Necessity of Analyzing the Korea Community Health Survey Using 7 Local Government Types.

Objectives: This study examined the potential of a new analytical framework for the Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS) with classification criteria for the sub-national governmental level, the degree of urbanization including an urban-rural multimodal category, and population size as a more effective tool to address local health problems and deduce practical implications.

Methods: Retrospective survey data from 2023 KCHS were obtained. Frequency analyses were performed for self-rated good health status, current smoking status, and unmet medical needs as proxies for health status, as well as healthcare utilization and health behavior, utilizing individual weights to represent national community residents.

Metabolic health is more strongly associated with the severity and mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 than obesity.

Background: Obesity has been suggested to be associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, it is unclear whether obesity or metabolic abnormalities accompanied by obesity have a stronger association with COVID-19 risk.

Methods: This study used the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency database, which includes information about the COVID-19 diagnosis and mortality dates of the entire Korean population between October 2020 and December 2021 (for diagnosis) or March 2022 (for mortality). A total of 24,310,283 adults were included and classified into four metabolic obesity phenotypes: (1) metabolically healthy and normal weight (MHNW), (2) metabolically unhealthy and normal weight (MUNW), (3) metabolically healthy and obese (MHO), and (4) metabolically unhealthy and obese (MUO).

Healthcare Costs due to Dizziness/Vertigo in Korea: Analyses Using the Public Data of Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service.

Background: Dizziness/vertigo is one of the most common symptoms for which people seek healthcare. However, the healthcare expenditure attributable to dizziness/vertigo in South Korea remains poorly understood. We investigated the healthcare costs due to six major disorders causing dizziness/vertigo using claims data.

Worsening of health disparities across COVID-19 pandemic stages in Korea.

Objectives: With the end of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the health outcomes of this disease in Korea must be examined. We aimed to investigate health outcomes and disparities linked to socioeconomic status during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea and to identify risk factors for hospitalization and mortality.

Methods: This nationwide retrospective study incorporated an analysis of individuals with and without COVID-19 in Korea between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2022.

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Medical Use of Elderly Patients with Hypertension: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Korea.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted healthcare services, including chronic disease management, for vulnerable groups, such as older individuals with hypertension. This study aimed to evaluate hypertension management in South Korea's elderly population during the pandemic using treatment consistency indices such as the continuity of care (COC), modified, modified continuity index (MMCI), and most frequent provider continuity (MFPC).

Methods: This study used the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency-COVID-19-National Health Insurance Service cohort (K-COV-N cohort) from the National Health Insurance Service between 2017 and 2021.

COVID-19 Mortality and Severity in Cancer Patients and Cancer Survivors.

Background: We aimed to investigate mortality, severity, and risk of hospitalization in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with cancer.

Methods: Data of all patients aged 40-79 years from the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency-COVID19-National Health Insurance Service who were diagnosed with COVID-19 between January 1, 2020 and March 31, 2022, in Korea were included. After 1:1 propensity score matching, 397,050 patients with cancer and 397,050 patients without cancer were enrolled in the main analysis.

No increased risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw in osteoporotic patients with dental implants: a nationwide cohort study.

Objectives: The occurrence of implant-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) has been reported in osteoporotic patients, particularly in association with bisphosphonate therapy. This study aimed to investigate the risk of implant surgery and implant presence for ONJ occurrence in osteoporotic patients longitudinally.

Methods: Based on Korean National Health Information Database, subjects over the age of 65 who were diagnosed with osteoporosis between July 2014 and December 2016 were included.

Association between smoking status and handgrip strength in Korean male adults: based on Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016-2019.

Background: Smoking is a well-known risk factor of frailty. Handgrip strength (HGS) is highly representative of muscular strength and is used in the diagnosis of frailty; however, the relationship between smoking and HGS is not clear. We evaluated the relationship between smoking status and HGS.

Can multiple miniplates improve the treatment of comminuted patellar fracture?

Background: We have applied primarily multiple locking compression miniplates in treating multifragmentary, comminuted patellar fracture in combination with conventional fixation methods.

Methods: Medical and radiologic data were retrospectively reviewed for the patients surgically fixated with locking compression miniplates in patellar fracture of AO/OTA 34-C3. The primary outcome was bone union at the final follow-up, and the secondary outcomes were functional outcomes and postoperative complications associated with the procedure.

The Risk Factors of COVID-19 Infection and Mortality among Older Adults in South Korea.

Background: This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and mortality among older adults in South Korea.

Methods: Using Korean National Health Insurance data from January 1, 2020, to March 31, 2022, we analyzed the impact of various factors, including age, comorbidity burden, and insurance type, on COVID-19 infection and mortality rates.

Results: Age was the most significant risk factor for mortality in older adults.

Pulp and periapical disease as a risk factor for osteonecrosis of the jaw: a national cohort-based study in Korea.

Purpose: This longitudinal cohort study aimed to evaluate the relationship between osteonecrosis of the jaw and pulp and periapical disease in patients who were administered bisphosphonates.

Methods: Using data from a nationwide cohort, we examined the association among dental caries, pulp and periapical disease, and osteonecrosis of the jaw in women aged >50 years who received bisphosphonates for more than 1 year between 2002 and 2015. Because of ambiguities in the diagnosis of osteonecrosis of the jaw in population-based data, we operationally defined and categorized the condition into established and potential osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Factors Associated with Osteoarthritis and Their Influence on Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults with Osteoarthritis: A Study Based on the 2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Numerous studies have investigated factors associated with osteoarthritis (OA), but few have investigated their effects on psychological problems and health-related quality of life in older adults with OA. We aimed to investigate factors associated with OA and their influence on health-related quality of life in older adults with OA. Among 1394 participants aged ≥65 years, 952 and 442 were categorized into the OA and non-OA groups, respectively.

COVID-19 vaccination, incidence, and mortality rates among individuals with mental disorders in South Korea: A nationwide retrospective study.

We examined COVID-19 vaccination, incidence, and mortality rates among patients with mental health disorders in South Korea from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2021. The study found that individuals with mental disorders had higher COVID-19 incidence and mortality than those without. Patients with mood disorders had higher vaccination rates and COVID-19 incidence and mortality than those without mental disorders.

Prevalence and severity of COVID-19 among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders in the Republic of Korea.

It is more difficult to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, as they have trouble communicating and adjusting to their new daily lives like wearing masks and social distancing. However, there have not been many studies that focused on coronavirus disease 2019 among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. We included all Korean citizens under the age of 19 as our study subjects.

Association between periodontal disease, tooth extraction, and medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw in women receiving bisphosphonates: A national cohort-based study.

Background: We investigated whether periodontal diseases contribute to the development of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) in addition to tooth extraction, which is a major risk factor for MRONJ occurrence.

Methods: This retrospective, nationwide cohort study was performed using South Korea's National Health Insurance Service database on women aged > 50 years who took bisphosphonates for at least 1 year between 2010 and 2015. MRONJ, periodontal disease, and tooth extraction were defined using the claims data.

Gradual, but Not Sudden, Dose-Dependent Increase of ONJ Risk With Bisphosphonate Exposure: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Women With Osteoporosis.

Background: A causal relationship of bisphosphonate (BP) exposure with osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) has been reported; however, a definite dose-dependent risk remains to be elucidated beyond current vague recommendations of 4-year oral BP for ONJ risk increase.

Objective: To identify the effect of bisphosphonate cumulative dose on ONJ development in women with osteoporosis.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was designed using the National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening database of Korea.

Effect of National Oral Health Screening Program on the Risk of Head and Neck Cancer: A Korean National Population-Based Study.

Purpose: Poor oral health is associated with head and neck cancer (HNC). We evaluated whether a national oral health screening program (OHSP) could reduce the risk of HNC.

Materials And Methods: Data from 408,247 healthy individuals aged ≥ 40 years from the National Health Insurance System-National Health Screening program during 2003 and 2004 in Korea were analyzed.

Power of universal health coverage in the era of COVID-19: A nationwide observational study.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea has achieved perfect universal health coverage (UHC)-all Koreans receive UHC regardless of their socioeconomic status. The current study investigated whether socioeconomic disparities remained in COVID-19 health outcomes under UHC.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study included all 7,590 confirmed COVID-19 patients in South Korea up to 15 May 2020.

Metformin Synergistically Potentiates the Antitumor Effects of Imatinib in Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Metformin is the most commonly prescribed anti-diabetic drug with relatively minor side effect. Substantial evidence has suggested that metformin is associated with decreased cancer risk and anticancer activity against diverse cancer cells. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib has shown powerful activity for treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia and also induces growth arrest and apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells.