Nurse Caseload and Patient Survival in Hemodialysis Units: A Korean Nationwide Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: The patient-to-nurse ratio is highly variable among dialysis facilities. However, there is little known about the association between nurse caseload and hemodialysis (HD) patient outcomes. We evaluated the association between patient-to-nurse ratio and mortality in the Korean patients undergoing HD. METHODS: We used HD quality assessment data and National Health Insurance Service claim data from the year of 2013 for collecting demographic and clinical data. Altogether, 21,817 patients who participated in the HD quality assessment in 2013 were included in the study. Nurse caseload was defined as the number of HD sessions performed by a nurse per working day. The patients were divided into two groups according to the nurse caseload as follows: low nurse caseload group (≤6.0) and high nurse caseload group (>6.0). We analyzed mortality risk based on nurse caseload using the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: The mean age was 59.1 years, and males accounted for 58.5%. The mean hemoglobin was 10.6 g/dL and albumin was 3.99 g/dL. At the mean follow-up duration of 51.7 (20.6) months, the ratio between low and high groups was 69.6% (15,184 patients) versus 30.4% (6,633 patients). The patients in the high nurse caseload group were older and showed lower levels of hemoglobin, albumin, calcium, and iron saturation and higher levels of phosphorus than those in the low nurse caseload group. A high nurse caseload was associated with a lower survival rate. In the adjusted Cox analysis, a high nurse caseload was an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.14; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: High nurse caseload was associated with an increased mortality risk among the patients undergoing HD. Further prospective studies are needed to determine whether a caseload of nursing staff can improve the prognosis of HD patients.

The Impact of the Amendment of the Health Insurance Coverage for F-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography on the Healthcare Behaviors for Breast Cancer: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis of the Korean National Data From 2013 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: F-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (F-18 FDG PET), which can cover the body from the skull base to the thigh in one scan, is beneficial for evaluating distant metastasis. F-18 FDG PET has interested policymakers because of its relatively high cost. This study investigated the effect of the F-18 FDG PET reimbursement criteria amendment on healthcare behavior in breast cancer using an interrupted time series (ITS) analysis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the inpatient and outpatient data from Korea's Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2018. ITS analysis was performed for the number of each medical imaging modality and the total medical imaging cost of the breast cancer patients. RESULTS: The annual number of breast cancer patients has been increasing steadily since 2013. The trend of F-18 FDG PET increased before the reimbursement criteria was amended, but intensely decreased immediately thereafter. The chest and abdomen computed tomography scans showed a statistically significant increase immediately after the amendment and kept steadily increasing. A change in the total medical imaging cost for the breast cancer patient claimed every month showed an increasing trend before the amendment (ß = 5,475, standard error [SE] = 1,992, P = 0.008) and rapid change immediately after (ß = -103,317, SE = 16,152, P < 0.001). However, there was no significant change in the total medical imaging cost at the long-term follow-up (ß = -912, SE = 1,981, P = 0.647). CONCLUSION: Restriction of health insurance coverage for cancer may affect healthcare behaviors. To compensate for it, the policymakers must consider this and anticipate the impact following implementation.

Beta-Lactam Plus Macrolide for Patients Hospitalized With Community-Acquired Pneumonia: Difference Between Autumn and Spring.

BACKGROUND: The 2017 Korean guideline on community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) recommended beta-lactam plus macrolide combination therapy for patients hospitalized with severe pneumonia, and beta-lactam monotherapy for mild-to-moderate pneumonia. However, antibiotic treatment regimen for mild-to-moderate CAP has never been evaluated for Korean patients. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, study patients were selected from three evaluation periods (October 1 to December 31, 2014; April 1 to June 30, 2016; October 1 to December 31, 2017) of the National Quality Assessment Program for CAP management and the National Health Insurance data on the selected patients was extracted from 1 year before the first patient enrollment and 1 year after the last patient enrollment at each evaluation period for the analysis of risk adjustment and outcomes. The survival rates between beta-lactam plus macrolide (BM) groups and beta-lactam monotherapy (B) were compared using a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis after propensity score matching by age, gender, confusion, urea, respiratory rate, blood pressure at age of 65 years or older (CURB-65), and Charlson comorbidity index for risk adjustment. The differences between autumn and spring season were also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 30,053 patients were enrolled. Mean age and the male-to-female ratio were 64.7 ± 18.4 and 14,197:15,856, respectively. After matching, 2,397 patients in each group were analyzed. The 30-day survival rates did not differ between the BM and B groups (97.3% vs. 96.5%, P = 0.081). In patients with CURB-65 ≥ 2, the 30-day survival rate was higher in the BM than in the B group (93.7% vs. 91.0%, P = 0.044). Among patients with CURB-65 ≥ 2, the 30-day survival rate was higher in the BM than in the B group (93.3% vs. 88.5%, P = 0.009) during autumn season, which was not observed during spring (94.2% vs. 94.1%, P = 0.986). CONCLUSION: Beta-lactam plus macrolide combination therapy shows potential as an empirical therapy for CAP with CURB-65 ≥ 2, especially in autumn.

Continuing Quality Assessment Program Improves Clinical Outcomes of Hospitalized Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia, which is the third leading cause of death in South Korea, is continuously increasing with the aging society. The Health Insurance Review and Assessment of South Korea conducted a quality assessment (QA) for improving the outcome of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). METHODS: We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study of hospitalized CAP in South Korea. First to third QA data were gathered into a single database. The national health insurance database was merged with the QA database for analyzing the medical claims data. Comorbidities, pneumonia severity, and pneumonia care appropriateness were calculated using Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), CURB-65, and core assessment of CAP scores (CAP scores), respectively. RESULTS: Overall, 54,307 patients were enrolled. The CAP scores significantly improved on QA program implementation (P < 0.001). All the variables demonstrated an association with in-hospital mortality, hospital length of stay (LOS), and 30-day mortality in the univariate analyses. Following the adjustments, higher CCI and CURB-65 scores were associated with higher in-hospital mortality, longer hospital LOS, and higher 30-day mortality. Male sex was associated with higher in-hospital/30-day mortality and shorter hospital LOS. Higher CAP scores were associated with shorter hospital LOS (P < 0.001). Upon QA program implementation, in-hospital mortality (P < 0.001), hospital LOS (P < 0.001), and 30-day mortality (P < 0.001) improved. CONCLUSION: Continuing QA program is effective in improving the clinical outcomes of hospitalized CAP.

Annual Case Volume and One-Year Mortality for Endovascular Treatment in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: The association between endovascular treatment (EVT) case volume per hospital and clinical outcomes has been reported, but the exact volume threshold has not been determined. This study aimed to examine the case volume threshold in this context. METHODS: National audit data on the quality of acute stroke care in patients admitted via emergency department, within 7 days of onset, in hospitals that treated ≥ 10 stroke cases during the audit period were analyzed. Ischemic stroke cases treated with EVT during the last three audits (2013, 2014, and 2016) were selected for the analysis. Annual EVT case volume per hospital was estimated and analyzed as a continuous and a categorical variable (in quartiles). The primary outcome measure was 1-year mortality as a surrogate of 3-month functional outcome. As post-hoc sensitivity analysis, replication of the study results was examined using the 2018 audit data. RESULTS: We analyzed 1,746 ischemic stroke cases treated with EVT in 120 acute care hospitals. The median annual EVT case volume was 12.0 cases per hospital, and mortality rates at 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year were 12.7%, 16.6%, and 23.3%, respectively. Q3 and Q4 had 33% lower odds of 1-year mortality than Q1. Adjustments were made for predetermined confounders. Annual EVT case volume cut-off value for 1-year mortality was 15 cases per year (P < 0.02). The same cut-off value was replicated in the sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSION: Annual EVT case volume was associated with 1-year mortality. The volume threshold per hospital was 15 cases per year.

Influence of government-driven quality assessment program on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: The Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) has launched the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Quality Assessment Program (CQAP) since 2014. We aimed to reveal the influence of this national program on clinical outcomes and the burden of COPD in Korea. METHODS: The CQAP is conducted annually. We used healthcare claims data linked with the results of the program provided by HIRA between May 2014 and April 2017. Patients were considered to have COPD if they visited a hospital for COPD management during the assessment term. Those who visited a medical institution for COPD and were prescribed COPD medications at least twice were assessed by the CQAP (assessed subjects, AS; not-assessed subjects, NAS). CQAP evaluated the pulmonary function test conduction rate, regular visitation rate, and prescription rates of COPD medications. RESULTS: Among the 560,000 patients with COPD, about 140,000 were assessed by the CQAP annually. In both groups, the pulmonary function test conduction rate and inhaled bronchodilator prescription rate improved since 2014. Compared to the NAS group, the risk of admission and all-cause mortality rate in the AS group were significantly reduced by 21.2% and 40.7%, respectively. In patients who were assessed for 3 consecutive years, all of the above variables were high at baseline and were not improved much from implementation of CQAP. In matching analysis, we observed this improvement to be limited in the COPD quality assessment year. CONCLUSIONS: The CQAP by the health insurance bureau has improved the management protocol and prognosis of COPD.

Short and Long-term Outcomes of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Treatment according to Hospital Volume in Korea: a Nationwide Multicenter Registry.

BACKGROUND: Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a potentially devastating cerebrovascular attack with a high proportion of poor outcomes and mortality. Recent studies have reported decreased mortality with the improvement in devices and techniques for treating ruptured aneurysms and neurocritical care. This study investigated the relationship between hospital volume and short- and long-term mortality in patients treated with subarachnoid hemorrhage. METHODS: We selected subarachnoid hemorrhage patients treated with clipping and coiling from March-May 2013 to June-August 2014 using data from Acute Stroke Registry, and the selected subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients were tracked in connection with data of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service to evaluate the short-term and long-term mortality. RESULTS: A total of 625 subarachnoid hemorrhage patients were admitted to high-volume hospitals (n = 355, 57%) and low-volume hospitals (n = 270, 43%) for six months. The mortality of SAH patients treated with clipping and coiling was 12.3%, 20.2%, 21.4%, and 24.3% at 14 days, three months, one year, and five years, respectively. The short-term and long-term mortality in high-volume hospitals was significantly lower than that in low-volume hospitals. On Cox regression analysis of death in patients with severe clinical status, low-volume hospitals had significantly higher mortality than high-volume hospitals during short-term follow-up. On Cox regression analysis in the mild clinical status group, there was no statistical difference between high-volume hospitals and low-volume hospitals. CONCLUSION: In subarachnoid hemorrhage patients treated with clipping and coiling, low-volume hospitals had higher short-term mortality than high-volume hospitals. These results from a nationwide database imply that acute SAH should be treated by a skilled neurosurgeon with adequate facilities in a high-volume hospital.

Soft Palate Fistula in a Patient With Normal Palate as a Rare Complication After Septoplasty.

ABSTRACT: While the formation of a palatal fistula after septoplasty has been reported previously, it is a rare occurrence, especially in a patient with a normal palate. In most of the previous reports, the palatal fistulas were located on the hard palate and associated with various underlying conditions. Here, we present a case of soft palate fistula which developed in a patient with a normal palate after septoplasty. The 20-year old woman complained of liquid regurgitation after her septoplasty procedure. A pin-point size fistula opening was observed on the soft palate. A shallow depression was identified at the junction between the hard and soft palate by a computed tomography scan done before surgery. The fistula was subsequently repaired through a palatal flap. After surgery, the defect was completely closed, and the patient had no more symptoms. In addition, we review the previously reported cases of palatal fistula after septoplasty.

Health Insurance Status Is Related to Risk of Mortality and Hospitalization in Korean Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: There has been an increasing incidence of hemodialysis (HD) due to old age and comorbid condition such as diabetes. In general, socioeconomic status (SES) is known as one of the most important risk factors for patient mortality and morbidity. Whether low SES is associated with poorer outcome in HD patients is controversial. This study was performed to evaluate the association of health insurance status as a proxy indicator for SES upon mortality and hospitalization in maintenance HD patients. METHODS: We used HD-quality assessment data from the year of 2015 for collecting demographic and clinical data. The subjects were classified into Medical Aid (MA) recipients (low SES) and National Health Insurance (NHI) beneficiary (high SES). We analyzed mortality and hospitalization risk based on health insurance status using Cox proportional hazard model. A total of 35,454 adult HD patients ≥18 years old who received HD treatment more than twice weekly were included in the analysis. RESULTS: The ratio between MA recipient and NHI beneficiary was 76.7 versus 23.3%. The MA recipient group demonstrated younger age and lower proportion of female, diabetes, hypertension, and cerebrovascular accidents compared to the NHI beneficiary group. After adjusting for age, gender, comorbidity, and laboratory parameters, the MA recipient group showed a significantly higher mortality risk compared to the NHI beneficiary group (hazard ratio 1.073 [1.009-1.14], p = 0.025). The MA recipient group was also an independent risk factor for hospitalization after adjusting for age, gender, comorbidities, and laboratory parameters (hazard ratio 1.142 [1.108-1.178], p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Low SES as measured by health insurance status was associated with an increased risk of patient mortality and hospitalization in Korean maintenance HD patients.

Is there an association between vitamin D deficiency and adenotonsillar hypertrophy in children with sleep-disordered breathing?

BACKGROUND: Low vitamin D levels have been linked to the risk of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children. Although adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) is the major contributor to childhood SDB, the relationship between ATH and serum vitamin D is uncertain. We therefore investigated the relationship between vitamin D levels and associated factors in children with ATH. METHODS: We reviewed data from all children with SDB symptoms who were treated from December 2013 to February 2014. Of these, 88 children whose serum vitamin D levels were measured were enrolled in the study. We divided the children into four groups based on adenoidal and/or tonsillar hypertrophy. We conducted a retrospective chart review to analyze demographic data, the sizes of tonsils and adenoids, serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] level, body mass index (BMI), and allergen sensitization patterns. RESULTS: Children in the ATH group had a lower mean 25(OH)D level than did those in the control group (p < 0.05). Children with vitamin D deficiencies exhibited markedly higher frequencies of adenoidal and/or tonsillar hypertrophy than did those with sufficient vitamin D (p < 0.05). Spearman's correlation analysis identified an inverse correlation between serum 25(OH)D levels and age, tonsil and adenoid size, and height (all p < 0.05). In a multiple regression analysis, tonsil and adenoid size as well as BMI-z score, were associated with 25(OH)D levels after controlling for age, sex, height, and mite sensitization (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that low vitamin D levels are linked to ATH. Both the sizes of the adenoids and tonsils and the BMI-z score were associated with the 25(OH)D level. Therefore, measurement of the serum 25(OH)D level should be considered in children with ATH and SDB symptoms.

Intranasal azelastine and mometasone exhibit a synergistic effect on a murine model of allergic rhinitis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the anti-allergic effects of the combination of azelastine and mometasone with those of either agent alone in a Dermatophagoides farinae (Derf)-induced murine model of allergic rhinitis (AR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty BALB/c mice were divided into five groups: azelastine (A), mometasone (M), a combination of azelastine and mometasone (MA), Derf, and control. Derf served as the allergen. Allergic symptom scores, eosinophil counts, and serum Derf-specific IgE levels were measured. The mucosal levels of mRNAs encoding interferon (IFN)-γ, T-bet, interleukin (IL)-4, GATA-3, Foxp3, IL-17, and ROR-γt were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The T-bet, GATA-3, Foxp3, and ROR-γt results were confirmed by Western blotting. RESULTS: Nose-rubbing motions; the levels of mRNAs encoding IL-4, GATA-3, and ROR-γt; and tissue eosinophil count were reduced in the MA compared with those in the Derf group (all P values <0.05). The levels of mRNAs encoding GATA3 and IL-4 mRNA [synthesized by T helper (Th)2 cells] were reduced and that of mRNA encoding Foxp3 was increased in the MA compared with those in the Derf and A groups. Western blotting confirmed these findings. CONCLUSION: We found that the combination of intranasal azelastine and mometasone synergistically suppressed Th17 responses and (reciprocally) elevated Treg responses. Therefore, this combination not only ameliorated allergic inflammation by suppressing Th2 responses, but also usefully modified the Treg/Th17 balance.

Risk Factors Predicting Nasoseptal Flap Failure in the Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Approach.

OBJECTIVE: Reconstruction of the skull base using a pedicled nasoseptal flap (NSF) seems to be advantageous after the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach (EETSA). A few reports have evaluated the cause of flap failure in EETSA using NSFs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the perioperative risk factors for NSF failure. STUDY DESIGN: Patient series. SETTING: Retrospective review of medical records at a tertiary referral center. METHODS: The study population comprised patients who underwent EETSA with NSF elevation between February 2009 and March 2014. The authors retrospectively reviewed the all patients' medical records, including operative findings. RESULTS: Four hundred thirteen patients (203 males and 210 females) underwent EETSA, and 315 patients underwent EETSA with NSF elevation. The mean patient age was 48.0 years. The total number of patients of NSF failure was 6 (overall rate: 1.61%, 6/315; flap elevation: 0.31%, 1/315; flap reconstruction: 15.1%, 5/33). Two patients had diabetes mellitus. One patient had cardiovascular problems. Five patients were elderly (>60 years; mean age: 70 years). Five patients had postoperative nasal infection. One patient underwent preoperative radiation therapy. CONCLUSION: Nasoseptal flap is a usually safe and effective technique for skull base reconstruction. However, the management of patients with diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular problems, advanced age, postoperative nasal infection, and radiation therapy may require more attention to improve NSF survival.

Sinonasal microbiome and inflammatory profiles in fungal ball and chronic rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVE: Fungal balls (FB) are the main form of non-invasive fungal rhinosinusitis found in immunocompetent hosts. Bacterial coinfection affects clinical symptoms. We investigated the sinonasal microbiome and inflammatory profiles in FB and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients. METHODS: Thirty-three participants were prospectively recruited. Nasal swab samples and sinonasal tissues were collected from controls, and FB and CRS patients. DNA extraction and microbiome analysis using V3-V4 region 16S rRNA sequencing were performed. Inflammatory cytokine levels in the sinonasal tissues, blood eosinophil counts, and serum total IgE were measured. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in species richness or evenness measures. The phylogenetic tree demonstrated that the FB samples were different from the controls. The sinus bacteria composition differed among the groups. At the phylum level, Firmicutes in FB were significantly depleted compared with those in CRS, while Proteobacteria were more enriched in FB than that in controls and CRS. At the genus level, in FB, Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium were significantly decreased compared to those in the controls. The prevalence of Haemophilus was the highest in FB. Blood eosinophil counts and IL-5 and periostin levels in the sinonasal tissue of the FB group were significantly lower than those in the CRS group. CONCLUSIONS: FB patients had different microbiome compositions and fewer type 2 inflammatory profiles than CRS patients did. However, whether these findings cause FB or result from bacterial and/or fungal infection remains unclear. Further studies are needed to reveal how these differences occur and affect the development of FB and clinical symptoms.

Hyperarousal-state of Insomnia Disorder in Wake-resting State Quantitative Electroencephalography.

Objective: : Insomnia is associated with elevated high-frequency electroencephalogram power in the waking state. Although affective symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety) are commonly comorbid with insomnia, few reports distinguished objective sleep disturbance from affective symptoms. In this study, we investigated whether daytime electroencephalographic activity explains insomnia, even after controlling for the effects of affective symptoms. Methods: : A total of 107 participants were divided into the insomnia disorder (n = 58) and healthy control (n = 49) groups using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and diagnostic criteria for insomnia disorder. The participants underwent daytime resting-state electroencephalography sessions (64 channels, eye-closed). Results: : The insomnia group showed higher levels of anxiety, depression, and insomnia than the healthy group, as well as increased beta [t(105) = -2.56, p = 0.012] and gamma [t(105) = -2.44, p = 0.016] spectra. Among all participants, insomnia symptoms positively correlated with the intensity of beta (r = 0.28, p ＜ 0.01) and gamma (r = 0.25, p ＜ 0.05) spectra. Through hierarchical multiple regression, the beta power showed the additional ability to predict insomnia symptoms beyond the effect of anxiety (ΔR2 = 0.041, p = 0.018). Conclusion: : Our results showed a significant relationship between beta electroencephalographic activity and insomnia symptoms, after adjusting for other clinical correlates, and serve as further evidence for the hyperarousal theory of insomnia. Moreover, resting-state quantitative electroencephalography may be a supplementary tool to assess insomnia.

Bilateral nasoseptal flaps for endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach.

A nasoseptal flap is used to reconstruct defects in the skull base when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks after the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach (EETSA). We evaluated the usefulness of elevating bilateral nasoseptal flaps with the EETSA. Sixty-seven patients (71 procedures, including 4 revisions) underwent the EETSA with bilateral nasoseptal flap elevation. We retrospectively reviewed patients' medical records, including demographic data, surgical procedures, outcomes, and complications. The entire sellar floor was exposed after elevating bilateral nasoseptal flaps. We reconstructed the defect using a right nasoseptal flap in 14 cases with intraoperative CSF leakage. The denuded sphenoidal sinus was covered with a left nasoseptal flap in 13 cases with excessive loss of sphenoidal sinus mucosa. Unused flaps (57 right flaps and 58 left flaps) were repositioned in the original sites. No postoperative CSF leak occurred. All sphenoidal sinuses covered with the left nasoseptal flap healed well without excessive crust. Two patients experienced immediate postoperative bleeding. Septal perforation occurred in 1 patient who underwent a revision operation. Bilateral nasoseptal flap elevation provided good exposure of the sellar floor with the EETSA. The nasoseptal flap could be used to reconstruct the defect after the EETSA and to cover the denuded sphenoidal sinus. The unused flaps could be repositioned in their original sites to minimize the septal defect and could be reused in revision surgery. We suggest that elevating bilateral nasoseptal flaps is a useful surgical technique in a variety of settings with the EETSA.

Expression of periostin in aeroallergen-sensitized children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy.

OBJECTIVES: The association between adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) and allergies remains controversial. Periostin is an important player in allergic diseases. We aimed to investigate the expression of periostin in hypertrophic tonsils and adenoids in children. METHODS: We enrolled 24 children who underwent adenotonsillectomy due to sleep-disordered breathing. They were divided into atopic and control groups according to ImmunoCAP results. The presence and location of periostin in the tonsils and adenoids were determined by immunohistochemical staining. The mRNA expression and protein levels of periostin and inflammatory cytokines were measured. RESULTS: Immunoreactive periostin signals were observed in the subepithelial regions and germinal centers of both tonsils and adenoids. In the subepithelial regions and germinal center, periostin signals were more prominent in both tonsils and adenoids of the atopic group than in those of the control group. Significantly, the atopic group had higher periostin mRNA expression in tonsils and adenoids than the control group. The atopic group also had higher protein level of periostin in the adenoids than the control group. Atopic children had higher TGF-ß1 levels in the tonsils and adenoids than those in the controls. CONCLUSION: This study showed that periostin is present in both the tonsils and adenoids, and that its levels are increased in the adenoids of atopic children. Periostin and TGF- ß1 expressions in the adenoids may be associated with the atopic status in children. Further studies are required to investigate the association between ATH and periostin in a larger number of participants.

Hemodialysis facility star rating affects mortality in chronic hemodialysis patients: a longitudinal observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Many countries have their own hemodialysis (HD) quality assurance programs and star rating systems for HD facilities. However, the effects of HD quality assurance programs on patient mortality are not well understood. Therefore, in the present study, the effects of the Korean HD facility star rating on patient mortality in maintenance HD patients were evaluated. METHODS: This longitudinal, observational cohort study included 35,271 patients receiving HD treatment from 741 facilities. The fivestar ratings of HD facilities were determined based on HD quality assessment data from 2015, which includes 12 quality measures in structural, procedural, and outcome domains. The patients were grouped into high (three to five stars) and low (one or two stars) groups based on HD facility star rating. Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the effects of star rating on patient mortality during the mean follow-up duration of 3 years. RESULTS: The patient ratio between high and low HD facility star rating groups was 82.0% vs. 18.0%. The patients in the low star rating group showed lower single-pool Kt/V and higher calcium and phosphorus levels compared with subjects in the high star rating group. After adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical parameters, the HD facility star rating independently increased the mortality risk (hazard ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.18; p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The HD facilities with low star rating showed higher patient mortality.

Dialysis specialist care and patient survival in hemodialysis facilities: a Korean nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: It is important for the dialysis specialist to provide essential and safe care to hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, little is known about the actual effect of dialysis specialist care on the survival of HD patients. We therefore investigated the influence of dialysis specialist care on patient mortality in a nationwide Korean dialysis cohort. METHODS: We used an HD quality assessment and National Health Insurance Service claims data from October to December 2015. A total of 34,408 patients were divided into two groups according to the proportion of dialysis specialists in their HD unit, as follows: 0%, no dialysis specialist care group, and ≥50%, dialysis specialist care group. We analyzed the mortality risk of these groups using the Cox proportional hazards model after matching propensity scores. RESULTS: After propensity score matching, 18,344 patients were enrolled. The ratio of patients from the groups with and without dialysis specialist care was 86.7% to 13.3%. The dialysis specialist care group showed a shorter dialysis vintage, higher levels of hemoglobin, higher single-pool Kt/V values, lower levels of phosphorus, and lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures than the no dialysis specialist care group. After adjusting demographic and clinical parameters, the absence of dialysis specialist care was a significant independent risk factor for all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.18; p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Dialysis specialist care is an important determinant of overall patient survival among HD patients. Appropriate care given by dialysis specialists may improve clinical outcomes of patients undergoing HD.

Clinical significance of hemodialysis quality of care indicators in very elderly patients with end stage kidney disease.

INTRODUCTION: Improvement in life expectancy has increased the number of very elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis. However, it is not clear which quality measures for hemodialysis should be employed in this population. Therefore, in this paper we investigated the association between major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) indicators of hemodialysis quality in very elderly patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data regarding a total of 29,692 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (median age 61 years, 41.5% females) who participated in a national hemodialysis quality assessment program were analyzed. They were divided into < 80 years and ≥ 80 years age groups. The primary and secondary outcomes were MACCE and all-cause mortality, respectively. The association between the outcomes and some of the most widely used standard hemodialysis quality-of-care indicators, including spKt/V, hemoglobin, serum calcium, serum phosphate, and albumin levels, was evaluated. To explore the association between Cox proportional hazard models were constructed. Model 1 was adjusted for age and sex. Model 2 included additional demographic characteristics, such as Charlson Comorbidity Index (excluding diabetes), diabetes, cause of ESKD, dialysis vintage, BMI, and pre-dialysis systolic blood pressure. Model 3 was further adjusted for the main medications. To evaluate the relationship between MACCE risk and quality assessment indicators as a continuous variable, cubic spline analyses were conducted. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 3.7 years, MACCE occurred at a higher rate in the ≥ 80-years group than in the < 80-years group (282.0 vs. 110.1 events/1000 person-years). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that spKt/V, serum calcium and phosphate, and hemoglobin levels were associated with MACCE and all-cause mortality risk in patients aged < 80 years. However, these indicators showed no significant relationship with MACCE and all-cause mortality in patients aged ≥ 80 years. Low serum albumin levels were significantly associated with increased MACCE and all-cause mortality risks, regardless of age. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, hemodialysis quality-of-care indicators including spKt/V, serum calcium and phosphate levels, and hemoglobin were not related to MACCE or all-cause mortality in very elderly hemodialysis patients. However, lower serum albumin levels were associated with poor outcomes, regardless of patient age. Assuring nutritional status rather than improving hemodialysis management adequacy may be more beneficial for improving outcomes in very elderly hemodialysis patients. Further prospective evaluations are needed to confirm these findings.

The nationwide retrospective cohort study by Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service proves that asthma management decreases the exacerbation risk of asthma.

Medical costs have recently increased in South Korea due to the rising rate of asthma. Primary clinics serve an important role in asthma management, as they are the first stop for patients presenting with symptoms. The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) in South Korea has assessed asthma-management quality since 2013, but studies are lacking on whether these assessments have been performed properly and contribute toward reducing asthma exacerbations. Therefore, we investigated whether the HIRA's quality assessments have decreased asthma exacerbations using national health insurance claims data from 2013 to 2017 of 83,375 primary-clinic and 15,931 tertiary-hospital patients with asthma. These patients were classified into four groups based on disease severity according to the monthly prescribed amount of asthma medication using K-means clustering. The associations between HIRA assessments and asthma exacerbation were analyzed using a generalized estimating equation. Our results showed that exacerbation odds gradually decreased as the HIRA assessments progressed, especially in the mild-severity group, and that exacerbation risk among patients with asthma decreased in the order of assessment grades: "Unsatisfactory," "Satisfactory," and "Tertiary." Therefore, we may conclude that asthma exacerbations may decrease with high quality asthma management; appropriate quality assessment could be helpful in reducing asthma exacerbations.