Analysis of the economically justifiable price of nirsevimab to prevent respiratory syncytial virus infection in Korea.

The current standard-of-care prophylaxis for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is primarily administered to high-risk infant populations. We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis to determine the economically justifiable price of nirsevimab compared with the standard of care in preventing medically attended RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infections from all infants and palivizumab-eligible children <2 years in South Korea. A month-age-specific static decision-tree model was used from a societal perspective, with a primary time horizon of one RSV season and an extended time horizon of three years.

Long-term economc burden and related influencing factors of pediatric cataracst: A population-based study in South Korea.

Pediatric cataracts are a significant cause of childhood blindness, requiring long-term management. This study evaluated the economic burden of pediatric cataract surgery in South Korea and identified factors influencing the medical costs, particularly in patients with complications after cataract surgery. We used National Health Insurance Service claims data, covering the Korean population, including pediatric patients (aged ≤5 years) who underwent cataract surgery between 2004 and 2011.

Real-world survival outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy after standard treatment failure in EGFR-mutated NSCLC: A nationwide cohort study.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown limited efficacy in EGFR-mutated NSCLC, and their role in later-line settings remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of ICI monotherapy compared to chemotherapy in patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC who had limited remaining treatment options.

Methods: We conducted a target trial emulation using data from the Cancer Public Library Database under the K-CURE project, which integrates national cancer registry, mortality, medical check-up and health insurance claims data in Korea.

Impact of COVID-19 on disease-specific mortality, healthcare resource utilization, and disease burden across a population over 1 billion in 31 countries: an interrupted time-series analysis.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global health and affected chronic disease management. This study quantified the impact of the pandemic on disease-specific measures of health dynamics, such as mortality rates, healthcare resource utilization (HRU), and disease burden.

Methods: An interrupted time-series analysis was performed by examining temporal trends across disease categories over two periods: pre-pandemic and pandemic (after January 2020).

Assessing real-world effectiveness of atorvastatin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events.

Background And Aims: In contrast to the substantial body of clinical trial evidence, the real-world evidence regarding the efficacy of statins in the prevention of cardiovascular events among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is relatively limited. Therefore, we assessed the effectiveness of atorvastatin for the primary prevention of CV events in patients with T2DM, using a population-based data in South Korea.

Methods And Results: This retrospective cohort study was conducted using the National Health Insurance Service Customized Database (2008-2018) in South Korea.

Efficacy, Safety, and Economic Feasibility of Dokhwalgisaeng-Tang for Degenerative Knee Osteoarthritis: Protocol for a Multicenter, Randomized, Assessor Blinded, Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the most prevalent degenerative joint diseases worldwide. The herbal decoction, Dokhwalgisaeng-tang (DHGST), has been commonly used in East Asia to treat osteoarthritis. However, there is insufficient evidence to draw clear conclusions concerning its effectiveness and safety for patients with KOA.

Imminent risk of the first and second recurrent osteoporotic fractures in South Korea.

Background: A history of fractures increases the likelihood of experiencing subsequent and secondary fractures. To prevent further fractures, global guidelines recommend aggressive proactive treatment with medication for patients at an imminent risk of osteoporotic fracture (OF), which is defined as a high likelihood of experiencing subsequent fractures in the near future. However, there is a lack of research focusing on patients with imminent risk of OFs in South Korea.

Healthcare resource utilisation and costs in infants with confirmed respiratory syncytial virus infections: a national population cohort study.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of severe respiratory infections in infants worldwide, significantly affecting their health and contributing to the global healthcare burden. We aimed to examine healthcare resource utilisation patterns and costs for infants under one year old with confirmed RSV infection across subgroups of different gestational ages and health conditions and the cost implications of RSV infections over time, thereby demonstrating the economic burden of the disease.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilised nationwide claims data from the Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service for infants under one year of age with confirmed RSV infection in the first year of life from January 2017 to April 2022.

A comparative effectiveness study of usual care, simple Chuna manual therapy, and complex Chuna manual therapy for the treatment of pelvic biomechanical lesions in patients with non-acute low back pain: a protocol for multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Chuna manual therapy (CMT), a Korean manual therapy technique predominantly used for treating low back pain (LBP) and related disorders, lacks well-conceived research focusing on its comparative effectiveness, safety, and economic evaluation, particularly with respect to complex CMT with established CMT diagnostic algorithms. This study aims to illustrate a protocol for a randomized clinical study for comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of complex CMT with simple CMT and usual care.

Methods: This is a protocol for a three-armed, multicenter, assessor-blinded, pragmatic, randomized controlled trial study.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for pain control in women with primary dysmenorrhoea.

Background: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-pharmacological treatment that works by delivering electrical currents via electrodes attached to the skin at the site of pain. It can be an alternative to pharmacological treatments. The mechanism of action of TENS for pain relief is related to the inhibition of the transmission of painful stimuli, release of endogenous opioids, and reduced muscle ischaemia of the uterus.

Nationwide assessment of illicit drug consumption patterns in South Korea using wastewater-based epidemiology during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022).

Illicit drugs have become a crucial global social issue, with South Korea experiencing a continuous increase in the number of offenders and drug smuggling. This study employed wastewater-based epidemiology to investigate consumption patterns of 8 illicit drugs and their 7 metabolites during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022) in South Korea. Ten compouds were detected in the wastewater influent.

Association between dietary supplements and frailty: a cross-sectional study using national survey data in South Korea.

We aimed to examine the association between the use of specific types of dietary supplements and frailty using cross-sectional, nationally representative survey data. Adults aged ≥50 years in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2018-2020 were included. We calculated a 46-item frailty index to assess frailty.

Impact of aging on acute myeloid leukemia epidemiology and survival outcomes: A real-world, population-based longitudinal cohort study.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a severe and fatal form of leukemia that is prevalent in the older population. In this longitudinal retrospective study, we investigated the epidemiology and survival rates of patients diagnosed with de novo acute myeloid leukemia in South Korea from Jan 1, 2011, to Aug 31, 2020. We used real-world data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database.

Effectiveness of Acupotomy Combined with Epidural Steroid Injection for Lumbosacral Radiculopathy: A Randomized Controlled Pragmatic Pilot Study.

: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and safety of acupotomy combined with epidural steroid injection (ESI) in lumbosacral radiculopathy and examine its feasibility for the main study. : This randomized, controlled, two-arm, parallel, assessor-blinded, pragmatic study included 50 patients with severe lumbosacral radiculopathy who had insufficient improvement after an ESI. Patients were randomized (1:1 ratio) into a combined treatment (acupotomy + ESI, experimental) and an ESI single treatment (control) group.

Efficacy of complement inhibitors for patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare acquired hematological disease. The development of complement inhibitors such as eculizumab, ravulizumab, and pegcetacoplan has revolutionized the management of PNH, leading to improvements in overall survival and quality of life for patients.

Objectives: This systematic review aims to provide comprehensive evidence of the efficacy of complement inhibitors in relation to treatment duration.

Patient-Centered Economic Burden of Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of blindness, requires expensive drugs such as anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents. The long-term regular use of effective but expensive drugs causes an economic burden for patients with exudative AMD. However, there are no studies on the long-term patient-centered economic burden of exudative AMD after reimbursement of anti-VEGFs.

Predicting Unmet Healthcare Needs in Post-Disaster: A Machine Learning Approach.

Unmet healthcare needs in the aftermath of disasters can significantly impede recovery efforts and exacerbate health disparities among the affected communities. This study aims to assess and predict such needs, develop an accurate predictive model, and identify the key influencing factors. Data from the 2017 Long-term Survey on the Change of Life of Disaster Victims in South Korea were analyzed using machine learning techniques, including logistic regression, C5.

Use of gastrointestinal prokinetics and the risk of parkinsonism: A population-based case-crossover study.

Background: The disease burden of parkinsonism is extremely costly in the United States. Unlike Parkinson's disease, drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP) is acute and reversible; exploring the causative drug is important to prevent DIP in patients at high-risk of parkinsonism.

Objective: To examine whether the use of gastrointestinal (GI) prokinetics is associated with an increased risk of parkinsonism.

Early impact of COVID-19 social distancing on social determinants of health and their effects on mental health and quality of life of Korean undergraduate students.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the association between social determinants of health and perception of COVID-19 social distancing/mental health/quality of life during COVID-19 social distancing in Korean undergraduate students using online survey data augmented with natural language processing.

Methods: An online cross-sectional survey including sociodemographic characteristics, students' perceptions of COVID-19 social distancing, and social determinants of health was conducted between July and November in 2020. We conducted logistic regression analysis to investigate the relationship between social determinants of health (independent variables) and perceptions of COVID-19 social distancing, mental health, and quality of life (dependent variables).

Treatment Changes and Prognoses in Patients with Incident Drug-Induced Parkinsonism Using a Korean Nationwide Healthcare Claims Database.

This retrospective cohort study assessed treatment changes and prognoses after incident drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP). We used the National Health Insurance Service's National Sample Cohort database in South Korea. We selected patients diagnosed with incident DIP and given prescriptions to take offending drugs (antipsychotics, gastrointestinal (GI) motility drugs, or flunarizine) for a period of time that overlapped with the time of DIP diagnosis during 2004-2013.

A population-based study on the risk of prescription opioid abuse in patients with chronic opioid use and cost-effectiveness of prescription drug monitoring program using a patient simulation model in South Korea.

Background: Concerns regarding the burden of inappropriate opioid use are growing. We examined the association between prescription opioid abuse and patient characteristics and estimated the cost-effectiveness of the prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) implemented in South Korea, considering patient-level information.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to explore the association between opioid abuse and patient characteristics using the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) database.