Treatment Outcomes of Patients With Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) is a serious complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm associated with high operative mortality and morbidity rates. The present study evaluated the perioperative and long-term outcomes of Korean patients with rAAA based on national health insurance claims data. METHODS: The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database was searched retrospectively to identify patients with rAAA who underwent endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and open surgical repair (OSR) from 2009 to 2018. Perioperative (≤ 30 days), early postoperative (≤ 3 month), and long-term (> 3 month) survival, reinterventions, and complications were assessed. RESULTS: The search identified 1,034 patients with rAAA, including 594 who underwent EVAR and 440 who underwent OSR. When the study period was divided into two, the total numbers of patients with rAAA, patients who underwent EVAR, and octogenarians were higher during the second half. The perioperative mortality rate was 29.8% in the EVAR and 35.0% in the OSR group (P = 0.028). Hartmann's procedure for bowel infarction was performed more frequently in the OSR than in the EVAR group (adjusted odds ratio, 6.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.33-21.84; P = 0.001), but other complication rates did not differ significantly. All-cause mortality during the entire observation period did not differ significantly in the EVAR and OSR groups (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.98-1.41; P = 0.087). Abdominal aortic aneurysm-related reintervention rate was significantly lower in the OSR group (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.14-0.70; P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Although EVAR showed somewhat superior perioperative outcomes for rAAA, the long-term outcomes of EVAR after excluding initial 3 months were significantly worse than OSR. When anatomically feasible for both treatments, the perioperative mortality risk and reasonable prospects of long-term survival should be considered in rAAA.

Prevalence of Inferior Vena Cava Anomalies and Their Significance and Impact in Clinical Practice.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of inferior vena cava (IVC) anomalies in an asymptomatic healthy population and symptomatic patients. METHODS: This was a multicentre retrospective observational study This study was conducted by reviewing the computed tomography (CT) images of 1 000 individuals from South Korea taken for a general medical check up (group A) and 1 000 patients from the USA who visited with various symptoms for which CT was required (group B). A third group of 800 patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and CT from two US centres were used for comparison (group C). Twenty-eight patients with anatomical changes in the IVC due to intervention, extrinsic compression, trauma, other rare conditions, and poor image quality were excluded. RESULTS: The mean age ± standard deviation of each group was 50 ± 6, 54 ± 11, and 54 ± 15 years in groups A, B, and C, respectively. In group A, duplication was the most common anomaly (10 cases, 1.0%), followed by left sided IVC (four cases, 0.4%), hypoplasia (three cases, 0.3%), and megacava (one case, 0.1%). In group B, the most common IVC anomaly was hypoplasia in six cases (0.6%); duplication in three patients, left sided IVC in three patients, aplasia in two patients, web formation in two patients, and megacava in two patients. In group C, hypoplasia was the most common type (32 cases, 4.0%). The prevalence of hypoplasia in patients younger than 50 years of age was significantly higher compared with older patients (12.7% [14/110] vs. 5.3% [10/190]; p = .027). The risk of hypoplasia or aplasia was significantly higher in patients with DVT (odds ratio [OR] 17.032, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.243 - 55.321), especially in patients with iliofemoral DVT (OR 34.211, 95% CI 10.323 - 113.378). CONCLUSION: In the normal group, IVC duplication was the most common variation, while hypoplasia was most common in patients with iliofemoral DVT, especially in younger ones.

Outcomes of Spontaneous Isolated Superior Mesenteric Artery Dissection Without Antithrombotic Use.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to show the intention to treat results of treatment for spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (SISMAD) without anticoagulation or antiplatelet agents and the follow-up results of SISMAD according to the configuration on computed tomography (CT) scans. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational single centre study METHODS: All cases of SISMAD were enrolled consecutively from 2006 onwards. There were 25 symptomatic and four asymptomatic patients in whom SISMAD was found incidentally. The SISMAD patients were treated using a consistent therapeutic strategy without antithrombotics. SISMAD was categorized into four types based on the configuration on CT scans by Yun's classification. Follow-up CT was performed at 3 months, 6 months, and yearly thereafter. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 57 months (13-129 months). Improvement or complete resolution on CT scans, with no symptom recurrence, was seen in 27 patients. The non-invasive approach failed in three cases and two patients underwent further intervention. No patient died during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Weighing the risks versus benefits of antithrombotics and considering the benign nature of SISMAD, conservative treatment without antithrombotics might be sufficient in patients without evidence of bowel ischaemia or infarction on initial CT scan.

Effect of systemic immunosuppressive drugs on the patency of hemodialysis accesses
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AIM: Intimal hyperplasia remains the leading cause of late hemodialysis access stenosis or occlusion. This study assessed the influence of conventional immunosuppressive drugs on the patency of hemodialysis accesses in patients with a history of organ transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2002 and December 2007, 1,654 patients underwent an operation for hemodialysis access. 135 patients received immunosuppressive therapy (IT); of these, 115 underwent an operation for hemodialysis access after transplanted graft failure and 20 patients after liver transplantation. The 5-year primary patency rates of hemodialysis access were compared twice between the entire study population and the matched cohorts using a 1 : 4 propensity score. RESULTS: A total of 82.2% of the nontransplanted (NT) patients and 71.9% of the IT patients had arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs). The 5-year primary patency rate was 74.0% for the NT group and 51.5% for the IT group (p < 0.001). The characteristics of the matched cohorts (135 IT patients and 536 NT patients) were well balanced; the 5-year primary patency rates were 70.0% and 54.9% for the NT and IT groups, respectively (p = 0.030). A significant impact of IT on primary patency was not observed in the matched cohort (hazard ratio, 0.930; 95% confidence interval, 0.706 - 0.226; p = 0.608). CONCLUSION: Systemic administration of immunosuppressive drugs did not significantly affect the patency of AVF or arteriovenous graft (AVG) access in the present study.
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Usefulness of Doppler waveform analysis before performing a complex procedure using femoral venous access.

Ultrasonography is a well-defined and widely accepted technique in the settings of interventional procedures requiring peripheral venous access, either for the confirmation of the vein patency (with the compression test) or for guiding needle insertion. This report describes a case of unsuccessful guidewire passage through the right iliac vein in spite of successful ultrasonography-guided puncture of the femoral vein. On repeat duplex ultrasonography, the Doppler waveform showed a continuous pattern without respiratory phasicity, which was consistent with proximal venous occlusion. Venous Doppler signal waveform analysis can be helpful for ensuring downstream patency when planning long-distance catheterization via femoral venous access.

Impact of diabetes duration and degree of carotid artery stenosis on major adverse cardiovascular events: a single-center, retrospective, observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the impact of diabetes duration and carotid artery stenosis (CAS) on the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) without clinical cardiovascular disease. METHODS: A total of 2006 patients with T2DM, without clinical cardiovascular disease, aged >50 years, and who underwent baseline carotid Doppler ultrasound screening with regular follow-ups at the outpatient clinic of our diabetes center, were stratified into four subgroups according to diabetes duration and CAS degree. The primary outcomes included the occurrence of MACE, defined as fatal or nonfatal stroke and myocardial infarction, and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: The difference in the MACE incidence was significantly greater in patients with a longer diabetes duration (≥10 years) and significant CAS (50-69% luminal narrowing) (p < 0.001). Analysis of individual MACE components indicated a trend towards an increased incidence of stroke (p < 0.001), parallel to a longer diabetes duration and significant CAS. In contrast, the risk of myocardial infarction was significantly higher in patients with a diabetes duration <10 years and significant CAS (p = 0.039). Multivariate regression analysis showed that patients with both a longer diabetes duration and significant CAS demonstrated additive and very high risks of MACE (hazard ratio [HR], 2.07; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17-3.66; p = 0.012) and stroke (HR, 3.38; 95% CI 1.54-7.44; p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of MACE is significantly greater in patients with T2DM, without clinical cardiovascular disease, who have both a longer diabetes duration and significant CAS, compared with those who have a shorter duration and/or nonsignificant CAS.

Alcohol Consumption, High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, Antithrombin III, and Body Mass Index Are Associated with Great Saphenous Vein Reflux in the Thigh.

BACKGROUND: Venous valvular reflux is the main cause of chronic venous dysfunction. However, the etiology of valvular reflux is not completely understood. We conducted this study to investigate new risk factors for venous reflux of the great saphenous vein (GSV) in the thigh. METHODS: We studied 139 consecutive patients (278 legs) who underwent Doppler ultrasonography at our hospital between March 2015 and February 2016 for leg discomfort with visible varicosities, edema, skin changes, or venous ulcer in the legs. Continuous variables included age, body mass index (BMI), hematological and blood chemistry parameters, smoking (pack-years), and alcohol consumption (days). Nominal variables included sex, comorbidities, smoking status, alcohol drinking status, and specific antibodies. The relationship of GSV reflux with pregnancy and number of children was investigated in 184 legs of 92 patients among 96 female patients. RESULTS: On logistic regression analysis, independent factors determining GSV reflux were BMI (B = 0.126, P = 0.012), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level (B = 0.029, P = 0.025), duration of alcohol consumption (B = 1.237 E-4, P = 0.016), and antithrombin III level (B = -0.036, P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the factors determining GSV reflux were higher HDL cholesterol level, longer duration of alcohol consumption, lower antithrombin III level, and higher BMI.

Bilateral ischemic lumbosacral plexopathy from chronic aortoiliac occlusion presenting with progressive paraplegia.

Spinal cord ischemia is rare but causes significant morbidity and mortality. Spinal cord ischemia has been reported after open and endovascular interventions of the thoracic and abdominal aorta, and, rarely, acute occlusion of aorta from in situ thrombosis or acute embolic occlusion. Acute interruption of the critical blood supply to the spinal cord or root contributes to this devastating neurologic deficit. However, gradually worsening lumbosacral plexopathy and consequent paraplegia related to chronic aortic occlusion is extremely rare. We present a case of a 58-year-old man with progressive lower limb paralysis from atherosclerotic aortoiliac occlusion without history of aortic surgery or evidence of thromboembolism.

Comparison of surgical and endovascular salvage procedures for juxta-anastomotic stenosis in autogenous wrist radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula.

BACKGROUND: Although dysfunctional radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas (RCAVFs) are typically treated surgically, the endovascular approach is also considered suitable. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the cumulative patency rates following surgical and endovascular salvaging of dysfunctional RCAVFs, and to evaluate whether the maturity of vascular access sites at the time of treatment influenced the outcomes. METHODS: A total of 60 patients underwent surgical or endovascular salvage treatment for juxta-anastomotic stenosis of autogenous wrist RCAVFs: 35 patients underwent proximal neo-anastomosis and 25 underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). RESULTS: Clinical and anatomical success rates were, respectively, 100% and 97.1% in the surgery group, and 100% and 96.0% in the angioplasty group (P = 0.81). The post-treatment restenosis rate was higher in the angioplasty group (n = 11, 46.0%) than in the surgery group (n = 8, 22.8%), without reaching statistical significance (P = 0.15). In a Kaplan-Meier analysis, the primary and assisted primary patency rates were significantly higher in the surgery group (P = 0.036 and P = 0.026, respectively), but there was no significant difference in secondary patency rates between the groups (P = 0.52). When stratified by RCAVF maturity at the time of treatment, no significant difference was noted in primary patency rates between the treatment groups. After adjusting for other variables, the relative risk of restenosis was significantly higher in the angioplasty group (hazard ratio 2.56; 95% confidence interval 1.02-6.46; P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Post-treatment primary and assisted primary patency rates after proximal neo-anastomosis were significantly higher than after PTA, and RCAVF maturity did not influence the outcomes.

Arthroscopic reduction and internal fixation of acetabular fractures.

Arthroscopic reduction and screw fixation of acetabular fractures have not been reported. In this case report, arthroscopic treatment for acetabular fracture is reported for two patients. A 49-year-old man diagnosed with acetabular posterior wall fracture was treated by arthroscopic reduction and fixation using two screws. A 20-year-old woman who diagnosed with anterior column fracture was fixed using a screw using the arthroscopic technique prior to open reduction and internal fixation in the iliac bone fracture. Arthroscopic reduction and fixation in some case of acetabular fracture could be good indication with additional advantages of joint debridement and loose body removal.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Iliac Artery Rupture during Aortoiliac Stenting.

Purpose: Aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) is widely prevalent and leads to severe claudication or chronic limb-threatening ischemia. Stent placement for AIOD demonstrated excellent outcomes in terms of long-term patency. However, iliac artery rupture is the most fearful complication during the aortoiliac stenting (AIS). This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of iliac artery rupture during AIS. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of consecutive patients with AIOD treated with AIS from 2009 to 2021 was completed. We excluded patients with instent restenosis. All types of stents, including self-expanding stent (SES), balloon-expandable stent (BES), or balloon-expandable covered stent (CS), were used. Angiographic characteristics and procedural outcomes were analyzed. Procedural success was defined as the residual stenosis <30%. Results: A total of 242 patients (86.8% male; mean age 68.8±10.0 years) with de novo AIOD were treated with AIS. The procedural success rate was 100%. Rupture occurred in six patients (2.5%) and all ruptures were occurred in the external iliac artery (EIA). Stenting of the EIA and less calcified lesion were risk factors for iliac rupture (P=0.028). All cases of iliac artery rupture were successfully treated with the CSs. Overall primary patency rates were 98.0% and 93.4% at 12 and 36 months, respectively. Primary patency rates of SES, BES, and CS were 87.7%, 88.4%, and 100% at 36 months, respectively. Conclusion: The incidence of iliac artery rupture during AIS was 2.5%. Stent placement in the less calcified lesion and EIA was a risk factor for rupture during AIS. Placement of the CS can be the straightforward solution in case of iliac artery rupture during AIS.

Validation of operational definitions of mortality in a nationwide hemodialysis population using the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service databases of Korea.

BACKGROUND: Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service's (HIRA) claims data have been used in studies of hemodialysis patients even though information about mortality is not provided in this database. Mortality analysis using HIRA data has been conducted using various operational definitions that have not been validated. This study aimed to validate operational definitions of mortality for maintenance hemodialysis patients that have been used when analyzing the Korean HIRA database. METHODS: This study utilized claims data of the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) between January 2008 and December 2019. We estimated mortality based on operational definitions applied in previous studies using the HIRA database and compared it with NHIS mortality information to validate accuracy. RESULTS: A total of 128,876 patients who started maintenance hemodialysis between January 2009 and December 2019 were analyzed. The accuracy of estimated mortality was the highest at 96% in the group where mortality was defined as an absence of claims data for 150 days. If the period of no claims data was set to 90 days or less, there was a risk of overestimating the mortality for the entire study period. When it was set to 180 days or more, there was a risk of underestimating the mortality, as the follow-up time was close to the end of the study period. CONCLUSION: When mortality analysis of maintenance hemodialysis patients is performed using HIRA data, it is most accurate to set the operational definition period as the absence of claims data for 150 days.

Clinical outcomes of nonthermal ablation, thermal ablation, and surgical stripping for varicose veins.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cyanoacrylate closure (CAC), mechanochemical ablation (MOCA), and surgical stripping (SS) for incompetent saphenous veins and to determine a suitable treatment modality for a specific clinical situation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients with varicose veins who underwent RFA, CAC, MOCA, or SS from January 2012 to June 2023. The clinical outcomes, including postoperative complications and the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire score, were assessed. RESULTS: During the study period, 2866 patients with varicose veins were treated. Among them, 1670 patients (57.9%) were women. The mean age was 55.3 ± 12.9 years. RFA, CAC, MOCA, and SS were performed in 1984 (68.7%), 732 (25.4%), 78 (2.7%), and 88 (3.0%) patients, respectively. The complete target vein closure rate after RFA, CAC, and MOCA was 94.5%, 98%, and 98%, respectively. The absence of a target vein after SS was 98%. Deep vein thrombosis developed in four patients: one in the RFA group and three in CAC group. Surgical or endovenous procedure-induced thrombosis occurred in 2.3%, 4.8%, 6.4%, and 2.3% of the patients after RFA, CAC, MOCA, and SS, respectively. Phlebitis along the target vein occurred in 0.2% and 3.8% of patients after RFA and MOCA, respectively. A hypersensitivity reaction occurred in 3.7% of patients after CAC. Readmission was required for two patients who had undergone SS. Transient nerve symptoms developed in five (0.3%), zero, one (1.3%), and two (2.3%) patients after RFA, CAC, MOCA, and SS, respectively. After treatment, the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire score improved significantly in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical outcomes with improvement in quality of life were comparable among the different treatment modalities. The proximity of the nerve or skin to the target vein is the most important factor in selecting a suitable treatment modality.

Effects of abdominal aortic aneurysm on long-term survival in lung cancer patients.

The major causes of death in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are cardiovascular disease and cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of AAA on long-term survival in lung cancer patients. All patient data with degenerative type AAA and lung cancer over 50 years of age during the period 2009 to 2018 was collected retrospectively from a National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) administrative database and matched to lung cancer patients without AAA by age, sex, metastasis, and other comorbidities. Mortality rate was compared between the groups. A total of 956 AAA patients who could be matched with patients without AAA were included, and 3824 patients in the matched group were used for comparison. Patients with AAA showed higher risk of death compared with the matched cohort (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.23, p < 0.001). When compared to a matched group of untreated AAA patients, patients with of history of AAA exhibited a significantly increased risk of overall mortality [HR (95%CI) 1.219 (1.113-1.335), p < .001, adjusted HR (95% CI) 1.177 (1.073-1.291), p = .001]. By contrast, mortality risk of AAA patients treated either by endovascular abdominal aortic repair or open surgical repair was not significantly different from that of the matched group (p = 0.079 and p = 0.625, respectively). The mortality risk was significantly higher when AAA was present in lung cancer patients, especially in patients with unrepaired AAA, suggesting the need for continuous cardiovascular risk management.

Clinical outcome of graft removal versus preservation in abdominal aortic graft infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of abdominal aortic graft infection (AGI) treated with removal of the graft vs. graft preservation. Methods: The electronic databases PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library for studies that reported on AGI were searched. Observational studies and case series of at least 10 cases that reporting on the prevalence, microbiology, and outcomes of AGI were included. Results: Our search identified 23 studies that met our inclusion criteria, reporting on a total of 873 patients who underwent open surgical repair (OSR) or endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Of these patients, 833 received graft removal, and 40 received graft preservation. The prevalence of AGI was reported to be 1.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5%-1.8%) after OSR and 0.4% (95% CI, 0%-1.1%) after EVAR. The pooled estimates of 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year mortality were 28.7% (95% CI, 19.4%-38.8%), 36.6% (95% CI, 24.6%-49.5%), and 51.8% (95% CI, 38.4%-65.1%) in the graft removal group and 16.1% (95% CI, 4.1%-32.2%), 18.5% (95% CI, 5.7%-35.1%), and 50.0% (95% CI, 31.6%-68.4%) in the graft preservation group. The 30-day mortality rate's risk ratio (RR) for graft removal vs. preservation was 0.98 (95% CI, 0.40-2.38), while the 1-year mortality rate's RR was 3.44 (95% CI, 1.60-7.42). Conclusion: The 30-day mortality rate of AGI treatment was found to be high, whether using graft removal or preservation. In selected patients, implementing antibiotics with graft preservation as an initial management may be helpful in reducing the mortality rate.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Detected with Ultrasound in Korea and Belgium.

The objective was to investigate the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and the diameters of the aorta and common iliac arteries (CIAs) in a Korean cohort and secondly to analyze the differences in aortic diameter by comparison with a European cohort. The Korean cohort included participants ≥ 50 years who consented to AAA screening and data were analysed retrospectively. Aortic and common iliac diameters were measured using the outer-to-outer diameter method and prevalence rates were calculated. Common risk factors such as smoking, body mass index, pulmonary disease, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, ischaemic heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease were reported in association with AAA occurrence and AAA development. The aortic diameters were then compared with those in a Belgian cohort of 2487 participants identified in the Liège AAA Screening Program. An aortic size index (ASI) was also calculated to account for the potential size differences in the Belgian and Korean populations. A total of 3124 Korean participants were examined using ultrasound. The prevalence of AAAs in this cohort was 0.7%. The combined prevalence of subaneurysmal dilatation and AAA was 1.5%. The prevalence in male smokers older than 65 years was 2.7% (19/715). The mean infrarenal aortic diameter was 17.3 ± 3.1 mm in men and 15.7 ± 2.7 mm in women; the corresponding values in Belgian participants were 19.4 ± 3.0 mm in men and 17.9 ± 2.4 mm in women. The median aortic size index was 0.99 (interquartile range 0.88-1.12). The mean infrarenal aortic diameter was significantly smaller in the Korean cohort than in the Belgian cohort. Considering the observed prevalence of AAAs in different age groups, the age groups which would contribute to most cases was male persons above 66 years in both cohorts.

National trend of the treatment for chronic venous diseases in Korea between 2010 and 2020.

Purpose: Limited data are available on the nationwide trend of treatments for chronic venous disease (CVD). The aim of the present study was to identify the nationwide trends of CVD treatments in Korea. Methods: A serial, cross-sectional study was conducted with the use of time trends to analyze patients with CVD between 2010 and 2020. The trends in the number of patients and procedures were analyzed including sclerotherapy, open surgery, and endovenous thermal ablation (ETA). Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service data were used to analyze the trends. For the statistical analysis, MedCalc Statistical software was used. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 1,867,307 patients with CVD were managed in Korea between 2010 and 2020. The annual number of patients with CVD increased from 143,108 in 2010 to 219,319 in 2020 (risk ratio [RR], 1.53; P < 0.001). The percentage of patients with CVD who had venous ulcer gradually decreased from 3.1% in 2010 to 1.7% in 2020 (RR, 0.86; P < 0.001). The number of conventional surgeries including stripping and local resection of varicose veins decreased from 32,384 in 2010 to 21,792 in 2020 (RR, 0.67; P < 0.001). The number of ETAs performed increased, from 290 in 2011 to 12,126 procedures in 2020 (RR, 41.81; P < 0.001). Conclusion: The total number of patients with CVD increased during the last 11 years. The number of conventional open surgery and sclerotherapy procedures decreased. On the contrary, the number of ETAs significantly increased in Korea.

Evaluation of outcomes with permanent vascular access in an elderly Korean population based on the National Health Insurance Service database.

INTRODUCTION: As nearly half of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) who initiate hemodialysis (HD) are over 65 years old (commonly defined as elderly), the fistula first strategy is controversial even in HD patients ≥65 years. METHODS: In Korea's National Health Insurance Service database from 2008 to 2019, 41,989 elderly (≥ 65 years) HD patients were retrospectively reviewed to identify their clinical characteristics and outcomes. Vascular access (VA) patencies, risk factors associated with patencies and patient survival between arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and arteriovenous graft (AVG) were compared. RESULTS: Elderly AVF group (n = 28,467) had superior primary, primary assisted, and secondary patencies than elderly AVG group (n = 13,522) (all p values are <0.001). Patient survival was also better in the elderly AVF group than in the elderly AVG (p < 0.001). In multivariate Cox regression analyses for diverse outcomes, AVG (vs. AVF) was identified as a risk factor for all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.307; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.272-1.343; p < 0.001), primary patency (adjusted HR: 1.745; 95% CI: 1.701-1.790; p < 0.001), primary-assisted patency (adjusted HR: 2.163; 95% CI: 2.095-2.233; p < 0.001), and secondary patency (adjusted HR: 3.718; 95% CI: 3.533-3.913; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that as a permanent VA for HD, AVF should be strongly considered in elderly (≥ 65 years) ESKD Korean patients. The age limit for AVF creation in ESKD patients should be adjusted more upward.

An Epidemiologic Study of the Incidence and Mortality of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in Koreans Aged ≥50 Years from 2009 to 2018 Based on a National Database.

Large-scale population studies of the incidence of and mortality from abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are needed to develop healthcare policies and priorities. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of AAA and the all-cause mortality from it among Koreans aged ≥50 years from 2009 to 2018 using data from the Korean National Health Insurance System Database. The crude and standardized incidence and all-cause mortality of the disease among patients with unruptured AAA were calculated. A total of 73,933 AAA patients were identified. The overall incidence of AAA in adults ≥50 years during the study period was 37.5 per 100,000 population (49.7 per 100,000 in men and 26.8 per 100,000 in women), with an increase from 32.33 per 100,000 persons in 2009 to 46.85 per 100,000 in 2018. The crude all-cause mortality rate of patients with untreated AAA was 21.26/100 person-years in 2009 and 8.87/100 person-years in 2018, with decreasing trends observed both in men and women. This nationwide study showed that the incidence of AAA in Koreans aged ≥50 years in 2018 was 63.40 per 100,000 in men and 32.07 per 100,000 in women. The overall rates were 0.06% and 0.03%, respectively, with an increasing trend. Mortality has decreased in both treated and untreated patients. The observed increase in incidence suggests a rising burden of AAA in the Korean population, particularly among men. The decreasing mortality rates may indicate improvements in the management and treatment of AAA over the study period.

Public awareness of chronic venous disease in Korea.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the current level of chronic venous disease (CVD) awareness and its relevant influencing factors. METHODS: Online and interview surveys were conducted in two distinct groups from May 14 to June 16, 2020. An online survey was conducted among 900 adults aged 20 to 64 years from the research database, whereas interviews were conducted among 124 patients who presented with CVD symptoms, which covered the awareness of such symptoms and their impact on quality of life. RESULTS: Most respondents reported low levels of CVD awareness by recognizing the disease only by an entity. In 53 respondents who visited the hospital with suspected venous symptoms, the actual diagnosis was made in only 30.2%. CVD diagnosis was associated with increased CVD awareness. Female sex, age of >29 years, higher educational level, and higher income were associated with increased CVD awareness. Approximately 60% of the patients with CVD responded that physical symptoms had a negative impact on their quality of life rather than emotion or appearance. CONCLUSIONS: The public is largely unaware of CVD but not in detail. Educational programs to improve CVD awareness should be implemented to enable appropriate CVD management.