The impact of physical disability on the risk of gastric cancer incidence in elderly patients with diabetes: a focus on regional disparity.

PURPOSE: Elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may have a higher risk of physical disability. This study investigated the incidence of gastric cancer according to physical disability status in elderly patients with T2DM. METHODS: The National Health Insurance Service claims data were used. A total of 76,162 participants aged 60 years or above, diagnosed with T2DM, were included. The association between physical disability status and gastric cancer incidence was evaluated using the Cox regression analysis. Additionally, subgroup analysis was performed according to region. RESULTS: A total of 9,154 (12.0%) individuals had physical disability. Gastric cancer incidence was more common in participants with physical disability (3.3%) than those without (2.4%). A higher risk of gastric cancer incidence was found in elderly T2DM patients with physical disability (Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.18, 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) 1.04-1.34). Such tendencies were maintained regardless of region, although the effect of physical disability status on gastric cancer incidence was particularly significant in individuals residing in non-metropolitan areas (HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.01-1.40). CONCLUSION: Elderly patients with T2DM who had physical disability showed a higher risk of gastric cancer incidence. The findings suggest a need to monitor elderly T2DM patients with disability as they may be susceptible to difficulties in accessing cancer-related healthcare.

Patients with diabetes in regions with population decline and likelihood of receiving diabetes management education and screenings for related complications in Korea.

OBJECTIVE: Many municipal districts in Korea face population decline owing to overall population decreases and aging. We investigated the association between geographic rurality and likelihood of receiving diabetes management education and diabetic retinopathy and diabetes-related kidney disease screenings among adults with diabetes. METHODS: Patient data were obtained from the 2021 Korea Community Health Survey (27,391 individuals; aged ≥19 years and physician-diagnosed with diabetes mellitus). Geographic rurality was categorized based on population decline as follows: with, at risk of, or without population decline. The association between geographic rurality and likelihood of receiving diabetes management education and diabetic retinopathy and diabetes-related kidney disease screenings was examined using multilevel logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Among 27,391 patients with diabetes, 31.1% received diabetes education; 40.0% and 46.4% were screened for diabetic retinopathy and diabetes-related kidney disease, respectively. Individuals residing in regions with population decline were less likely to receive diabetes education (odds ratio [OR] 0.62, 95% CI 0.50-0.75) and diabetic retinopathy (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.70-0.90) and diabetes-related kidney disease (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.55-0.75) screenings, as compared with their counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the importance of increased monitoring and providing diabetes education and screenings for patients with diabetes living in rural areas.

Satisfaction with local healthcare services and medical need among hypertensive patients: a nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: Investigating the factors associated with unmet medical needs is important since it can reflect access to healthcare. This study examined the relationship between the unmet medical needs of patients with hypertension and their satisfaction with the healthcare services available in their neighborhoods. METHODS: Data were from the 2021 Korean Community Health Survey. The sample included individuals aged 19 years who were diagnosed with hypertension. The main outcome measure was unmet medical need. The relationship between the outcome measure and independent variables were analyzed using multivariate logistic regressions, along with a subgroup analysis based on whether patients were currently receiving treatment for hypertension. RESULTS: Unmet medical needs were found in 4.3% of the study participants. A higher likelihood of unmet medical needs was found in individuals not satisfied with the healthcare services at proximity (adjusted OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.49-1.92) compared to those satisfied with services nearby. Similar tendencies were found regardless of whether individuals were currently receiving treatment for hypertension, although larger differences were found between groups in participants who were currently not receiving treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The findings infer the need to consider patient satisfaction with nearby healthcare services in implementing public health policies that address unmet medical need in patients with hypertension.

The Effect of Telehealth on Patterns of Health Care Utilization and Medication Prescription in Patients with Diabetes or Hypertension During COVID-19: A Nationwide Study.

Background: In response to the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic, audio-based telehealth services for consultation and medication prescription were temporarily introduced in Korea. This study investigated the impact of telehealth services on patterns of health care utilization and medication prescription in patients with hypertension or diabetes. Methods: The 2019 to 2021 Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service claims data were used. The difference-in-difference approach was used to investigate the effect of telehealth services between the case and control group before and after the intervention period. The pre-intervention period was from February 24, 2019, to February 23, 2020, and the post-intervention period from February 24, 2020, to February 23, 2021. The control group included individuals who used in-person outpatient services and the case group those who utilized both telehealth and in-person services. Results: A total of 250,640 patients with hypertension and 154,212 patients with diabetes were included. The use of telehealth services was associated with an increase in outpatient visits in those with hypertension (0.07, p = 0.0027) and diabetes (0.32, p < 0.0001). A decrease in hospitalizations (-0.2%, p = 0.0007) and emergency department visits (-0.11%, p = 0.0016) was found in individuals with hypertension. Policy implementation also resulted in an increase in medication possession ratio (MPR) and the proportion of appropriate prescription in patients with hypertension (MPR: 3.0%, p < 0.0001, prescription: 3.1%, p < 0.0001) and diabetes (MPR: 3.4%, p < 0.0001, prescription: 1.7%, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The findings confirm a relationship between implementing telehealth services and improved patterns of health care utilization and medication prescription, suggesting the potential benefit of telehealth in managing chronic diseases.

Area-level deprivation and handwashing behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multilevel analysis on a nationwide survey in Korea.

This study investigated the association between area deprivation level and performance of handwashing behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korean adults. This study used data from the 2015 Population and Housing Census data to measure area deprivation level. The 2020 Korea Community Health Survey was used for all other variables, including hand hygiene behavior (August through November 2020). The association between area deprivation level and practice of handwashing behavior was examined using multilevel logistic regression analysis. The study population comprised 215,676 adults aged 19 years or above. Compared to the least area deprived group, the most deprived group was more likely to not wash hands after using the restroom (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.13-1.82), after coming home (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.43-2.39), and using soap (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.29-1.84). The findings suggest the importance of considering area deprivation in implementing policies that promote handwashing, particularly during a pandemic.

The impact of the incidence of diabetic complications on mortality in colorectal cancer patients with diabetes: A nationwide study.

PURPOSE: The prevalence of diabetes is higher in patients with colorectal cancer, which is important because diabetes is recognized as a risk factor for increased mortality. This study investigated the impact of incident diabetes-related complications on all-cause five-year mortality in older aged colorectal cancer patients with diabetes. METHODS: The 2008 to 2019 National Health Insurance Service data on the elderly were used to identify patients with colorectal cancer aged 60 years or above diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The outcome measure was all-cause five-year mortality. The main independent variable was incident status of diabetes-related complications using the Diabetes Complications Severity Index (DCSI). Survival analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazards model, in addition to the calculation of risk differences. Subgroup analysis was conducted based on the type of complication and DCSI scores. RESULTS: Among 1,312 individuals, 319 (24.3%) died within five years after one year of a cancer diagnosis. The risk of mortality was higher in patients with diabetes and cancer having incident diabetes-related complications (Hazard Ratio 1.29, 95% Confidence Interval 1.03-1.63). These tendencies were generally maintained regardless of the type of complication and DCSI scores. CONCLUSION: The incidence of diabetes-related complications after cancer diagnosis was associated with an increased risk of all-cause five-year mortality in older patients with colorectal cancer and preexisting diabetes.

Impact of the Introduction of a Public Taxi Ride in Rural South Korea on Levels of Healthcare Utilization among Elderly Patients with Diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: A nine-cent public taxi ride service was introduced to improve public transportation in the rural county of Seocheon, which has an ageing population. This study investigated the effect of this policy on the levels of healthcare utilization in individuals with diabetes aged 65 years or above. METHODS: The Korea National Health Insurance System claims data from January 2006 to May 2013 (pre-intervention) and June 2013 to December 2014 (post-intervention) were used. The treatment group consisted of patients residing in Seocheon, and the control group consisted of patients residing in neighbouring areas with a similar demographic composition. The difference-in-difference approach was used to estimate differences in levels of healthcare utilization between the treatment and control groups before and after the intervention period. RESULTS: The introduction of public taxi transportation service was associated with an increase in outpatient visits. Specifically, the number of outpatient visits to public health centres increased, whereas those to tertiary hospitals decreased. The number of inpatient visits to general hospitals also increased. CONCLUSION: The results of this study confirm a relationship between the introduction of public taxi transportation services and increased healthcare utilization in older patients with diabetes in rural areas. These findings are noteworthy considering the importance of continuous care in managing chronic diseases.

Is fear of COVID-19 higher in individuals residing in more deprived areas? A nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the association between various types of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related fear and the level of area deprivation in Korea. METHODS: Different types of COVID-19-related fear were examined, namely fear of infection, fear of dying from infection, fear of public criticism, fear of a family member getting infected and fear of economic loss. The level of area deprivation was measured based on the Area Deprivation Index, which was calculated based on population census data. The association between various types of COVID-19-related fear and the level of area deprivation was analyzed using multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: This study included 199 859 individuals from the 253 administrative divisions in South Korea. Findings indicated that fear was most common in individuals residing in the most deprived areas, followed by those in the mediocre and least deprived areas (fear of infection: odds ratio (OR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.09; fear of dying from infection: OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.19-1.28; fear of public criticism: OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.15-1.24; fear of a family member getting infected: OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.07-1.18). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest the need to monitor and account for area deprivation in managing the psychological health effects of the COVID-19 crisis.

Did the increase in sitting time due to COVID-19 lead to obesity in adolescents?

INTRODUCTION: Since adolescent with obesity is closely linked with the incidence of cardiovascular disease, it is important to identify the factors that increase the prevalence of adolescent with obesity and prevent it early. This study aimed to examine which of the demographic and lifestyle factors including sitting hours per week for purposes other than study had the greatest influence on Korean adolescents with obesity during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: We used the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS) data. The primary outcome was the relationship between sitting hours and obesity during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine which of the demographic and lifestyle factors including sitting hours per week for purposes other than study had the greatest influence on Korean adolescents' obesity status. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity was significantly higher during the COVID-19 than before the COVID-19 (OR, 1.268, CI:1.232-1.305). There was a significant increase in the OR for sitting hours per week for purposes other than study (OR, 1.021, 95% CI, 1.019-1.024). Compared to low household income, the OR decreased for middle (OR = 0.798, 95% CI:0.77, 0.826) and high-income household students (OR, 0.833, 95% CI: 0.803-0.865). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The results of this study confirmed the relationship between sit-ting hours and obesity in adolescents during the pandemic. To prevent adolescent with obesity, further studies are needed to focus on the importance of promoting health policy in adolescents to avoid the continuous rising of its prevalence and needed to understand whether the increase in obesity rates during the pandemic is a temporary trend.

Changes in cervical dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and cervical cancer after expanding the National Cancer Screening Program to younger women in Korea.

The National Cancer Screening Program of South Korea for cervical cancer was expanded from women aged ≥30 years to women aged ≥20 years in 2016. This study investigated the effect of this policy on occurrence rates of cervical dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and cervical cancer in women in their twenties. The National Health Information Database for the years 2012-19 was used. The outcome measures were monthly occurrence rates of cervical dysplasia, cervical carcinoma in situ, and cervical cancer. An interrupted time series analysis was performed to investigate whether the number of occurrences changed after policy implementation. For cervical dysplasia, a pre-intervention decreasing trend of 0.3243 per month (P-value < .0001) was found. The post-intervention trend did not differ significantly, although the slope increased at a rate of 0.4622 per month (P-value < .0001). For carcinoma in situ, a trend of increase at 0.0128 per month (P-value = .0099) was seen before policy implementation. The post-intervention trend did not escalate, but the slope showed an increasing trend of 0.0217 per month (P-value < .0001). For cervical cancer, no significant trend was present before intervention. Occurrences of cervical cancer escalated at a rate of 0.0406 per month (P-value < .0001) after policy implementation, and the slope also showed an increasing trend at a rate of 0.0394 per month (P-value < .0001). Expanding the target population for cervical cancer screening increased detection rates for cervical cancer in women aged between 20 and 29 years.

The association between night eating syndrome and health-related quality of life in Korean adults: a nationwide study.

PURPOSE: Quality of life may be influenced by the presence of eating disorders. This study investigated the association between night eating syndrome (NES) and health-related quality of life in the general population. METHODS: Data were from the 2019 Korea Community Health Survey. The presence of NES was determined using the Night Eating Questionnaire. Health-related quality of life was measured using the 3-level EuroQoL-5 Dimension Index. Multivariable linear regression analyses assessed the association between NES and health-related quality of life. Subgroup analyses were performed based on daily sleep duration. RESULTS: A total of 34,434 individuals aged 19 years or older were included in the study population. Participants with NES (ß = - 4.85, p < 0.001) reported poorer health-related quality of life scores than those without NES. Decreases in health-related quality of life scores among those with NES were greatest in those who slept over 8 h daily (ß = - 12.03, p = 0.004), followed by those who slept less than 6 h (ß = - 5.90, p = 0.006) and participants who slept between 6 and 8 h (ß = - 3.40, p = 0.026) daily. CONCLUSION: Individuals with NES were more likely to have a lower health-related quality of life than those without NES. These findings highlight the potential importance of considering NES in investigating the health-related quality of life. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, well-designed case-control analytic studies.

Association between nuclear factor of activated T cells C2 polymorphisms and treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors.

OBJECTIVES: Nuclear factor of activated T cells C2 (NFATC2) is known as a member of the transcription family and enhances tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) synthesis in human T cells at the gene transcription level. Although NFATC2 has a potential role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progression and treatment, no study has investigated the association between NFATC2 gene polymorphisms and response status in RA patients receiving TNF-α inhibitors. This study aimed to examine the effects of polymorphisms in NFATC2, a TNF-α transcription factor, on response to TNF-α inhibitors. METHODS: This prospective observational study was performed in two centers. Seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were investigated. Good responders were defined as patients with disease activity score (DAS)28 ≤3.2 after 6 months of treatment. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association between genetic polymorphisms and response to the treatment. To test the model's goodness of fit, a Hosmer-Lemeshow test was performed. RESULTS: This study included 98 patients, among whom 46 showed favorable responses to the treatment. Patients with hypertension revealed an approximately three-fold lower response to TNF-α inhibitors compared to those without hypertension (23.5 vs. 76.5%; P = 0.049). After adjusting for covariates, C allele carriers of NFATC2 rs3787186 exhibited approximately three-fold lower rates of treatment response compared to those with TT genotype (P = 0.037). The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that the fitness of the multivariable analysis model was satisfactory (χ2 = 9.745; 8 degrees of freedom; P = 0.283). CONCLUSION: This study suggested an association between the C allele of rs3787186 and treatment response in RA patients receiving TNF-α inhibitors.

Disparities in healthcare expenditures according to economic status in cancer patients undergoing end-of-life care.

BACKGROUNDS: A desire for better outcome influences cancer patients' willingness to pay. Whilst cancer-related costs are known to have a u-shaped distribution, the actual level of healthcare utilized by patients may vary depending on income and ability to pay. This study examined patterns of healthcare expenditures in the last year of life in patients with gastric, colorectal, lung, and liver cancer and analyzed whether differences exist in the level of end-of-life costs for cancer care according to economic status. METHODS: This study is a retrospective cohort study which used data from the Korean National Elderly Sampled Cohort, 2002 to 2015. End-of-life was defined as 1 year before death. Economic status was classified into three categorical variables according to the level of insurance premium (quantiles). The relationship between the dependent and independent variables were analyzed using multiple gamma regression based on the generalized estimated equation (GEE) model. RESULTS: This study included 3083 cancer patients, in which total healthcare expenditure was highest in the high-income group. End-of-life costs increased the most in the last 3 months of life. Compared to individuals in the 'middle' economic status group, those in the 'high' economic status group (RR 1.095, 95% CI 1.044-1.149) were likely to spend higher amounts. The percentage of individuals visiting a general hospital was highest in the 'high' economic status group, followed by the 'middle' and 'low' economic status groups. CONCLUSION: Healthcare costs for cancer care increased at end-of-life in Korea. Patients of higher economic status tended to spender higher amounts of end-of-life costs for cancer care. Further in-depth studies are needed considering that end-of-life medical costs constitute a large proportion of overall expenditures. This study offers insight by showing that expenditures for cancer care tend to increase noticeably in the last 3 months of life and that differences exist in the amount spent according economic status.

How Do Patients Value the Benefit of Minimally Invasive Surgery in Cancer Treatment?

OBJECTIVES: Due to the increasing cost of cancer treatment, the demand for value-based healthcare is increasing. Although several value frameworks have been developed recently in the field of oncology, the nononcological benefits of minimally invasive surgery have not been addressed. This study aimed to estimate how patients value nononcological benefits in minimally invasive cancer surgery. METHODS: The value that patients placed on various benefits of cancer surgery was termed throughout the study as patient value (PV). To quantize PVs for the benefits of cancer surgery, a one-tiered analytic hierarchy process model was constructed. The model includes 6 well-known surgical outcomes, including nononcological benefits. The study participants included 303 patients with cancer and family caregivers who participated in a questionnaire survey. RESULTS: The PVs for "decreased operation time," "reduced length of hospital stay," and "improved cosmetic results" were 0.050, 0.044, and 0.045, respectively, whereas the PVs for "increased survival," "prevention of disease recurrence," and "avoidance of complications" were 0.366, 0.292, and 0.203, respectively. The PV placed on nononcological benefits from minimally invasive surgery was one-tenth (10.2%) of the total value. CONCLUSIONS: Nononcological benefits arising from minimally invasive surgery were relatively small but nonnegligible. This value should be considered in the process of developing a value framework for cancer surgery and shared decision making.

Health-related quality of life among cancer patients and survivors and its relationship with current employment status.

INTRODUCTION: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important end point to measure in cancer patients and survivors. This study investigated whether differences in HRQOL exist between cancer patients, cancer survivors, and the general population, in addition to how employment status interplays in this relationship. METHODS: Data were from the 2019 Korea National Health & Nutrition Examination. HRQoL was measured using the HRQoL Instrument with 8 Items (HINT-8) index, which encompasses physical, mental, social, and health-related aspects. All variables were entered simultaneously into the fully adjusted model. Multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between HRQoL in cancer patients and cancer survivors compared to the general population. An interaction analysis was conducted based on current employment status. RESULTS: A total of 3805 cancer patients, 109 cancer survivors, and 3609 individuals of the general population were included in this study. The HRQoL scores of cancer patients (ß: - 0.0221, p-value: 0.0218) were poorer compared to the general population with statistical significance. In contrast, the HRQoL scores of cancer survivors did not show statistically significant differences. The interaction term between cancer status and economic activity status was statistically significant for cancer patients * unemployed (ß: - 0.0557, p-value: 0.0020). CONCLUSION: Cancer patients had lower HRQoL than the general population. Additionally, the interaction analysis reveals that unemployed cancer patients have poorer HRQoL scores than the employed general population. The results reveal that cancer patients are vulnerable to decreases in HRQoL, in particular those who are currently unemployed.

The association between episodes of night eating and levels of depression in the general population.

OBJECTIVE: Research has suggested that a correlation may exist between depressive mood and episodes of night eating. This study aimed to examine whether having episodes of night eating was associated with increased levels of depression. METHOD: This study used data from the 2019 Korea Community Health Survey and the study population consisted of adults aged ≥19 years. Depression levels were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. We investigated the patients' general characteristics using t-tests and analysis of variance. The association between depression levels and episodes of night eating was analyzed using a multivariable linear regression analysis. Subgroup analysis was conducted based on daily sleep duration. RESULTS: We analyzed 34,358 individuals and found higher average depression scores (ß: 4.99, p < .001) in those with episodes of night eating than those without. Large effect sizes were found for differences in depression scores between participants with and without episodes of night eating. The magnitude of this increase was particularly pronounced in individuals who reported 9 or more hours of sleep per day. DISCUSSION: An association was found between levels of depression and episodes of night eating as individuals with episodes of night eating were more likely to have higher depression scores. Our findings suggest the potential need to consider night eating when addressing the mental health of the general population.

COVID-19 Prognosis in Association with Antidepressant Use.

INTRODUCTION: Various subtypes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and variations among immune systems in different ethnicities need to be considered to understand the outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to provide evidence for the association between the use of antidepressants and the severity of COVID-19. METHODS: We used the National Health Information Data-COVID database. Patients with one or more prescriptions of any antidepressant were selected as the exposure group. Detailed analyses were performed to determine the type of medication associated with the prognosis. RESULTS: The use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) was associated with a lower risk of severe outcomes of COVID-19, whereas the use of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) increased the risk of poor prognosis of COVID-19. Detailed analyses showed that escitalopram was significantly associated with better clinical outcomes, and nortriptyline was linked to more severe COVID-19 outcomes. CONCLUSION: This study revealed an association between antidepressants and COVID-19 prognosis. SSRIs were significantly associated with a lower risk of severe outcomes, whereas TCAs were related to the poor prognosis of COVID-19.

The Effect of Chronic Disease Management Program on the Risk of Complications in Patients With Hypertension in Korea.

BACKGROUND: A chronic disease management program was implemented in April 2012 to lower out-of-pocket costs for repeat visits to the same clinic. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between participating in this program and the onset of complications among patients with hypertension using whole-nation claims data. METHODS: We used National Health Insurance Service data (2011-2018) and patients with newly detected hypertension from 2012 to 2014 were selected. Chronic disease management program reduces the out-of-pocket expenses of consultation fee from 30% to 20% when patients enroll in this program by agreeing to visit the same clinic for the treatment of hypertension or diabetes. As the dependent variable, acute myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and heart failure (HF) were selected. For analysis, cox proportional hazards model was used. RESULTS: Total participants were 827,577, among which 102,831(12.6%) subjects participated in the chronic disease management. Participants of the chronic disease management program were more likely to show lower hazard ratios (HRs) than those of non-participants in terms of all complications (MI: HR, 0.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.68-0.82; stroke: HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.72-0.78; CKD: HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.85-0.96; HF: HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.52-0.61). CONCLUSION: The results showed that participants of the chronic disease management program were less likely to have hypertension complications compared to non-participants. Enhancing the participation rate may be related to better outcomes and reducing medical expenses among patients with chronic diseases.

Association of risk factors and bleeding complications in Asian patients taking edoxaban.

AIMS: Asian patients are known to be more prone to bleeding complications than patients of other ethnicities. Therefore, there are possibilities of other risk factors that should be given special consideration for dosage adjustment in this specific ethnic group. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for bleeding complications in Asian patients under appropriate edoxaban dosage regimens. METHODS: Data on patients taking proper dosages, based on the Lixiana package insert, were analysed. Univariate and multivariable analyses were conducted to evaluate associations between risk factors and bleeding outcomes. Subgroup analysis was performed on high-risk patients for bleeding complications whose edoxaban dose was reduced according to the package insert. RESULTS: In total, 346 patients were included. Among them, 32 patients experienced bleeding complications. Patients with weight ≤60 kg and with cancer showed around 3.3- and 3.4-fold increased risk of bleeding complications compared to heavier patients (>60 kg) and those without cancer, respectively. In subgroup analysis with high-risk patients who took low-dose edoxaban (15 and 30 mg), weight ≤60 kg remained a significant factor for bleeding outcomes. CONCLUSION: This study showed that weight ≤60 kg and the presence of cancers could affect bleeding complications, which occurred despite proper edoxaban treatment in Asian patients. Therefore, more strict dosage guideline could be considered in populations with high proportions of Asian ethnicities.

Is Korean society prepared for the financial burden of novel anticancer drugs? A survey of willingness to pay among National Health Insurance beneficiaries.

PURPOSE: Since South Korea's 5-year policy of increasing National Health Insurance (NHI) coverage began in 2017, related pharmaceutical expenditures have increased by 41%. Thus, there is a critical need to examine society's willingness to pay (WTP) for increased premiums to include new anticancer drugs in NHI coverage. METHODS: Participants aged 20-65 were invited to a web-based online survey. The acceptable effectiveness threshold for a new anticancer drug to be included in NHI coverage and the WTP for an anticancer drug with modest effectiveness were determined by open-ended questions. RESULTS: A total of 1817 respondents completed the survey. Participants with a family history of cancer or a higher perceived risk of getting cancer had significantly higher WTPs (RR [relative risk] = 1.17 and 1.21, both P = 0.012). Participants who agreed on adding coverage for new anticancer drugs with a life gain of 3 months had a higher WTP (RR = 1.70, P < 0.0001). These associations were greater among the employed and low-income groups. The adjusted mean of acceptable effectiveness for a new anticancer drug was 21.5 months (interquartile range [IQR] = 19.3 to 24.0, median = 21.9). The WTP for a new anticancer drug with a life gain of 3 months was $5.2 (IQR = 4.0 to 6.0, median = 4.6). CONCLUSION: The unrealistic expectations in Korean society for new anticancer agents may provoke challenging issues of fairness and equity. Although Korean society is willing to accept premium increases, our data suggest that such increases would benefit only a small proportion of advanced cancer patients.