationwide claims dataset from 2020 to 2021, we conducted a prevalence-based cross-sectional study and analyzed the recent patients' characteristics and patterns among ADHD patients.

Cost-Effectiveness of Intravascular Imaging-Guided Complex PCI: Prespecified Analysis of RENOVATE-COMPLEX-PCI Trial.

Background: Although clinical benefits of intravascular imaging-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with complex coronary artery lesions have been observed in previous trials, the cost-effectiveness of this strategy is uncertain.

Methods: RENOVATE-COMPLEX-PCI (Randomized Controlled Trial of Intravascular Imaging Guidance vs Angiography-Guidance on Clinical Outcomes After Complex Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) was conducted in Korea between May 2018 and May 2021. This prespecified cost-effectiveness substudy was conducted using Markov model that simulated 3 states: (1) post-PCI, (2) spontaneous myocardial infarction, and (3) death.

Cost-Effectiveness of Fractional Flow Reserve-Guided Treatment for Acute Myocardial Infarction and Multivessel Disease: A Prespecified Analysis of the FRAME-AMI Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Complete revascularization by non-infarct-related artery (IRA) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction is standard practice to improve patient prognosis. However, it is unclear whether a fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided or angiography-guided treatment strategy for non-IRA PCI would be more cost-effective.

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of FFR-guided compared with angiography-guided PCI in patients with acute myocardial infarction and multivessel disease.

Exploring the health literacy status of people with hearing impairment: a systematic review.

Background: People with hearing impairment have many problems with healthcare use, which is associated with health literacy. Research on health literacy is less focused on people with hearing impairments. This research aimed to explore the levels of health literacy in people with hearing impairment, find the barriers to health literacy, and summarize methods for improving health literacy.

Association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use and developing irritable bowel syndrome through retrospective analysis.

Background And Aim: Serotonin affects the balance and integrity of the gut microbiome; however, studies have confirmed the influence of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We evaluated the association between SSRI use and subsequent IBS occurrence in a real-world setting.

Methods: A multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was adopted, and the National Health Insurance Service cohort claims database between 2010 and 2019 was used.

Long-Term Cost-Effectiveness of Fractional Flow Reserve-Based Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Stable and Unstable Angina.

Background: There are limited studies on the cost-effectiveness of fractional flow reserve (FFR)-based percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) over angiography-based PCI.

Objectives: The current study sought to evaluate long-term cost-effectiveness of FFR-based PCI compared to angiography-based PCI.

Methods: A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted using a nationwide cohort that consisted of patients with stable or unstable angina from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA) database in Korea.

New Evidence of Oral Branched-Chain Amino Acid Supplementation on the Prognosis of Patients With Advanced Liver Disease.

Introduction: Oral branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) might benefit patients with advanced liver disease. We assess its effects on prognosis compared with control from the meta-analysis.

Methods: Study end points were development of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), mortality, and overall liver-related events (LREs).

Comparison of Netarsudil/Latanoprost Therapy with Latanoprost Monotherapy for Lowering Intraocular Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Purpose: Netarsudil is a Rho kinase inhibitor and the first new class of clinically useful ocular hypotensive agents. In this study, we conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to summarize and synthesize the available evidence on the efficacy and safety of fixed-dose combination (FDC) therapy with netarsudil/latanoprost in patients with glaucoma.

Methods: We identified relevant studies in PubMed, Ovid Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central until April 2021.

Real-world clinical features, health-care utilization, and economic burden in decompensated cirrhosis patients: A national database.

Background: Patients with decompensated cirrhosis are well known to experience morbidity and mortality.

Aim: We assessed clinical characteristics, health-care utilization, and economic burden according to the type, number, and combination of decompensation-related complications.

Methods: We used recent nationally representative sample data from 2016 to 2018, covering approximately 13% of hospitalized patients in South Korea annually.

Cost-effectiveness of antiviral therapy in untreated compensated cirrhosis patient with serum HBV-DNA level < 2000 IU/mL.

Background: Due to stringent reimbursement criteria, significant numbers of patients with compensated cirrhosis (CC) and low-level viremia [LLV; serum hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA levels of 20-2000 IU/mL] remain untreated especially in the East Asian countries, despite potential risk of disease progression. We analyzed cost-effectiveness to assess rationales for antiviral therapy (AVT) for this population.

Methods: We compared cost and effectiveness (quality-adjusted life years, QALYs) in a virtual cohort including 10,000 54-year-old CC-LLV patients receiving AVT (Scenario I) versus no treatment (Scenario II).

Efficacy and Safety of Opicapone for Motor Fluctuations as an Adjuvant to Levodopa Therapy in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Long-term levodopa administration for treating Parkinson's disease (PD) may shorten the duration of effect and cause dyskinesias, inducing the need for catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors as adjuvant therapy.

Objective: We provide pooled scientific evidence highlighting the efficacy and safety of opicapone, a newly approved COMT inhibitor, as an adjuvant to levodopa.

Methods: We searched Ovid Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases for relevant reports.

Cost-effectiveness of chronic hepatitis C screening and treatment.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the second most common cause of chronic liver disease in South Korea, with a prevalence ranging from 0.6% to 0.8%, and HCV infection incidence increases with age.