Association Between Atrial Fibrillation and Diabetes-Related Complications: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the associations between concurrent atrial fibrillation and diabetes-related complications among patients with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This nationwide observational cohort study used the health checkup database from the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Patients diagnosed with diabetes who underwent health checkups between 2009 and 2012 were investigated. The patients with atrial fibrillation were matched in a 1:5 ratio with those without atrial fibrillation using propensity scores. Study outcomes included macrovascular, microvascular (diabetic retinopathy and diabetic nephropathy), and diabetic foot complications. The risks of clinical outcomes were measured using hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs. RESULTS: A total of 65,760 patients with diabetes were analyzed (54,800 without atrial fibrillation and 10,960 with atrial fibrillation). After well-balanced propensity score matching, atrial fibrillation was associated with significantly higher risks of macrovascular complications (HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.09-1.16), diabetic nephropathy (HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.16-1.30), and diabetic foot complications (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.09-1.17) compared with no atrial fibrillation, while the risk of diabetic retinopathy was comparable (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.96-1.03). Patients with atrial fibrillation had a significantly higher risk of diabetic foot amputation (HR 4.12, 95% CI 1.98-8.56). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with diabetes, concurrent atrial fibrillation was associated with increased risks for diabetes-related macrovascular complications, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic foot. Such patients require holistic management to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes.

Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly Adults in Korea: Based on Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019 to 2020.

BACKGRUOUND: We evaluated the prevalence and management of diabetes mellitus (DM) in elderly Korean patients based on data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). METHODS: A total of 3,068 adults aged 65 years and older (19.8% of total population) were analyzed using KNHANES from 2019 to 2020. Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates, and comorbidities were analyzed. Lifestyle behaviors and energy intake were also measured. RESULTS: The prevalence of DM and prediabetes was 29.6% and 50.5%, respectively. The awareness, treatment and control rates were 76.4%, 73.3%, and 28.3%, respectively. The control rate was 77.0% if A1C <7.5% criteria was used. The mean A1C value of individuals with known DM was 7.1%, and 14.5% of the known DM patients had A1C ≥8.0%. Abdominal obesity, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia were combined with DM in 63.9%, 71.7%, and 70.7%, respectively, and the rate of integrated management was 36.0% (A1C <7.5% criteria). A total of 40.1% of those with DM walked regularly. The percentage of energy intake from carbohydrates was higher in those with DM than in those without DM (P=0.044), while those of fat (P=0.003) and protein (P=0.025) were lower in those with DM than in those without DM in women. CONCLUSION: In 2019 to 2020, three of 10 adults aged 65 years and older in Korea had DM, and approximately 70% of them had comorbidities. A strategy for more individualized comprehensive care for the elderly patients with DM is urgently needed.

Comparison of Operational Definition of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Based on Data from Korean National Health Insurance Service and Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the validity and reliability of the operational definition of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) based on the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database. METHODS: Adult subjects (≥40 years old) included in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2008 to 2017 were merged with those from the NHIS health check-up database, producing a cross-sectional dataset. We evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and agreement of the NHIS criteria for defining T2DM by comparing them with the KNHANES criteria as a standard reference. RESULTS: In the study population (n=13,006), two algorithms were devised to determine from the NHIS dataset whether the diagnostic claim codes for T2DM were accompanied by prescription codes for anti-diabetic drugs (algorithm 1) or not (algorithm 2). Using these algorithms, the prevalence of T2DM was 14.9% (n=1,942; algorithm 1) and 20.8% (n=2,707; algorithm 2). Good reliability in defining T2DM was observed for both algorithms (Kappa index, 0.73 [algorithm 1], 0.63 [algorithm 2]). However, the accuracy (0.93 vs. 0.89) and specificity (0.96 vs. 0.90) tended to be higher for algorithm 1 than for algorithm 2. The validity (accuracy, ranging from 0.91 to 0.95) and reliability (Kappa index, ranging from 0.68 to 0.78) of defining T2DM by NHIS criteria were independent of age, sex, socioeconomic status, and accompanied hypertension or dyslipidemia. CONCLUSION: The operational definition of T2DM based on population-based NHIS claims data, including diagnostic codes and prescription codes, could be a valid tool to identify individuals with T2DM in the Korean population.

Improved prognosis with integrated care management including early rhythm control and healthy lifestyle modification in patients with concurrent atrial fibrillation and diabetes mellitus: a nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with concurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) and diabetes mellitus (DM) [AF-DM] have a high risk of cardiovascular and diabetes-related complications, but are less engaged in a comprehensive treatment approach. We evaluated the association of early rhythm control (ERC), lifestyle modification (LSM), and a combination of ERC and LSM with cardiovascular or diabetes-related complication risk in patients with AF-DM (type 2). METHODS: From the National Health Information Database, 47,940 patients diagnosed with AF-DM in 2009-2016 were included. We defined ERC as rhythm control therapy within two years of AF diagnosis and LSM as adherence to ≥ 2 of the healthy behaviors among non-current smoking, non-drinking, and regular exercise. We compared the primary (ischemic stroke) and secondary (macro- and microvascular complications, glycemic emergency, and all-cause death) outcomes in four groups: non-ERC and non-LSM (group 1), LSM only (group 2), ERC only (group 3), and both ERC and LSM (group 4). RESULTS: Of total, 10,617 (22%), 26,730 (55.8%), 2,903 (6.1%), and 7,690 (16.0%) were classified into groups 1 to 4, in sequence. The mean duration from AF diagnosis to ERC was 25.6 ± 75.5 days. During 4.0 (interquartile range: 2.5-6.2) years' follow-up, groups 2 and 3 were associated with 23% and 33% lower risks of stroke than group 1, respectively. Group 4 was associated with the lowest risk of stroke: hazard ratio (HR) 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51-0.67, p < 0.001. Regarding secondary outcomes, the lowest risks were also observed in group 4; macro- and microvascular complications, glycemic emergency, and all-cause death had HRs (95% CIs) of 0.63 (0.56-0.70), 0.88 (0.82-0.94), 0.72 (0.62-0.84), and 0.80 (0.73-0.87), respectively, all p < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: For AF-DM patients, ERC and LSM exert a synergistic effect in preventing cardiovascular and diabetes-related complications with the greatest lowered risk of stroke. A comprehensive treatment approach should be pursued in AF-DM patients.

Waist circumference and end-stage renal disease based on glycaemic status: National Health Insurance Service data 2009-2018.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This study aimed to examine the effect of waist circumference (WC) on the risk for ESRD based on glycaemic status in a Korean population-based sample. METHODS: This cohort study with a 9.2-year follow-up period used a population-based National Health Insurance Service health checkup database with approximately 10 585 852 participants who were followed up from 2009 to the time of ESRD diagnosis. WC was categorized into seven levels in 5-cm increments, with Level 4 as the reference group. Glycaemic status was categorized into the following groups: normal fasting glucose (NFG), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), newly diagnosed T2DM, T2DM treated with ≤2 oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHAs) and diabetes treated with ≥3 OHAs or insulin. We calculated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for ESRD according to WC values and glycaemic status of the participants. RESULTS: The study finally included 10 177 245 patients with a mean age of 47.1 (13.8) years. The study population included 5 604 446 men (55.1%) and 4 572 799 women (45.9%). In total, 8.3% (n = 877 143) of the study population had diabetes. During the mean follow-up of 9.2 (1.0) years (93 554 951 person-years of follow-up), 23 031 individuals were newly diagnosed with ESRD. The ESRD risk increased in parallel with an increase in WC in participants without T2DM, that is, the NFG and IFG groups (adjusted HRs [95% CIs] of WC Levels 4, 5 and 6: 1.17 [1.09-1.26], 1.37 [1.25-1.51] and 1.84 [1.63-2.07] in the NFG group and 1.06 [0.97-1.16], 1.23 [1.10-1.38] and 1.80 [1.57-2.06] in the IFG group, respectively). In patients with T2DM, the risk for ESRD was significantly increased in those with a low WC (adjusted HRs [95% CIs] of WC Level 1: 2.23 [1.77-2.80], 3.18 [2.70-3.74] and 10.31 [9.18-11.59] in patients with newly diagnosed diabetes, patients on ≤2 OHAs and those on ≥3 OHAs or insulin, respectively). The association between WC and ESRD thus showed a J-shaped pattern in patients with newly diagnosed T2DM and a U-shaped pattern in those on ≤2 OHAs and on ≥3 OHAs or insulin. CONCLUSIONS: Central obesity substantially increases the risk of developing ESRD regardless of glycaemic status. The harmful effects of low WC only become significant with the progression of T2DM.

Proton Pump Inhibitor Co-Therapy in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Treated with Oral Anticoagulants and a Prior History of Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Bleeding.

PURPOSE: The risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) can be mitigated by proton pump inhibitor (PPI) co-therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with anticoagulants. We aimed to evaluate the effect of PPIs on the risk of GIB in Asian patients with AF, treated with oral anticoagulants (OACs), and with a prior history of upper GIB. METHODS: Using a nationwide claims database, OAC-naïve patients with AF and a history of upper GIB before initiating OAC treatment between January 2010 and April 2018 were included. Patients were categorized into 10 groups according to the index OAC (warfarin, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, apixaban, and edoxaban) and whether or not they received PPI co-therapy, and were followed up for incidence of major GIB. RESULTS: Among a total of 42,048 patients, 40% were prescribed PPIs as co-therapy with OACs. Over a median 0.6 years (interquartile ranges 0.2-1.7 years) of follow-up, rivaroxaban use without PPIs showed the highest crude incidence of major GIB (2.62 per 100 person-years), followed by the use of warfarin without a PPI (2.20 per 100 person-years). Compared to the patients without PPI use, PPI co-therapy was associated with a significantly lower risk of major GIB, by 40% and 36%, in the rivaroxaban and warfarin groups, respectively. In dabigatran, apixaban, and edoxaban users, PPI co-therapy did not show a significant reduction in the risk of major GIB. CONCLUSION: Among patients with AF receiving anticoagulant treatment and with a prior history of upper GIB, PPI co-therapy was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of major GIB in patients treated with rivaroxaban and warfarin.

Weight change and the incidence of heart failure in the Korean population: data from the National Health Insurance Health checkup 2005-2015.

AIMS: Heart failure (HF) is associated with obesity, but the relationship between weight change and HF is inconsistent. We examined the relationship between weight change and the incidence of HF in the Korean population. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study design. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 11 210 394 subjects (6 198 542 men and 5 011 852 women) >20 years of age were enrolled in this study. Weight change over 4 years divided into seven categories from weight loss ≥15% to weight gain ≥15%. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals for the incidence of HF were analysed. The HR of HF showed a slightly reverse J-shaped curve by increasing weight change in total and >15% weight loss shows the highest HR (HR 1.647) followed by -15 to -10% weight loss (HR = 1.444). When using normal body mass index with stable weight group as a reference, HR of HF decreased as weight increased in underweight subjects and weight gain ≥15% in obesity Stage II showed the highest HR (HR = 2.97). Sustained weight for 4 years in the underweight and obesity Stages I and II increased the incidence of HF (HR = 1.402, 1.092, and 1.566, respectively). CONCLUSION: Both weight loss and weight gain increased HR for HF. Sustained weight in the obesity or underweight categories increased the incidence of HF.

Risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients on oral anticoagulant and proton pump inhibitor co-therapy.

BACKGROUND: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are known to reduce the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients on oral anticoagulants, and patients are increasingly on oral anticoagulants and PPI co-therapy. However, evidence is lacking on the safety and effectiveness of oral anticoagulants when co-administered with PPIs. METHODS: Among patients initiating oral anticoagulants (warfarin and non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants [NOACs], i.e. rivaroxaban, dabigatran, apixaban, and edoxaban) during 2013-2017, those concomitantly prescribed PPIs were identified (n = 19,851). The primary endpoint was hospitalization for major upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and secondary endpoints were death and ischemic stroke. RESULTS: During a mean 1.4 years of follow-up, the primary endpoint occurred in 512 (2.58%) patients. Overall, NOACs were associated with lower upper gastrointestinal bleeding risk after adjustment for age, sex, comorbidities and concomitant medications (adjusted hazard ratio 0.78, 95% confidence interval 0.65-0.94), compared to warfarin. There was no significant difference in upper gastrointestinal bleeding risk among the individual NOACs. This trend of reduced risk for upper gastrointestinal bleeding in NOACs compared to warfarin was consistent for both regular and reduced doses, throughout bleeding risk groups, and other subgroup analyses. NOACs were also associated with lower risk of death compared to warfarin. The risk for ischemic stroke was not significantly different among the oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSION: In patients on oral anticoagulant and PPI co-therapy, NOACs were associated with lower risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and mortality compared to warfarin, while there was no difference among the oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention. In patients on PPI therapy, NOACs may preferred over warfarin for decreasing risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and mortality.

Trends in the incidence and prevalence of end-stage renal disease with hemodialysis in entire Korean population: A nationwide population-based study.

ABSTRACT: Data on the overall epidemiology and temporal trends of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring hemodialysis in Korea are scarce. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and incidence of ESRD requiring hemodialysis in Korea between 2002 and 2017.Using the National Health Insurance Service database, we analyzed data from the entire Korean population between 2002 and 2017. Hemodialysis patients were identified using rare incurable disease codes (V001) or prescription of medical fee codes of hemodialysis (O7020 and O7021). We only included patients who had been maintained on hemodialysis for more than 90 days from the date of dialysis initiation, to exclude patients who required short-term dialysis for acute kidney injury, conversion to peritoneal dialysis, or kidney transplantation.During the 16-year follow-up, the number of hemodialysis patients in Korea has steadily increased from 11,215 in 2002 to 67,486 in 2017. The mean age of these patients has gradually increased from 55.57 ±â€Š13.31 years in 2002 to 62.13 ±â€Š13.23 years in 2017. In 2017, the crude prevalence rate of hemodialysis was 1303.4 per million population. Overall, the number of men tended to be somewhat higher than that of women, and the proportion of men increased slightly from 55.56% in 2002 to 58.45% in 2017. The proportion of diabetic patients increased rapidly from 23.84% to 47.84%, and the percentage of dyslipidemic patients rose from 18.9% to 86.7%. The number of incident hemodialysis patients increased significantly from 4406 in 2003 to 12,134 in 2014, and then decreased to 8090 in 2017. In the incident cases of hemodialysis, the observed increase in the proportion of male patients and in diabetes and dyslipidemia were similar to that of prevalent patients. The more recent era of hemodialysis initiation, the better 5-year survival rates were observed.The prevalence and incidence of hemodialysis in Korea gradually increased between 2002 and 2017. The proportion of men, and patients with diabetes and dyslipidemia requiring hemodialysis also increased continuously. The survival rate of hemodialysis patients was gradually improving. These findings may serve as a reference for future epidemiological studies on hemodialysis in Korea.

Sex differences in the prognosis of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

We investigated sex-related differences in the prognosis of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) using the Korea National Health Insurance Service database. From 2010 to 2016, 9524 patients diagnosed with HCM and had more than 1-year follow-up period were analyzed. The primary endpoint was the composite of cardiovascular death or new-onset heart failure (HF) admission. Propensity score-matching analysis was performed to adjust for different baseline characteristics. With a 4.4-years' median follow-up interval (range 2.0-6.6 years) and male predominance (77.6%), women with HCM were older (52.6 ± 9.7 vs. 51.4 ± 9.1, p < 0.001), had lower incomes, more comorbidities based on Charlson comorbidity index. Women with HCM had a higher incidence of the primary endpoint than men (incidence rate: 34.15 vs. 22.83 per 1000 person-years, log-rank p < 0.001). Multivariable Cox analysis showed that female sex was a poor prognostic factor for the primary endpoint (HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.24-1.64, p < 0.001). This was mainly driven by a higher incidence of new-onset HF admission (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.34-1.80). However, there was no difference in the incidence of cardiovascular death between the sexes. This result was concordant in the propensity score-matched cohort. In conclusion, women with HCM have worse prognosis, which was mainly driven by a higher new-onset HF admission.

The incidence of malignant brain tumors is increased in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: A national health insurance survey.

The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and malignant brain tumors has yet to be fully investigated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to elucidate the effect of OSA on brain tumor incidence based on the Korea National Health Insurance Service (KNHIS) dataset. The KNHIS data between 2007 and 2014 were analyzed, and the primary endpoint was newly diagnosed malignant brain tumor. A total of 198,574 subjects aged ≥ 20 years with newly diagnosed OSA were enrolled in the study, and 992,870 individuals were selected as a control group based on propensity score matching (PSM) by gender and age. The average follow-up duration was 4.8 ± 2.3 years. The hazard ratios (HRs) for brain tumor for patients with OSA were 1.78 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42-2.21) in Model 1 (not adjusted with any covariate) and 1.67 (95% CI: 1.34-2.09) in Model 2 (adjusted for income level, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and COPD). In subgroup analysis by gender, the odds ratios (OR) of OSA were 1.82 (95% CI: 1.41-2.33) in men and 1.26 (95% CI: 0.74-2.03) in women. The ORs were 1.97 (95% CI: 1.15-3.24) in the older (age ≥ 65 years) group, 1.66 (95% CI: 1.25-2.17) in the middle-aged (40 ≤ age < 65 years) group, and 1.41 (0.78-2.44) in the young (20 ≤ age < 40 years) group. In conclusion, OSA may increase the incidence of brain tumors.

Metabolic Syndrome and Risk of Lung Cancer: An Analysis of Korean National Health Insurance Corporation Database.

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic syndrome is known to increase the risk of several cancers. However, the association between lung cancer and metabolic syndrome remains unclear. Thus, we investigated the impact of metabolic syndrome on the incidence of lung cancer. METHODS: This study enrolled participants in a health screening program provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service between January 2009 and December 2012. The incidence of lung cancer was observed until December 2016. We analyzed the risk of lung cancer according to the presence of metabolic syndrome, metabolic syndrome components, and number of metabolic syndrome components. RESULTS: During the study, 45 635 new cases of lung cancer were recorded among 9 586 753 participants. The presence of metabolic syndrome and all its components was positively associated with the risk of lung cancer in men after multivariate adjustment (hazard ratio [HR] of metabolic syndrome 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.18). The risk of lung cancer increased with the number of components present. The effect of metabolic syndrome on the increasing risk of lung cancer is may be higher in underweight male ever-smokers than in other participants. CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer in men. Moreover, the higher the number of metabolic syndrome components, the higher the risk of lung cancer.

Gamma glutamyltransferase and risk of dementia in prediabetes and diabetes.

Diabetes is associated with cognitive impairment and greater risk for dementia, but the role of gamma-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) in dementia has not been elucidated. We determined incident dementia including Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, analyzing data from participants aged 40 years or older in the National Health Insurance Database, collected by the National Health Insurance Service in Korea, from January 2009 to December 2015. During a median follow-up of 7.6 years, 272,657 participants were diagnosed as having dementia. Higher serum γ-GT was associated with increased risk of dementia (HR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.20-1.24), and had a strong positive association with early onset dementia (HR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.24-1.40). An additive impact of higher γ-GT on dementia was observed regardless of glycemic status, and prevalent diabetes with the highest γ-GT quartile had a 1.8-fold increased dementia risk (HR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.78-1.85). This effect of γ-GT concentration in diabetes was more prominent in individuals with vascular dementia (HR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.84-2.04). In subgroup analysis, young age, male sex, and relatively healthy subjects with a higher γ-GT quartile had more increased dementia risk. In conclusion, γ-GT concentration as well as glycemic status could be a future risk factor for dementia in the general population.

Underweight Increases the Risk of End-Stage Renal Diseases for Type 2 Diabetes in Korean Population: Data From the National Health Insurance Service Health Checkups 2009-2017.

OBJECTIVE: There is a controversy over the association between obesity and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in people with or without type 2 diabetes; therefore, we examined the effect of BMI on the risk of ESRD according to glycemic status in the Korean population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The study monitored 9,969,848 participants who underwent a National Health Insurance Service health checkup in 2009 from baseline to the date of diagnosis of ESRD during a follow-up period of ∼8.2 years. Obesity was categorized by World Health Organization recommendations for Asian populations, and glycemic status was categorized into the following five groups: normal, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), newly diagnosed diabetes, diabetes <5 years, and diabetes ≥5 years. RESULTS: Underweight was associated with a higher risk of ESRD in all participants after adjustment for all covariates. In the groups with IFG, newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, diabetes duration <5 years, and diabetes ≥5 years, the hazard ratio (HR) of the underweight group increased with worsening glycemic status (HR 1.431 for IFG, 2.114 for newly diagnosed diabetes, 4.351 for diabetes <5 years, and 6.397 for diabetes ≥5 years), using normal weight with normal fasting glucose as a reference. The adjusted HRs for ESRD were also the highest in the sustained underweight group regardless of the presence of type 2 diabetes (HR 1.606 for nondiabetes and 2.14 for diabetes). CONCLUSIONS: Underweight showed more increased HR of ESRD according to glycemic status and diabetes duration in the Korean population. These associations also persisted in the group with sustained BMI during the study period.

Risk of Dementia in Gastric Cancer Survivors Who Underwent Gastrectomy: A Nationwide Study in Korea.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to compare the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD), between gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy and the general population. METHODS: All patients (n = 63,998) aged ≥ 50 years who received a diagnosis of gastric cancer and underwent curative gastrectomy between 2007 and 2012 and a noncancer control population (n = 203,276), matched by age and sex, were identified from the Korean National Health Insurance Services and traced until 2017. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for dementia were calculated with a Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Gastric cancer patients who received a gastrectomy showed an increased risk of AD [adjusted hazard ration (aHR) 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.14], and the risk was especially marked for those who received a total gastrectomy (aHR 1.39, 95% CI 1.25-1.54). Gastric cancer survivors showed a decreased risk for VaD (aHR 0.85; 95% CI 0.73-0.98) regardless of operation type. Those who received continual vitamin B12 supplementation after a total gastrectomy were less likely than controls to develop AD (aHR 0.71; 95% CI 0.54-0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with controls, gastric cancer patients who received a total gastrectomy had an increased incidence of AD and a decreased risk of VaD. Our results suggest that vitamin B12 deficiency might play a role in the development of AD and highlight the need for vitamin B12 supplementation after total gastrectomy.

Effectiveness and Safety of Contemporary Oral Anticoagulants Among Asians With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation.

Background and Purpose- Limited evidence exists on the effectiveness and safety of warfarin and all 4 available non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) from current clinical practice in the Asian population with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. We aimed to evaluate the comparative effectiveness and safety of warfarin and 4 NOACs. Methods- We studied a retrospective nonrandomized observational cohort of oral anticoagulant naïve nonvalvular patients with atrial fibrillation treated with warfarin or NOACs (rivaroxaban, dabigatran, apixaban, or edoxaban) from January 2015 to December 2017, based on the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment database. For the comparisons, warfarin to 4 NOACs and NOAC to NOAC comparison cohorts were balanced using the inverse probability of treatment weighting. Ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleeding, major bleeding, and a composite clinical outcome were evaluated. Results- A total of 116 804 patients were included (25 420 with warfarin, 35 965 with rivaroxaban, 17 745 with dabigatran, 22 177 with apixaban, and 15 496 with edoxaban). Compared with warfarin, all NOACs were associated with lower risks of ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleeding, major bleeding, and composite outcome. Apixaban and edoxaban showed a lower rate of ischemic stroke compared with rivaroxaban and dabigatran. Apixaban, dabigatran, and edoxaban had a lower rate of gastrointestinal bleeding and major bleeding compared with rivaroxaban. The composite clinical outcome was nonsignificantly different for apixaban versus edoxaban. Conclusions- In this large contemporary nonrandomized Asian cohort, all 4 NOACs were associated with lower rates of ischemic stroke and major bleeding compared with warfarin. Differences in clinical outcomes between NOACs may give useful guidance for physicians to choose drugs to fit their particular patient clinical profile.

Associations between urine iodine and allergic diseases in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2015: A STROBE-compliant article.

BACKGROUND: The associations between excessive iodine intake and allergic diseases have not been evaluated. PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the associations of allergic diseases with urinary iodine concentration (UIC). STUDY DESIGN: A nation-wide population-based survey conducted by the the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention METHODS: In total, 5598 participants older than 19 years who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2015 were enrolled for analysis. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the odds ratios for allergic diseases according to UIC. RESULTS: Allergic diseases were associated with the highest UIC quartile. Compared with subjects in lower UIC quartiles, subjects in the highest UIC quartile were at greater risk for atopic dermatitis (OR = 1.471, 95% CI, 1.028-2.107) and allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.362, 95% CI, 1.129-1.644) after adjustment for age and sex. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the highest UIC quartile is associated with allergic diseases. Further laboratory and clinical studies are needed to evaluate the associations between excessive iodine intake and allergic diseases.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty May Reduce the Incidence of Dementia Caused by Obstructive Sleep Apnea: National Insurance Service Survey 2007-2014.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Numerous studies have found that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) causes or exacerbates dementia, including Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia. However, the evidence is often conflicting. Moreover, no study has investigated the effect of surgical treatment for OSA on dementia. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the Korea National Health Insurance Corporation. A total of 125,417 participants (age 40 years or older) with a new diagnosis of OSA between 2007 and 2014 were included. The participants were classified into two groups: those who underwent uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP group, n = 12,664) and those who underwent no surgical treatment (no surgery group, n = 112,753). Propensity score matching by age and sex was used to select the control group of 627,085 participants. Mean follow-up duration was 4.6 ± 2.3 years. The primary endpoint was newly diagnosed Alzheimer dementia, vascular dementia, or other types of dementia. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval of dementia was calculated for patients with OSA. In the no-surgery group, the incidence of Alzheimer disease (HR 1.30 [1.22-1.38]), vascular dementia (HR 1.20 [1.05-1.36]), and other types of dementia (HR 1.35 [1.20-1.54]) was significantly higher than those among the control group. In the UPPP group, the incidence of Alzheimer disease (HR 1.08 [0.80-1.45]), vascular dementia (HR 0.58 [0.30-1.12]), and other types of dementia (HR 1.00 [0.57-1.77]) was similar to control levels. CONCLUSIONS: Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty may have a preventive effect on dementia in patients with OSA.

Edoxaban in Asian Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: Effectiveness and Safety.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether edoxaban shows better risk reduction of ischemic stroke, bleeding, and all-cause mortality than warfarin in Asian patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). OBJECTIVES: This study compared the effectiveness and safety of edoxaban with those of warfarin in a Korean population with AF. METHODS: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, we included new users of edoxaban and warfarin in patients with AF from January 2014 to December 2016 (n = 4,200 on edoxaban, and n = 31,565 on warfarin) and analyzed the risk of ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), hospitalization for gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, hospitalization for major bleeding, and all-cause death. The propensity score matching method was used to balance covariates across edoxaban and warfarin users. RESULTS: We compared a 1:3 propensity score-matched cohort of patients with AF who were new users of edoxaban and warfarin (n = 4,061 and n = 12,183, respectively). Baseline characteristics were balanced between the 2 groups (median age 72 years; median CHA2DS2-VASc [congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes mellitus, prior stroke, transient ischemic attack, or thromboembolism, vascular disease, age 65-74 years, sex category (female)] score 3). Edoxaban users had a significantly lower risk of ischemic stroke (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.693; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.487 to 0.959), ICH (HR: 0.407; 95% CI: 0.182 to 0.785), hospitalization for GI bleeding (HR: 0.597; 95% CI: 0.363 to 0.930), hospitalization for major bleeding (HR: 0.532; 95% CI: 0.352 to 0.773), and all-cause death (HR: 0.716; 95% CI: 0.549 to 0.918) than warfarin users. All subgroups (age, sex, CHA2DS2-VASc score, renal function, edoxaban dose) showed better clinical outcomes with edoxaban than with warfarin. CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world Asian population with AF, edoxaban might be associated with reduced risk of ischemic stroke, major bleeding, and all-cause death compared with warfarin. These benefits were consistent across various high-risk subgroups.

Proteinuria Detected by Urine Dipstick Test as a Risk Factor for Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Proteinuria is one of the well-known risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However the impact of proteinuria on the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is unclear. In this study, we investigated the association between proteinuria detected using urine dipstick test and the risk of AF. A total of 18,201,275 individuals were analyzed, who had no prior AF and had received biennial health checkups provided by the National Health Insurance Service between 2005 and 2008 in Korea. Incidences of AF were ascertained through the end of 2015. During a mean follow-up of 9.6 years, a total of 324,764 (1.8%) developed AF (1.86 per 1,000 person-years). In Cox regression models, proteinuria was associated with an increased risk of AF: adjusted HR and 95% CI of AF occurrence were 1.13 (1.10-1.16), 1.34 (1.31-1.38), 1.53 (1.48-1.58), 1.82 (1.71-1.94), and 1.86 (1.61-2.16) in individuals with trace, 1+, 2+, 3+, and 4+ proteinuria, respectively, compared with those without proteinuria. The result was consistent even after additional adjustment for estimated glomerular filtration rate. In addition, the risk of AF further increased or decreased according to the follow-up dipstick test results. Thus, proteinuria measured with a dipstick test might be considered a potent risk factor for AF development.