Bystander interventions and clinical outcomes among adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims in South Korea over a decade: Sex-based disparities.

Objective: Delivering bystander interventions is key to improving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) outcomes. Despite reports on sex disparities in bystander interventions and clinical outcomes, comprehensive national-scale assessments in South Korea remain insufficient. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate nationwide trends over a decade and examine sex disparities in bystander interventions among adult victims of OHCA in South Korea.

Comparison of prognosis between carbon monoxide poisoning only and combinations of other toxic exposures.

Introduction: There is a paucity of research comparing the prognosis of patients with carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning only and CO poisoning with other toxic exposures. This study compared a group of patients with CO poisoning only and a group of patients with CO poisoning combined with other toxic exposures in terms of mortality and morbidity (ischemic stroke, venous thromboembolism (VTE), and myocardial infarction).

Method: This study used claims data from the National Health Insurance Service in South Korea.

Long-term mortality of adult patients with carbon monoxide poisoning presenting to the emergency department in Korea: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. However, relatively few studies have investigated its long-term mortality impact. This nationwide population-based cohort study examined the association between CO poisoning and long-term mortality.

Total cholesterol and bilirubin levels are associated with neurologic outcomes in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Background: Assessing the neurologic outcomes of patients who experience out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is challenging. Neurologic outcomes were evaluated using initial nutrition related biochemical markers.

Methods: We used data from a multicentre retrospective observational study, the Korean Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation Consortium (KoCARC) registry.

The impact of pulmonary tuberculosis on SARS-CoV-2 infection: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: The interaction between COVID-19 and tuberculosis (TB) is not yet fully understood, and large-scale research on the mortality outcome of such dual infection has been limited. This study aimed to investigate the impact of PTB on mortality among patients with COVID-19 within a Korean population by conducting an extensive analysis of a nationwide large dataset.

Method: We investigated the mortality and disease severity among COVID-19 patients who had PTB in South Korea.

Synergistic Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 Vaccination on the Risk of Venous Thromboembolism.

Background: Previous studies have reported a greater risk of venous thromboembolism among patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and those who received COVID-19 vaccination. Nevertheless, there is a lack of understanding regarding the interaction effect on the risk of venous thromboembolism occurrence between SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study including adult patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between October 2020 and September 2021.

The prognostic value of the phosphate-to-albumin ratio in patients with OHCA: A multicenter observational study.

Purpose: In patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), early and accurate outcome prediction is crucial for making treatment decisions and informing their relatives. A previous study reported an association between high phosphate levels and unfavorable neurological outcomes after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC); however, its prognostic value was insufficient when used independently. Therefore, this study aimed to validate the usefulness of the phosphate-to-albumin ratio (PAR) in predicting neurological outcomes and in-hospital mortality by incorporating albumin, another known prognostic indicator.

The usefulness of lactate/albumin ratio, C-reactive protein/albumin ratio, procalcitonin/albumin ratio, SOFA, and qSOFA in predicting the prognosis of patients with sepsis who presented to EDs.

Purpose: Early identification of sepsis with a poor prognosis in the emergency department (ED) is crucial for prompt management and improved outcomes. This study aimed to examine the predictive value of sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), quick SOFA (qSOFA), lactate to albumin ratio (LAR), C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR), and procalcitonin to albumin ratio (PAR), obtained in the ED, as predictors for 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis and septic shock.

Materials And Methods: We included 3499 patients (aged ≥19 years) from multicenter registry of the Korean Shock Society between October 2015 and December 2019.

Predicting acute brain lesions on magnetic resonance imaging in acute carbon monoxide poisoning: a multicenter prospective observational study.

An acute brain lesion (ABL) identified by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a strong prognostic factor for the development of delayed neuropsychiatric syndrome (DNS). This study aimed to identify predictors of ABLs on MRI in patients with acute CO poisoning. This was a multicenter prospective registry-based observational study conducted at two tertiary hospitals.

Diagnostic performance of rapid antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk based on cycle threshold values in the emergency department.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of the rapid antigen test (RAT) for screening patients with cycle threshold (Ct) values of SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the emergency department. Previous studies have shown that Ct values could be used as indicators of infectiousness. Therefore, we considered the Ct value an indicator of potential infectiousness.

Association of Socioeconomic Status With Long-Term Outcome in Survivors After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Nationwide Population-Based Longitudinal Study.

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a major public health problem and a leading cause of death worldwide. Previous studies have focused on improving the survival of people who have had OHCA by analyzing short-term survival outcomes, such as the return of spontaneous circulation, 30-day survival, and survival to discharge. Research has been conducted on prehospital prognostic factors to improve the survival of patients with OHCA, among which the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and survival has been reported.

Effectiveness of Initial Troponin I and Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels as Biomarkers for Predicting Delayed Neuropsychiatric Sequelae in Patients with CO Poisoning: A Retrospective Multicenter Observational Study.

Background: Delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae (DNS) are a severe complication of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, and predicting DNS is difficult. This study aimed to investigate whether cardiac markers can be used as biomarkers to predict DNS occurrence following acute CO poisoning.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study that included patients with acute CO poisoning who visited two emergency medical centers in Korea from January 2008 to December 2020.

Analysis of Anxiety or Depression and Long-term Mortality Among Survivors of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Importance: The recent American Heart Association guidelines added a sixth link in the chain of survival highlighting recovery and emphasized the importance of psychiatric outcome and recovery for survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among this population was higher than that in the general population.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of depression or anxiety and the association of these conditions with long-term mortality among individuals who survive OHCA.

Genetic markers for depressive disorders with earlier age at onset.

Age at onset has been considered a potential indicator of underlying genetic risk in depression research. However, the variants associated with earlier age at onset of depressive disorder have not been elucidated. To evaluate the genetic architecture of depression onset, whole-exome sequencing of samples from 1000 patients with depressive disorder was performed.

Genetic Markers for Later Remission in Response to Early Improvement of Antidepressants.

Planning subsequent treatment strategies based on early responses rather than waiting for delayed antidepressant action can be helpful. We identified genetic markers for later non-remission in patients exhibiting poor early improvement using whole-exome sequencing data of depressive patients treated in a naturalistic manner. Among 1000 patients, early improvement at 2 weeks (reduction in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [HAM-D] score ≥ 20%) and remission at 12 weeks (HAM-D score ≤ 7) were evaluated.

Sex differences in the genetic architecture of depression.

The prevalence and clinical characteristics of depressive disorders differ between women and men; however, the genetic contribution to sex differences in depressive disorders has not been elucidated. To evaluate sex-specific differences in the genetic architecture of depression, whole exome sequencing of samples from 1000 patients (70.7% female) with depressive disorder was conducted.

Comparison of two-thumb encircling and two-finger technique during infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation with single rescuer in simulation studies: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The recommended chest compression technique for a single rescuer performing infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation is the two-finger technique. For 2 rescuers, a two-thumb-encircling hands technique is recommended. Several recent studies have reported that the two-thumb-encircling hands technique is more effective for high-quality chest compression than the two-finger technique for a single rescuer performing infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Comparison of Heart Proportions Compressed by Chest Compressions Between Geriatric and Nongeriatric Patients Using Mathematical Methods and Chest Computed Tomography: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Current guidelines recommended that chest compression depths during car-diopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be at least one-fifth of the external chest ante-riorposterior (AP) diameter. The chest AP diameter increases because of dorsal kyphosis, senile emphysema, and poor lung compliance associated with aging. This study aimed to compare the proportion of the heart compressed by chest compression (based on the ejection fraction [EF]) in geriatric and nongeriatric patients.