Incidence and risk factors of tuberculosis in patients following gastrectomy or endoscopic submucosal dissection: a cohort analysis of country-level data.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer adversely affects nutrition and immunity, while increasing the risk of tuberculosis (TB). This study investigated the incidence and risk factors for TB in gastric cancer patients who had undergone gastrectomy or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted using Korean national insurance claims data. We defined three study groups (total gastrectomy, subtotal gastrectomy, and ESD) of patients diagnosed with gastric cancer plus a cancer-free control group. The latent TB infection (LTBI) screening status, TB incidence, and potential confounders in each cohort were analyzed, and the risk of TB was analyzed using a Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: LTBI tests were performed in less than 1% of all patients, and the TB incidence rates were 473.8, 287.4, 199.4, 111.1 events/100,000 person-years in the total gastrectomy, subtotal gastrectomy, ESD, and control cohorts, respectively. Compared to the control cohort, the total gastrectomy cohort showed the highest hazard ratio (HR) for TB incidence (HR: 2.896, 95% CI: 2.559-2.337), while the ESD cohort showed a significantly increased risk (HR: 1.578, 95% CI: 1.957-1.980). Age, body mass index, and lack of exercise were risk factors in all cohorts. Comorbidities were also considered risk factors, depending on the cohort type. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who underwent gastrectomy or ESD had an increased risk of TB, and this risk was correlated with the scope of gastrectomy. Considering the low rate of LTBI diagnostic tests and increased risk of TB in the study cohorts, more specific and practical guidelines for TB management are required for gastric cancer patients.

Remission of type 2 diabetes after gastrectomy for gastric cancer: diabetes prediction score.

BACKGROUND: Although type 2 diabetes (T2D) remission after gastric cancer surgery has been reported, little is known about the predictors of postoperative T2D remission. METHODS: This study used data from a nationwide cohort provided by the National Health Insurance Service in Korea. We developed a diabetes prediction (DP) score, which predicted postoperative T2D remissions using a logistic regression model based on preoperative variables. We applied machine-learning algorithms [random forest, XGboost, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression] and compared their predictive performances with those of the DP score. RESULTS: The DP score comprised five parameters: baseline body mass index (< 25 or ≥ 25 kg/m2), surgical procedures (subtotal or total gastrectomy), age (< 65 or ≥ 65 years), fasting plasma glucose levels (≤ 130 or > 130 mg/dL), and antidiabetic medications (combination therapy including sulfonylureas, combination therapy not including sulfonylureas, single sulfonylurea, or single non-sulfonylurea]). The DP score showed a clinically useful predictive performance for T2D remission at 3 years after surgery [training cohort: area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.71-0.75; validation cohort: AUROC 0.72, 95% CI 0.69-0.75], which was comparable to that of the machine-learning models (random forest: AUROC 0.71, 95% CI 0.68-0.74; XGboost: AUROC 0.70, 95% CI 0.67-0.73; LASSO regression: AUROC 0.75, 95% CI 0.73-0.78 in the validation cohort). It also predicted the T2D remission at 6 and 9 years after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The DP score is a useful scoring system for predicting T2D remission after gastric cancer surgery.

Lifetime survival and medical costs of lung cancer: a semi-parametric estimation from South Korea.

BACKGROUND: It is essential to have information on the disease burden of lung cancer at an individual level throughout the life; however, few such results have been reported. Thus, this study aimed to assess the lifetime disease burden in patients with lung cancer by assessing various factors, such as survival, years of life lost (YLL) and medical expenditure in South Korea based on real-world data and extrapolation. METHODS: Newly diagnosed lung cancer patients (n = 2919) in 2004-2010 were selected and observed until the end of 2015 using nationwide reimbursement claim database. The patients were categorised into the Surgery group, Chemo and/or Radiotherapy group (CTx/RTx), and Surgery+CTx/RTx according to their treatment modality. Age- and sex-matched control subjects were selected from among general population using the life table. The survival and cost data after diagnosis were analysed by a semi-parametric method, the Kaplan-Meier analysis for the first 100 months and rolling extrapolation algorithm for 101-300 months. YLL were derived from the difference in survival between patients and controls. RESULTS: Lifetime estimates (standard error) were 4.5 (0.2) years for patients and 14.5 (0.1) years for controls and the derived YLL duration was 10.0 (0.2) years. Lifetime survival years showed the following trend: Surgery (14.2 years) > Surgery+CTx/RTx (8.5 years) > CTx/RTx group (3.0 years), and YLL were increased as lifetime survival years decreased (2.3, 8.7, 12.2 years, respectively). The mean lifetime medical cost was estimated at 30,857 USD/patient. Patients in the Surgery group paid higher treatment cost in first year after diagnosis, but the overall mean cost per year was lower at 4359 USD compared with 7075USD of Surgery+CTx/RTx or 7626USD of CTx/RTx group. CONCLUSIONS: Lung cancer has resulted in about 10 years of life lost in overall patients. The losses were associated with treatment modality, and the results indicated that diagnosing lung cancer in patients with low stage disease eligible for surgery is beneficial for reducing disease burden in terms of survival and treatment cost per year throughout the life.

Real-world prescribing and switching patterns of non-calcium containing phosphate binders in dialysis patients in South Korea
.

OBJECTIVE: Non-calcium containing phosphate binders (non-CPBs) are useful for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia without a concern of hypercalcemia in patients undergoing dialysis. However, due to their relatively high cost, prescribing non-CPBs is restricted in South Korea. This study was conducted to investigate prescribing patterns, especially switching between CPBs and non-CPBs, in dialysis patients in a real-world setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an observational study using the National Health Insurance Service claim data. The study population included patients who initiated dialysis between July 2012 and June 2013 and were prescribed phosphate binders at least once during the observation period (2012 - 2016) (n = 10,073). Medication costs and prescribing patterns including switching of phosphate binders were investigated. RESULTS: Compared with the first year of dialysis, the costs of phosphate binders more than doubled during the 4th year of dialysis (from US$ 28.4 to US$ 60.1), largely due to an increase in the cost of non-CPBs (from US$ 117.5 to US$ 237.8). Many patients continued to change drugs between CPBs and non-CPBs. The continuous prescription period of CPBs was shortened each time a drug was changed. A total of 551 patients (13.4%) changed their medication three times between CPBs and non-CPBs. CONCLUSION: Over time on dialysis, use of non-CPB increased and medication costs increased accordingly. Many patients continued to change drugs between CPBs and non-CPBs due to the restricted criteria of the health insurance. Further outcome research is necessary to evaluate the appropriateness of the clinical practice in which CPBs and non-CPBs are alternately used.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW WITH NETWORK META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS OF ROTATOR CUFF TEAR TREATMENT.

Objectives: Rotator cuff tear is the leading cause of the decline in quality of life for older adults, but comparative evidence on treatment effectiveness is lacking. This study systematically reviewed the effects of various rotator cuff tear treatments through a Bayesian meta-analysis of the related randomized clinical trials (RCTs).Methods: We searched nine electronic databases for RCTs evaluating rotator cuff tear treatments from their inception through June 2017. A systematic review was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence-Decision Support Unit guidelines (Supplementary Table 1). Outcomes included functional improvement, pain one year after surgical treatment, and tendon structural integrity. The Bayesian network meta-analysis was applied for functional improvement and pain, based on an assumption of consistency and similarity. Tendon integrity was reported descriptively.Results: Fifteen RCTs were selected. Patients undergoing physiotherapy after open surgery showed statistically significant functional improvements compared with those undergoing physiotherapy only (mean differences, 9.1 [credible interval, 0.9-17.4]). Open surgery with physiotherapy was associated with a decrease in pain 1 year after treatment compared with when physiotherapy was combined with arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery, mini open surgery, platelet-rich plasma therapy, or physiotherapy alone (absolute value of mean difference 1.2 to 1.4). The tendon integrity results were inconsistent.Conclusions: Some surgical treatments were associated with significant improvement in function and pain, but evidence regarding their comparative effectiveness is still lacking. A well-designed RCT discussing functional and structural treatment outcomes is needed in future.

Crowdsourced estimation of cognitive decline and resilience in Alzheimer's disease.

Identifying accurate biomarkers of cognitive decline is essential for advancing early diagnosis and prevention therapies in Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's disease DREAM Challenge was designed as a computational crowdsourced project to benchmark the current state-of-the-art in predicting cognitive outcomes in Alzheimer's disease based on high dimensional, publicly available genetic and structural imaging data. This meta-analysis failed to identify a meaningful predictor developed from either data modality, suggesting that alternate approaches should be considered for prediction of cognitive performance.

Regional differences in the effects of healthy aging on depressive symptoms: a Korean longitudinal study of aging (2006-2020).

Background: Depression is a widely prevalent, often recurrent condition. To analyze the regional differences in depressive symptoms over time, we investigated urban-rural differences in change in depression over time in South Korea and the association between healthy aging and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults. Methods: Data collected in the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, from 2006 to 2020, of adult participants aged ≥45 years without depressive symptoms were analyzed. Healthy aging was defined under five principal components: absence of chronic disease, good physical function, normal cognitive function, active social engagement, and good psychological adaptation. Depressive symptoms were measured using the short version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Using the Andersen-Gill model for recurrent time-to-event, we examined the effect of healthy aging on depressive symptoms, with a subgroup analysis based on the residential area. Results: Of the 7,708 participants, 78.2% lived in urban areas and 39.4% achieved healthy aging. In 2008, rural residents had a higher incidence of depressive symptoms (rural 11.8%; urban 8.9%); however, after 2016, the depressive symptoms of urban residents gradually increased (rural 6.4%; urban 12.1%). Unhealthy aging (adjusted hazard ratio = 3.04, 95% confidence interval: 2.72-3.39) and urban residence (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.15, 95% confidence interval: 1.06-1.24) were risk factors for depressive symptoms. The subgroup analysis revealed that individuals who did not achieve healthy aging had an increased risk of depressive symptoms, regardless of their residential area (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: urban, 3.13 [2.75-3.55]; rural 2.59 [2.05-3.28]). Conclusion: As urbanization accelerates, urban residents have a higher risk of depressive symptoms than rural residents. Healthy aging is an essential factor in reducing depressive symptoms. To achieve healthy aging, appropriate interventions and policies that target the middle-aged adults and gradually extend to older adults are needed, considering individual and regional factors.

Incidence of tuberculosis disease in individuals diagnosed with tuberculosis infection after screening: A population-based cohort study in South Korea.

OBJECTIVES: Limited evidence exists regarding the impact of adherence to diverse tuberculosis (TB) preventive therapy (TPT) regimens on TB risk in individuals with TB infections (TBIs). This study aimed to examine the association between adherence to three TPT regimens and TB incidence. METHODS: This population-based retrospective cohort study used South Korean national health insurance data to identify individuals who were newly diagnosed with TBI between 2015 and 2020. TB incidence was compared among the different TPT regimens used. Treatment adherence was evaluated using the medication possession ratio (MPR). RESULTS: The study involved 220,483 individuals with TBI, with half undergoing TPT. Over a mean 3.17-year follow-up, 2,430 cases of active TB were observed. TPT was associated with a 14% reduction in TB incidence risk in the entire study population with varying levels of TB risk. Non-adherence (MPR <80%) rates were 36% for 9 months of treatment with isoniazid, 22% for 4 months of treatment with rifampicin, and 18% for 3 months of treatment with isoniazid and rifampicin. Non-adherence to TPT did not lead to a decrease in the risk of TB incidence, whereas adherence to TPT (MPR ≥80%) reduced the risk of TB incidence by up to 72%. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals increased adherence with shorter TPT regimens in a national TBI cohort, emphasizing the pivotal role of medication adherence in preventing TB.

Influenza and the risk of active tuberculosis occurrence among individuals with latent tuberculosis infection: A national cohort study in South Korea (2015-2020).

BACKGROUND: Influenza's potential impact on active tuberculosis (TB) development has been debated, with limited clinical evidence. To address this, we explored the association between influenza episodes and TB incidence in a national cohort of individuals with latent TB infection (LTBI). METHODS: We examined adults (≥20 years) diagnosed with LTBI between 2015 and 2020, using the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service's national database in South Korea. We collected demographic data, comorbidities, and influenza episodes within 6 months before and after the initial LTBI diagnosis (prior vs. subsequent episode). We stratified the analysis into groups with and without TB preventive therapy (TPT). RESULTS: Among 220,483 LTBI subjects, 49% received TPT, while 51% did not. The average age was 48.4 years, with 52% having comorbidities. A prior and subsequent influenza episode was identified in 3221 and 4580 individuals, respectively. Of these, 1159 (0.53%) developed incident TB over an average follow-up of 1.86 years. The incidence rates of TB were comparable between individuals with and without prior and/or subsequent influenza episodes in the TPT group, but 1.4 times higher in the non-TPT group for those with such episodes. Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis indicated that influenza was not a risk factor for incident TB in the TPT group. However, a subsequent influenza episode significantly increased TB risk in the non-TPT group (hazard ratio: 1.648 [95% CI, 1.053-2.580]). CONCLUSIONS: In individuals with LTBI not receiving TPT, experiencing an influenza episode may elevate the risk of developing active TB.

Discontinuation of blood pressure-lowering, glucose-lowering, and lipid-lowering medications after bariatric surgery in patients with morbid obesity: a nationwide cohort study in South Korea.

BACKGROUND: Limited evidence exists on the patterns of medication use for hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), and dyslipidemia after bariatric surgery among Asian patients. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the patterns in the use of blood pressure-lowering, glucose-lowering, and lipid-lowering medications following BS in Korean patients with morbid obesity. SETTING: This study is a retrospective cohort study using the Health Insurance Review and Assignment claims database of South Korea (from 2019 to 2021). METHODS: We included patients who underwent BS between 2019 and 2020 in South Korea. We evaluated the treatment patterns of blood pressure-lowering, glucose-lowering, and lipid-lowering medications at 3-month intervals for 1-year following BS, including medication use, individual medication classes, and the number of medications prescribed. Furthermore, we estimated remission rates for each disorder based on patient characteristics by defining patients who discontinued their medications for at least 2 consecutive quarters as remission. RESULTS: A total of 3810 patients were included in this study. For 1-year following BS, a marked decrease in the number of patients using blood pressure-lowering, glucose-lowering, and lipid-lowering medications was observed. The most remarkable decrease occurred in glucose-lowering medications, which decreased by approximately -75.1% compared with that at baseline. This tendency was consistently observed when analyzing both the number of medications prescribed and the specific medication classes. Regarding remission rates, patients who were female, younger, and received the biliopancreatic diversion-duodenal switch as their BS showed a relatively higher incidence of remission than other groups. CONCLUSIONS: BS was associated with a decrease in the use of medications for hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), and dyslipidemia.

Long-term cardiovascular risk reduction after gastric cancer surgery: a nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Gastrectomy for gastric cancer is associated with postoperative changes in cardiovascular risk factors, however, the impact of gastrectomy on cardiovascular events remains unclear. We assessed the incidence of cardiovascular events between patients undergoing gastrectomy or endoscopic resection for gastric cancer, and the general population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective nationwide cohort study included patients with gastric cancer undergoing gastrectomy(n=37,698), endoscopic resection(n=2,773), and matched control population(n=161,887) between 2004 and 2013. We included patients without a history of cancer other than gastric cancer, myocardial infarction, or ischemic stroke. The primary outcome was the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) such as acute myocardial infarction, revascularization, or acute ischemic stroke, in patients with gastric cancer. RESULTS: Among patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer, 2.9% (4.69 per 1000 person-years) developed novel MACE within the seven-year follow-up period. The gastrectomy group demonstrated a significantly decreased risk for MACE than the control population (hazard ratio[HR], 0.65; 95% confidence interval[CI], 0.61-0.69; P <0.001). Among the patients undergoing endoscopic resection for gastric cancer, 5.4% (8.21 per 1000 person-years) developed novel MACE within the seven-year follow-up period. The risk for MACE in the endoscopic resection group was not significantly different from the control population. CONCLUSION: Patients with gastric cancer who have undergone gastrectomy exhibit a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases in comparison to the general population. In contrast, the risk for cardiovascular diseases in patients with gastric cancer who underwent endoscopic resection did not demonstrate a significant difference in cardiovascular risk in comparison to the general population.

Association of Uncontrolled Hypertension or Diabetes Mellitus With Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events and Mortality in South Korea: Population-Based Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Managing hypertension (HT) and diabetes mellitus (DM) is crucial to preventing cardiovascular diseases. Few studies have investigated the incidence and risk of cardiovascular diseases or mortality in uncontrolled HT or DM in the Asian population. Epidemiological studies of cardiovascular disease should be conducted with continuous consideration of the changing disease risk profiles, lifestyles, and socioeconomic status over time. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the association of uncontrolled HT or DM with the incidence of cardiovascular events or deaths from any cause. METHODS: This population-based retrospective study was conducted using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort, including patients aged 40-79 years who participated in national screening from 2002 to 2003 and were followed up until 2015. The health screening period from 2002 to 2013 was stratified into 6 index periods in 2-year cycles, and the follow-up period from 2004 to 2015 was stratified accordingly into 6 subsequent 2-year periods. The incidence rates and hazard ratio (HR) for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and death from any cause were estimated according to HT or DM control status. Extended Cox models with time-dependent variables updated every 2 years, including sociodemographic characteristics, blood pressure (BP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), medication prescription, and adherence, were used. RESULTS: Among the total cohort of 440,249 patients, 155,765 (35.38%) were in the uncontrolled HT or DM group. More than 60% of the patients with HT or DM who were prescribed medications did not achieve the target BP or FBG. The incidence of MACE was 10.8-15.5 and 9.6-13.3 per 1000 person-years in the uncontrolled DM and uncontrolled HT groups, respectively, and increased with age. In the uncontrolled HT and DM group, the incidence of MACE was high (15.2-17.5 per 1000 person-years) at a relatively young age and showed no age-related trend. Adjusted HR for MACE were 1.28 (95% CI 1.23-1.32) for the uncontrolled DM group, 1.32 (95% CI 1.29-1.35) for the uncontrolled HT group, and 1.54 (95% CI 1.47-1.60) for the uncontrolled HT and DM group. Adjusted HR for death from any cause were 1.05 (95% CI 1.01-1.10) for the uncontrolled DM group, 1.13 (95% CI 1.10-1.16) for the uncontrolled HT group, and 1.17 (95% CI 1.12-1.23) for the uncontrolled HT and DM group. CONCLUSIONS: This up-to-date evidence of cardiovascular epidemiology in South Korea serves as the basis for planning public health policies to prevent cardiovascular diseases. The high uncontrolled rates of HT or DM, regardless of medication prescription, have led us to suggest the need for a novel system for effective BP or glycemic control, such as a community-wide management program using mobile health technology.

The association between weight change after gastric cancer surgery and type 2 diabetes risk: A nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although gastric cancer patients generally experience drastic weight decrease post-gastrectomy, the impact of weight decrease on type 2 diabetes risk remains unclear. We investigated the type 2 diabetes risk after gastric cancer surgery according to postoperative weight decrease in gastric cancer survivors in South Korea, the country with the world's highest rate of gastric cancer survival. METHODS: This retrospective nationwide cohort study included gastric cancer surgery recipients between 2004 and 2014 who survived for ≥5 years post-surgery. We included patients without a history of diabetes at the time of surgery and those who had not received adjuvant chemotherapy before or after the surgery. Postoperative weight loss was defined as the per cent body weight loss at 3 years post-surgery compared with the baseline. The type 2 diabetes risk was evaluated using Cox regression analyses for five groups of postoperative weight decrease. RESULTS: In 5618 included gastric cancer surgery recipients (mean age, 55.7 [standard deviation, SD, 10.9] years; 21.9% female; mean body mass index, 23.7 [SD, 2.9] kg/m2 ), 331 patients (5.9%) developed postoperative type 2 diabetes during follow-up duration of 8.1 years (median; interquartile range, 4.8 years; maximum, 15.2 years). Compared with those who gained weight post-surgery, patients with ≥ -15% to < -10% of postoperative weight decrease (hazard ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.87; P = 0.004) had the lowest type 2 diabetes risk. A non-linear association occurred between postoperative weight decrease and the type 2 diabetes risk in gastrectomy recipients (Akaike's information criterion [AIC] for non-linear model, 5423.52; AIC for linear model, 5425.61). CONCLUSIONS: A U-shaped non-linear association occurred between the type 2 diabetes risk and postoperative weight decrease in gastric cancer survivors who underwent gastrectomy. The lowest type 2 diabetes risk occurred in patients with ≥ -15% to < -10% of postoperative weight decrease at 3 years.

Cardiovascular risk of Janus kinase inhibitors compared with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis without underlying cardiovascular diseases: a nationwide cohort study.

Objectives: Despite the ethnic differences in cardiovascular (CV) risks and recent increase in the prescription of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, limited evidence is available for their CV outcomes in Asian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to compare the major adverse CV events (MACEs) of JAK inhibitors to those of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in Korean patients with RA without baseline CV disease (CVD). Methods: In a nationwide retrospective cohort study, patients newly diagnosed with RA without a history of CVD between 2013 and 2018 were identified using the National Health Insurance Service database. The cohort was followed up until the end of 2019 for the development of MACEs. Hazard ratios (HRs) for MACEs such as myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, or all-cause death, were estimated using Cox proportional hazard regression in a propensity score-matched cohort. Results: In total, 4,230 matched patients with RA were included (846 JAK inhibitor users and 3,384 bDMARD users). The crude incidence rate (95% confidence intervals, CI) per 100 patient-years for MACEs was 0.83 (0.31-1.81) and 0.74 (0.53-1.02) in the JAK inhibitor and bDMARD groups, respectively. The risk of MACEs was not significantly different between JAK inhibitor and bDMARD users with an adjusted HR (95% CI) of 1.28 (0.53-3.11). There were no significant differences in the risk of MACEs between JAK inhibitors and bDMARDs in each subgroup according to the types of bDMARDs, age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index score, and comorbidities. Conclusion: Compared to bDMARDs, JAK inhibitors were not associated with the occurrence of MACEs in Korean patients with RA without a history of CVD.

Performances of machine learning algorithms in discriminating sacroiliitis features on MRI: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Summarise the evidence of the performance of the machine learning algorithm in discriminating sacroiliitis features on MRI and compare it with the accuracy of human physicians. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CIHNAL, Web of Science, IEEE, American College of Rheumatology and European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology abstract archives were searched for studies published between 2008 and 4 June 2023. Two authors independently screened and extracted the variables, and the results are presented using tables and forest plots. RESULTS: Ten studies were selected from 2381. Over half of the studies used deep learning models, using Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society sacroiliitis criteria as the ground truth, and manually extracted the regions of interest. All studies reported the area under the curve as a performance index, ranging from 0.76 to 0.99. Sensitivity and specificity were the second-most commonly reported indices, with sensitivity ranging from 0.56 to 1.00 and specificity ranging from 0.67 to 1.00; these results are comparable to a radiologist's sensitivity of 0.67-1.00 and specificity of 0.78-1.00 in the same cohort. More than half of the studies showed a high risk of bias in the analysis domain of quality appraisal owing to the small sample size or overfitting issues. CONCLUSION: The performance of machine learning algorithms in discriminating sacroiliitis features on MRI varied owing to the high heterogeneity between studies and the small sample sizes, overfitting, and under-reporting issues of individual studies. Further well-designed and transparent studies are required.

Performance of Cardiovascular Risk Prediction Models in Korean Patients With New-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis: National Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the performance of established cardiovascular risk algorithms in Korean patients with new-onset rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective cohort study identified patients newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis without a history of cardiovascular diseases between 2013 and 2019 using the National Health Insurance Service database. The cohort was followed up until 2020 for the development of the first major adverse cardiovascular event. General cardiovascular risk prediction algorithms, such as the systematic coronary risk evaluation model, the Korean risk prediction model for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association pooled equations, and the Framingham Risk Score, were used. The discrimination and calibration of cardiovascular risk prediction models were evaluated. Hazard ratios were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression. A total of 611 patients among 24 889 patients experienced a major adverse cardiovascular event during follow-up. The median 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases risk score was significantly higher in patients with major adverse cardiovascular events than those without. The C-statistics of risk algorithms ranged between 0.72 and 0.74. Compared with the low-risk group, the actual risk of developing major adverse cardiovascular events increased significantly in the intermediate- and high-risk groups for all algorithms. However, the risk predictions calculated from all algorithms overestimated the observed cardiovascular risk in the middle to high deciles, and only the systematic coronary risk evaluation algorithm showed comparable observed and predicted event rates in the low-intermediate deciles with the highest sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: The systematic coronary risk evaluation model algorithm and the general risk prediction models discriminated patients with rheumatoid arthritis appropriately. However, overestimation should be considered when applying the cardiovascular risk prediction model in Korean patients.

The Effectiveness of Early Enteral Nutrition on Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Sepsis Patients: A Systematic Review.

The optimal timing of enteral nutrition (EN) in sepsis patients is controversial among societal guidelines. We aimed to evaluate the evidence of early EN's impact on critically ill sepsis patients' clinical outcomes. We searched the MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and ICTRP databases on 10 March 2023. We included studies published after 2004 that compared early EN versus delayed EN in sepsis patients. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs, cohort studies, and case-control studies. Forest plots were used to summarize risk ratios (RRs), including mortality and mean difference (MD) of continuous variables such as intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay and ventilator-free days. We identified 11 eligible studies with sample sizes ranging from 31 to 2410. The RR of short-term mortality from three RCTs was insignificant, and the MD of ICU length of stay from two RCTs was -2.91 and -1.00 days (95% confidence interval [CI], -5.53 to -0.29 and -1.68 to -0.32). Although the RR of intestinal-related complications from one RCT was 3.82 (95% CI, 1.43 to 10.19), indicating a significantly higher risk for the early EN group than the control group, intestinal-related complications of EN reported in five studies were inconclusive. This systematic review did not find significant benefits of early EN on mortality in sepsis patients. Evidence, however, is weak due to inconsistent definitions, heterogeneity, risk of bias, and poor methodology in the existing studies.

Comparative Risk of Type 2 Diabetes after Gastrectomy and Endoscopic Resection for Gastric Cancer: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with gastric cancer (GC) experience 2 characteristic treatment modalities (gastrectomy or endoscopic resection), which may induce heterogeneity in the risk of post-cancer treatment type 2 diabetes (T2D). We investigated differences in the risk for T2D development in survivors of GC according to the 2 treatment methods. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective nationwide population-based cohort study included 14,646 patients with GC who underwent gastrectomy (n = 12,918) or endoscopic resection (n = 1,728). We enrolled patients who survived for at least 5 years after gastrectomy or endoscopic resection, had no history of diabetes, and had not received adjuvant chemotherapy. T2D risk was evaluated using Cox regression for the gastrectomy group and compared to that of the endoscopic resection group. Because of the competing risks of incident T2D and death, a competing risk regression was performed. RESULTS: After a median follow-up duration of 8.1 years, the incidence rates of T2D in the endoscopic resection group and gastrectomy group were 7.58 and 6.98 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. Patients undergoing gastrectomy showed a significantly higher risk for developing T2D than patients undergoing endoscopic resection (hazard ratio [HR], 1.37; 95% CI 1.18 to 1.58; p < 0.0001). In subgroup analyses, gastrectomy was associated with increased T2D risk in female patients (HR, 1.72; 95% CI 1.22 to 2.43; p = 0.030 for interaction). CONCLUSIONS: Among GC survivors, patients undergoing gastrectomy showed a 37% increased risk of T2D development compared to patients undergoing endoscopic resection. Subgroup analyses showed that T2D risk increased by up to 72% in female patients. These results provide insights for establishing screening and preventive strategies for GC survivors to prevent T2D according to different treatment modalities.

Asthma and increased risk of myocardial infarction and mortality among hypertensive Korean patients.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of asthma on cardiovascular disease incidence in patients with hypertension. A total of 639,784 patients with hypertension from the Korea National Health Insurance Service database were included, of whom 62,517 had history of asthma after propensity score matching. The risks of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were assessed according to the presence of asthma, long-acting ß2-agonist (LABA) inhaler usage, and/or systemic corticosteroid usage for up to 11 years. In addition, whether these risks were modified by average blood pressure (BP) levels during the follow-up period was examined. Asthma was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.203; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.165-1.241) and MI (HR, 1.244; 95% CI, 1.182-1.310) but not the risk of stroke or ESRD. LABA inhaler usage was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality and MI, and systemic corticosteroids usage showed a higher risk of ESRD as well as all-cause mortality and MI among hypertensive patients with asthma. Compared to patients without asthma, there was a graded increase in the risk of all-cause mortality and MI in those with asthma without LABA inhaler/systemic corticosteroid usage and in those with asthma with LABA inhaler/systemic corticosteroid usage. These associations were not significantly modified by BP levels. This nationwide population-based study supports that asthma may be a clinical factor that increases the risk of poor outcomes in patients with hypertension.

Factors associated with self-rated health among immigrant workers in South Korea: Analyzing the results of the 2020 survey on immigrants' living conditions and labor force.

Immigrants' health is an emerging public health issue worldwide. This study aimed to measure immigrant workers' self-rated health and identify the factors affecting it. Data were obtained from the nationwide 2020 Survey on Immigrants' Living Conditions and Labor Force in Korea. The data from 14,277 economically active immigrants who participated in the study were analyzed. Self-rated health was measured using one question and divided into dichotomized categories (good and poor). Multivariate logistic regression with a weighted sampling method was used to investigate associated factors, namely, individual, social, and living and working environment variables, and to evaluate the interaction effects with gender. Overall, 23.0% of the participants showed poor self-rated health. The odds ratios for poor self-rated health were high in participants who reported unmet healthcare needs (OR = 3.07, 95% confidence interval: 3.00-3.13) compared to those who reported other factors, followed by moderate job satisfaction (OR = 2.23, 95% confidence interval: 2.20-2.26) and unsatisfied residential environment satisfaction (OR = 1.80, 95% confidence interval: 1.74-1.86). Significant associations were found between self-rated health and most variables, including the interaction test (gender × residential environment satisfaction, education level, working hours, and length of residence). To enhance immigrants' health status, the Korean government must develop strategies to increase their access to healthcare services and minimize unmet healthcare needs. In addition, working conditions must be improved, specifically regarding long working hours and discrimination; furthermore, immigrants' living environments should be considered.