Unintentional medication discrepancies at care transitions: prevalence and their impact on post-discharge emergency visits in critically ill older adults.

Background: Unintentional medication discrepancies during care transitions pose a significant risk for medication errors, particularly in critically ill older patients. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of such discrepancies during care transitions and their impact on post-discharge emergency department (ED) visits in this patient population.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included patients aged 65 and older who were on chronic medications and admitted to the intensive care units of emergency departments (ED-ICUs) between 2019 and 2020.

Nationwide trends and incidence of blindness in patients with diabetic retinopathy identified using an age-period-cohort analysis.

Objectives: To estimate the epidemiologic trends of blindness in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and investigate the age-, period-, and cohort-specific effects on blindness.

Methods: A total of 2.5 million patients with DR aged 20 years or older were included from the Korean National Health Claims database from 2005 to 2019.

Exploring bleeding in oral anticoagulant users: assessing incidence by indications and risk factors in the entire nationwide cohort.

Background: Oral anticoagulants (OACs) are essential for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic disorders, but bleeding, a major complication, can have a fatal impact on the patient's treatment.

Objectives: We aimed to estimate the nationwide, real-world incidence rate of bleeding in patients taking OACs and confirm the incidence by indications and risk factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study identified OAC users from April 1 to December 31, in both 2019 and 2020, using the HIRA-NPS database.

Cancer Risks of Patients with Graves' Disease Who Received Antithyroid Drugs as Initial Treatment: A Nationwide Population-Based Analysis.

Population-based studies that examine the associations between hyperthyroidism and cancer risk have yielded inconsistent results. It remains unclear whether the risks of different cancers increase in patients with Graves' disease (GD) who received antithyroid drugs (ATDs) as initial treatment. We aimed to determine whether cancer risk increases in patients with GD, compared with controls.

Comprehensive analysis of nationwide anticancer drug-related complications in Korea: incidence, types, and cancer-specific considerations in contemporary oncology.

Background: The rising global incidence of cancer has increased the demand for chemotherapy, which is a crucial treatment modality. Recent advancements in cancer treatment, including targeted agents and immunotherapy, have introduced complications owing to their specific mechanisms. However, comprehensive studies of the combined complications of these approaches are lacking.

The Impact of Real-Time Documentation of In-Hospital Medication Changes on Preventing Undocumented Discrepancies at Discharge and Improving Physician-Pharmacist Communication: A Retrospective Cohort Study and Survey.

Background: Transitional medication safety is crucial, as miscommunication about medication changes can lead to significant risks. Unclear or incomplete documentation during care transitions can result in outdated or incorrect medication lists at discharge, potentially causing medication errors, adverse drug events, and inadequate patient education. These issues are exacerbated by extended hospital stays and multiple care events, making accurate medication recall challenging at discharge.

Medication-related incidents in acute care hospitals among different age groups: An analysis of national patient safety report data.

Purpose: This study aimed to perform a nationwide analysis of medication errors (MEs) from hospitals using national reporting system data and to compare the ME patterns among different age groups.

Methods: We analyzed medication-related incidents in acute care hospitals reported to the Korean Patient Safety Reporting and Learning System (KOPS), which is a patient safety reporting system, from July 2016 to December 2020. The stages of the medication use process, type of errors, medication class involved in MEs, and degree of harm were analyzed.

Inconsistency in steroid use as antiemetics in clinical trial protocols involving immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with chemotherapy.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the use of steroids as antiemetics in clinical trials involving immune checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy.

Methods: Focusing on phase III trials registered before August 2023, it evaluated the consistency of steroid use guidelines.

Results: Out of 3452 trials screened, 44 were selected for in-depth review.

Real-world incidence and risk factors of bortezomib-related cardiovascular adverse events in patients with multiple myeloma.

Background: Although most studies on the cardiovascular toxicity of proteasome inhibitors have focused on carfilzomib, the risk of cardiotoxicity associated with bortezomib remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of cardiovascular adverse events (CVAEs) associated with bortezomib in patients with multiple myeloma in a real-world setting.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included patients who were treated with bortezomib at a tertiary hospital in South Korea.

Development and validation of a medication-based risk prediction model for acute kidney injury in older outpatients.

Background: Older adults are at an increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI), particularly in community settings, often due to medications. Effective prevention hinges on identifying high-risk patients, yet existing models for predicting AKI risk in older outpatients are scarce, particularly those incorporating medication variables. We aimed to develop an AKI risk prediction model that included medication-related variables for older outpatients.

Development of a claims-based risk-scoring model to predict emergency department visits in older patients receiving anti-neoplastic therapy.

This study developed and validated a risk-scoring model, with a particular emphasis on medication-related factors, to predict emergency department (ED) visits among older Korean adults (aged 65 and older) undergoing anti-neoplastic therapy. Utilizing national claims data, we constructed two cohorts: the development cohort (2016-2018) with 34,642 patients and validation cohort (2019) with 10,902 patients. The model included a comprehensive set of predictors: demographics, cancer type, comorbid conditions, ED visit history, and medication use variables.

Contemporary Patterns and Underlying Causes of Vitrectomy in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients: A Nationwide, Population-Based Analysis.

Purpose: We determined the incidence, etiology, and longitudinal trends of vitreoretinal diseases necessitating pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in the pediatric and adolescent population.

Design: Nationwide, population-based cohort study.

Methods: This study utilized data extracted from the Korean National Health Claims database spanning from 2009 to 2020.

Risk of non-thyroidal autoimmune diseases in patients with Graves' disease: a nationwide retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Graves' disease (GD) is a major autoimmune thyroid disorder and is associated with non-thyroidal autoimmune disease (NTAD). We aimed to investigate the risk of NTAD in patients with GD compared with age- and sex-matched controls and to evaluate whether the risk differs between individuals with or without Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using data from the Korean National Health Claims database.

Development and validation of a machine learning-based fall-related injury risk prediction model using nationwide claims database in Korean community-dwelling older population.

Background: Falls impact over 25% of older adults annually, making fall prevention a critical public health focus. We aimed to develop and validate a machine learning-based prediction model for serious fall-related injuries (FRIs) among community-dwelling older adults, incorporating various medication factors.

Methods: Utilizing annual national patient sample data, we segmented outpatient older adults without FRIs in the preceding three months into development and validation cohorts based on data from 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Consultation-Based Deprescribing Service to Optimize Palliative Care for Terminal Cancer Patients.

(1) Background: A pharmacist-led deprescribing service previously developed within the Consultation-Based Palliative Care Team (CB-PCT) was implemented for terminal cancer patients. (2) Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of the developed deprescribing service for terminal cancer patients in CB-PCT. (3) Methods: A retrospective analysis compared the active care (AC) group to the historical usual care (UC) group.

Development and validation of a predictive model for persistent opioid use in new opioid analgesic users via a nationwide claims database.

Background: Chronic opioid use is associated with problematic opioid use, such as opioid abuse. It is important to develop a prediction model for safe opioid use. In this study, we aimed to develop and validate a risk score model for chronic opioid use in opioid-naïve, noncancer patients, using data from a nationwide database.

Adverse Drug Events Associated With Remdesivir in Real-World Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19, Including Vulnerable Populations: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

Background: Remdesivir is a US Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Clinical trials were conducted under strictly controlled situations for a selected population, and their reported adverse events may not fully represent conditions in real-world patients. We aimed to estimate the incidence of adverse drug events (ADEs) associated with remdesivir in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, including vulnerable subpopulations, such as those with impaired renal or hepatic function and pregnant women.

Machine learning-based prediction model for emergency department visits using prescription information in community-dwelling non-cancer older adults.

Older adults are more likely to require emergency department (ED) visits than others, which might be attributed to their medication use. Being able to predict the likelihood of an ED visit using prescription information and readily available data would be useful for primary care. This study aimed to predict the likelihood of ED visits using extensive medication variables generated according to explicit clinical criteria for elderly people and high-risk medication categories by applying machine learning (ML) methods.

Characteristics of fatal occupational injuries in migrant workers in South Korea: A machine learning study.

Objective: Analysis of occupational injuries is essential for developing preventive strategies. However, few studies have evaluated severe occupational injuries in migrant workers from the perspective of gender. Therefore, using a new analytical method, this study was performed to identify gender-specific characteristics associated with fatal occupational injuries among migrant workers; the interactions between these factors, were also analyzed.

Nationwide-incidence and trends of fibromyalgia in South Korea: a population-based study.

Reports of the incidence of fibromyalgia (FM) in Asia are uncommon. Therefore, this study used nationwide representative data to investigate the age- and sex-specific incidence and annual trends of FM in South Korea. This nationwide population-based study used data from the Korean National Health Claims Database.

Increased risk of incident gout in patients with hyperthyroidism: a nationwide retrospective cohort study.

Previous studies have reported that thyroid dysfunction is associated with increased serum uric acid levels; however, the relationship between hyperthyroidism and incidence of clinical manifestations of gout has not been fully investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to longitudinally investigate the risk of gout in patients with hyperthyroidism. This nationwide retrospective cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Claims Database.