Timely access to secondary pediatric services in Korea: a key to reducing child and adolescent mortality.

Objectives: Geographic disparities in access to secondary pediatric care remain a significant issue in countries with universal health coverage, including Korea. This study investigated the link between geographic access to secondary pediatric care and mortality rates in children and adolescents (0-19 years) in Korea.

Methods: We analyzed district-level data to assess the percentage of those aged 0-19 years residing outside of a 60-minute travel radius from the nearest secondary pediatric care provider (accessibility vulnerability index, AVI).

Impact of COVID-19 on healthcare utilization among chronic disease patients in South Korea.

Background: From 2020 to 2022, South Korea has experienced significant direct and indirect damage because of the coronavirus pandemic. Preventive measures aimed at controlling the spread of the virus have inadvertently limited healthcare accessibility for patients without COVID-19, leading to detrimental consequences, particularly for patients with chronic diseases. Hence, there is a growing need to comprehensively examine the changes in healthcare utilization among patients with chronic diseases owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the associated factors and health outcomes.

Child mortality of twins and singletons among late preterm and term birth: a study of national linked birth and under-five mortality data of Korea.

Twins involve a higher risk of perinatal complications compared to singletons. We compared the risk of under five mortality between twins and singletons among late preterm and term births. The national birth data of South Korea pertaining to the years 2010-2014 linked with the mortality record of children aged under 5 years in 2010-2019 was analyzed.

Is a high maintenance dose of clopidogrel suitable for overcoming clopidogrel resistance in patients?

Background: A double maintenance dose of clopidogrel at 150 mg daily has been suggested as an effective alternative treatment for patients who have clopidogrel resistance.

Objective: To determine if a double maintenance dose of clopidogrel can overcome the low drug response rate observed in patients who have clopidogrel resistance while on a 75 mg daily standard maintenance dose of clopidogrel.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted in South Korean patients who underwent a platelet function test and received a double maintenance dose of clopidogrel at a secondary medical institution between January 2011 and June 2012.