Publications by authors named "Yeonkyeng Lee"
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic had devastating effects on health systems globally. Emerging infectious diseases and pandemics will persist as a global health threat and preparedness for an evidence based response becomes challenging for decision makers. Epidemiological modeling can and has supported decision-making throughout pandemics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: This study analyzed the safety of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) bivalent and monovalent booster vaccines, including the frequency of adverse events (AEs) such as myocarditis and pericarditis, in adolescents aged 12 to 17 years in the Republic of Korea. We aimed to share the safety profile of the COVID-19 bivalent vaccine booster doses.
Methods: We analyzed the frequencies of AEs reported to the COVID-19 vaccination management system (CVMS) or self-reported through the text message survey (TMS).
Epidemiological characteristics of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae outbreaks in the Republic of Korea between 2017 and 2022.
Osong Public Health Res Perspect
August 2023
Background: We aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) outbreaks in healthcare settings in the Republic of Korea between 2017 and 2022.
Methods: Under the national notifiable disease surveillance system, we obtained annual descriptive statistics regarding the isolated species, carbapenemase genotype, healthcare facility type, outbreak location and duration, and number of patients affected and recommended interventions. We used epidemiological investigation reports on CPE outbreaks reported to Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency from June 2017 to September 2022.
Article Synopsis
- A study in South Korea assessed the frequency and severity of adverse events related to the Novavax COVID-19 vaccination for people aged 18 and older, beginning February 14, 2022.
- Data was gathered from two national systems: the COVID-19 vaccination management system (CVMS) and text-message surveys (TMS).
- Results showed lower adverse event reporting rates after booster doses compared to the first two doses, and fewer adverse events were reported in individuals aged 65 and older compared to those aged 18 to 64, indicating no major safety concerns.
Article Synopsis
- As of June 2022, Korea has administered 5 COVID-19 vaccine brands, with a comprehensive safety monitoring system utilizing web reporting and text messages to track adverse events (AEs).
- A total of 125,107,883 doses were given, resulting in 471,068 reported AEs, with 96.1% classified as nonserious and only 3.9% serious.
- Specific serious AEs included instances of anaphylaxis, myocarditis, and thrombocytopenia, while younger adults, particularly females, experienced higher rates of AEs, most of which were mild.
Article Synopsis
- In Korea, a national COVID-19 vaccination program utilized four types of vaccines and included a text messaging survey for reporting unusual post-vaccination symptoms.
- The study collected responses from 50,950 vaccine recipients to compare adverse events after receiving either homologous (same vaccine type) or heterologous (mixed vaccine types) two-dose regimens.
- Results showed that mRNA vaccine recipients experienced more frequent reactions after their second dose, and younger females receiving mixed vaccine regimens reported more adverse events, but no serious safety concerns were found.
Article Synopsis
- Carbapenemase-producing entities (CPE) are a major cause of carbapenem-resistant infections, prompting focus on their transmission and treatment methods.
- The study analyzed 77 patients, identifying 51 with CPE colonization and 26 with active infections, revealing a strong link between ICU treatment and CPE acquisition risk.
- Key risk factors included recent hospitalization, ICU stays, open wounds, and the use of catheters or tubes, suggesting the need for regular screening of high-risk patients.
Adverse events of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Korean children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years.
Osong Public Health Res Perspect
October 2022
Objectives: This study aimed to identify potential safety signals and adverse events following the primary Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination series among children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years in the Republic of Korea.
Methods: Adverse events reported through the COVID-19 vaccination management system (CVMS, a web-based passive vaccine safety surveillance system) and adverse events and health conditions collected from a text message-based survey were analyzed.
Results: A total of 14,786 adverse events among 5 to 17-year-old children and adolescents were reported in the CVMS; 14,334 (96.
In November 2020, an unusual increase in fungal endophthalmitis cases after cataract surgery was reported to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, South Korea. We initiated an outbreak investigation to identify the cause. We identified 156 cases nationwide, 62 confirmed and 94 probable.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEffects of Air Pollution on Chemosensory Dysfunction in COVID-19 Patients.
J Korean Med Sci
October 2022
Article Synopsis
- A study examined the link between air pollution and loss of smell and taste in COVID-19 patients in Korea, analyzing data from over 60,000 confirmed cases reported in 2020.
- Results showed a higher incidence of chemosensory dysfunction among younger patients in urban areas and indicated that certain air pollutants, like particulate matter and sulfur dioxide, were correlated with these symptoms.
- The statistical analysis found that increased levels of specific pollutants just before and up to a week prior to the COVID-19 diagnosis significantly raised the likelihood of experiencing chemosensory dysfunction.
Article Synopsis
- Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are mostly linked to healthcare settings but are increasingly being found in the community.* -
- A study from January 2012 to December 2015 identified 1499 cases of CRE, with 10% classified as community-associated, primarily affecting White females and detected mostly in urine samples.* -
- Some community-associated isolates contained carbapenemase genes, highlighting the need for ongoing surveillance of CRE outside healthcare environments to track their emergence.*
Safety monitoring of COVID-19 vaccination among adolescents aged 12 to 17 years old in the Republic of Korea.
Osong Public Health Res Perspect
June 2022
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to share information about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for adolescents aged 12-17 years in South Korea.
- It analyzed adverse events reported from a vaccination management system regarding the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine between March 2021 and February 2022, noting that most events were non-serious.
- The findings indicated that while serious adverse events were rare, common local and systemic reactions occurred more frequently after the second dose, with pain, headaches, fatigue, and muscle pain being the most reported symptoms.
Article Synopsis
- This study investigated effective survey methods for accurately measuring obesity prevalence by comparing self-reported and measured height, weight, and BMI data from the 2018 Korea Community Healthy Survey.
- Analysis showed that self-reported height was generally overestimated, while self-reported weight and BMI were underestimated in comparison to actual measurements for both men and women.
- The findings suggest using measured values instead of self-reports to determine obesity prevalence, enhancing the accuracy of local health initiatives.
COVID-19 vaccine safety monitoring in Republic of Korea from February 26, 2021 to October 31, 2021.
Osong Public Health Res Perspect
December 2021
Article Synopsis
- This study analyzed adverse events following COVID-19 vaccinations in South Korea from February to October 2021, focusing on patterns of reported cases.
- A total of 353,535 adverse events were reported, with 96.4% classified as non-serious, while the most common symptoms included headache and dizziness.
- The research found the reporting rate of adverse events was higher in women, and confirmed anaphylaxis occurred in 5.8 cases per 1,000,000 vaccinations, confirming that most reported reactions were consistent with those seen in clinical trials.
COVID-19 vaccine safety monitoring in the Republic of Korea: February 26, 2021 to April 30, 2021.
Osong Public Health Res Perspect
August 2021
Article Synopsis
- COVID-19 vaccination began in Korea on February 26, 2021, targeting high-priority groups, with AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines available.
- From February 26 to April 30, 2021, there were 16,196 reports of adverse events after administering 3,586,814 doses, with 96.7% being non-serious, while 3.3% were serious including 73 deaths, none linked to the vaccines.
- The majority of adverse events (80.7%) occurred in women, with common side effects like myalgia, fever, and headache, and ongoing monitoring of vaccine safety is being conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
Article Synopsis
- South Korea's mass vaccination campaign from February 26 to April 30, 2021, administered 3.8 million COVID-19 vaccine doses.
- Out of 173 suspected anaphylaxis cases reported, 44 were confirmed as actual anaphylaxis using established case definitions.
- The rates of anaphylaxis were 18.2 per million doses for Vaxzevria and 6.2 per million for Comirnaty, with symptoms typically appearing 14 minutes after vaccination, and most patients had recovered by the time of review.
Article Synopsis
- The Korea National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey (KNHDIS) is a national survey initiated in 2005 by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) to analyze injury-related hospital discharges in Korea.
- The survey uses a 2-stage stratified cluster sampling method to capture approximately 9% of discharges from hospitals with 100 or more beds, with 13% of those being related to injuries.
- KNHDIS collects extensive data on various aspects of injury cases, including the circumstances of the injuries, risk factors, and external causes, to support injury prevention policies, and the findings are publicly available through the KDCA website.
Article Synopsis
- A study analyzed clinical data from 7,803 COVID-19 patients in South Korea, focusing on early symptoms, disease progression, and severity after quarantine release.
- Results showed that 94.5% of patients were asymptomatic or mildly ill at admission, but severe cases had high fatality rates, with older age, male gender, and certain symptoms like fever and shortness of breath increasing the likelihood of critical illness.
- The findings suggest that while most patients recovered or were asymptomatic, those with comorbidities faced greater risks of critical illness and death.
The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) was initiated in 1998 to provide evidence for the development and evaluation of health policies and programs. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is responsible for the KNHANES and has conducted it as a series of surveys. Over the past 20 years, efforts to produce accurate, timely, and nationwide health statistics have been refined by establishing a continuous annual survey system with full-time field staff, incrementally expanding survey components, collaborating with relevant academic societies for quality control, and revising the survey methods.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- A study was conducted to create and validate a scoring system that predicts COVID-19 patients who might need intensive care, using data available when patients are first assessed.
- The research analyzed patient data from South Korea's CDC, focusing on those admitted between January and June 2020, with the aim of prioritizing hospital resources to reduce fatalities.
- The final scoring system incorporates seven clinical factors—like age, sex, and specific symptoms—and demonstrated strong predictive performance, performing well even without additional lab or imaging data.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to create a machine learning model to predict which COVID-19 patients would need intensive care using simple data like demographics, health conditions, and symptoms, rather than complex tests that might be hard to access.
- Researchers collected data from nearly 5,000 patients across 100 hospitals in South Korea during early 2020, dividing them into groups for developing and validating the prediction model.
- The best prediction model showed strong performance in identifying patients needing intensive care and was compared with an existing score (CURB-65), demonstrating its effectiveness in real-world scenarios.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence of injuries and to identify their causes by classifying injuries according to various categories including age, sex, mechanism of injury, body parts injured, and place of injury.
Methods: This study used data from the Korea National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey (KNHDIS) from 2004 to 2016. The KNHDIS is conducted annually by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and its survey population includes all hospitalized patients discharged from medical institutions that have 100 or more beds, such as hospitals, general hospitals, and secondary community health centers.
Article Synopsis
- Previous outbreaks, like SARS, influenced travelers' decisions to visit the Republic of Korea (ROK) during the 2015 MERS outbreak.
- Areas that previously experienced a SARS outbreak of 100 or more cases saw a greater decline in visitor numbers, particularly in June and July 2015.
- Proximity to the ROK also played a role, as places closer to the ROK and those with significant SARS cases experienced larger decreases in traveler volumes.
The 2015 Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak in the Republic of Korea (ROK) is an example of an infectious disease outbreak initiated by international travelers to a high-income country. This study was conducted to determine the economic impact of the MERS outbreak on the tourism and travel-related service sectors, including accommodation, food and beverage, and transportation, in the ROK. We projected monthly numbers of noncitizen arrivals and indices of services for 3 travel-related service sectors during and after the MERS outbreak (June 2015 to June 2016) using seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average models.
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