University Hospitals In Korea Research Articles

Establishment of Local Diagnostic Reference Levels for Pediatric Neck CT at Nine University Hospitals in South Korea.

To establish local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for pediatric neck CT based on age, weight, and water-equivalent diameter (WED) across multiple university hospitals in South Korea. This retrospective study analyzed pediatric neck CT examinations from nine university hospitals, involving patients aged 0-18 years. Data were categorized by age, weight, and WED, and radiation dose metrics, including volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product, were recorded. Data retrieval and analysis were conducted using a commercially available dose-management system (Radimetrics, Bayer Healthcare). Local DRLs were established following the International Commission on Radiological Protection guidelines, using the 75th percentile as the reference value. A total of 1159 CT examinations were analyzed, including 169 scans from Institution 1, 132 from Institution 2, 126 from Institution 3, 129 from Institution 4, 128 from Institution 5, 105 from Institution 6, 162 from Institution 7, 127 from Institution 8, and 81 from Institution 9. Radiation dose metrics increased with age, weight, and WED, showing significant variability both within and across institutions. For patients weighing less than 10 kg, the DRL for CTDIvol was 5.2 mGy. In the 10-19 kg group, the DRL was 5.8 mGy; in the 20-39 kg group, 7.6 mGy; in the 40-59 kg group, 11.0 mGy; and for patients weighing 60 kg or more, 16.2 mGy. DRLs for CTDIvol by age groups were as follows: 5.3 mGy for infants under 1 year, 5.7 mGy for children aged 1-4 years, 7.6 mGy for ages 5-9 years, 11.2 mGy for ages 10-14 years, and 15.6 mGy for patients 15 years or older. Local DRLs for pediatric neck CT were established based on age, weight, and WED across nine university hospitals in South Korea.

Effect of individualized versus conventional perioperative blood pressure management on postoperative major complications in high-risk patients undergoing noncardiac surgery: study protocol for the SPROUT-4 multicenter randomized controlled trial

BackgroundIntraoperative hypotension is very common during surgery and is linked to major organ dysfunction and mortality. Current perioperative blood pressure management is largely based on universal blood pressure thresholds ranging from a mean arterial pressure of 60–70 mmHg. However, the effectiveness of this conventional management remains unproven in prospective randomized trials. Therefore, we will conduct this study to test if individualized perioperative blood pressure management decreases the incidence of postoperative major adverse outcomes.MethodsThis multicenter, randomized controlled superiority trial will enroll 1896 high-risk patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery from five tertiary university hospitals in South Korea. In the control group, mean arterial pressure will be maintained at ≥ 65 mmHg and systolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg during surgery. In the intervention group, mean arterial pressure and systolic blood pressure will be maintained at no less than 20% of their baseline values. The baseline values are calculated as the average of all values measured from the day before surgery until the morning of surgery. These targets will be maintained until the patient is discharged from the post-anesthesia care unit or, for those who are transferred to the intensive care unit after surgery, until the end of the surgery. No specific restrictions, except for these blood pressure targets, will be applied to perioperative management. The primary composite outcome consists of all-cause death, stroke, myocardial infarction, new or worsening congestive heart failure, unplanned coronary revascularization, and acute kidney injury within 7 days after noncardiac surgery or until hospital discharge, whichever occurs first.DiscussionThis study will reveal if individualized perioperative blood pressure management decreases the risk of major adverse outcomes in patients at high-risk undergoing noncardiac surgery.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT06225453. Registered on January 26, 2024.

Incidence and Clinical Course of Post-infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Patients Admitted to University Hospitals: 1-year Prospective Follow-up Study.

Post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) is characterized by chronic gastrointestinal symptoms that arise following an episode of infectious enteritis. The incidence rates vary, ranging from 5% to 32% and the risk factors are not well known. We aim to investigate the incidence and risk factors of PI-IBS in enteritis patients admitted to university hospitals in Korea. This multi-center prospective study was conducted in patients hospitalized for infectious enteritis. Each patient underwent 1 outpatient visit and 3 telephone surveys during the first year after discharge to determine if PI-IBS occurred within the follow-up period. In the 3-month survey, 7 out of 354 patients (2%) were diagnosed with PI-IBS, and after 1 year, only 1 patient met the criteria for IBS. No statistically significant difference was found between the PI-IBS group and the non-PI-IBS group in terms of age, sex, underlying diseases, medication history, gastrointestinal symptoms, enteritis location, causative strain, hospitalization and treatment periods, and laboratory findings. Female sex (P = 0.003), enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) infection (P = 0.044), and a longer total treatment period (P = 0.018) were independent risk factors for diarrhea lasting ≥ 3 months after enteritis. The incidence of PI-IBS in Korea was relatively low, and most cases improved over time. No risk factors associated with the development of PI-IBS were found. However, persistent diarrhea after enteritis was associated with female sex, EPEC infection, and severe or long-lasting enteritis. IBS symptoms may persist after severe enteritis but usually improve with time.

Red blood cell transfusion for critically ill patients admitted through the emergency department in South Korea.

Red blood cells (RBCs) are a limited resource, and the adverse effects of transfusion must be considered. Multiple randomized controlled trials on transfusion thresholds have been conducted, leading to the establishment of a restrictive transfusion strategy. This study aimed to investigate the status of RBC transfusions in critically ill patients. This cohort study was conducted at five university hospitals in South Korea. From December 18, 2022, to November 30, 2023, 307 nontraumatic, anemic patients admitted to intensive care units through the emergency departments were enrolled. We determined whether patients received RBC transfusion, transfusion triggers, and the clinical results. Of the 154 patients who received RBC transfusions, 71 (46.1%) had a hemoglobin level of 7 or higher. Triggers other than hemoglobin level included increased lactate levels in 75 patients (48.7%), tachycardia in 47 patients (30.5%), and hypotension in 46 patients (29.9%). The 28-day mortality rate was not significantly reduced in the group that received transfusions compared to the non-transfusion group (21.4% vs. 26.8%, P=0.288). There was no difference in the intensive care unit and hospital length of stay or the proportion of survival to discharge between the two groups. The prognosis showed the same pattern in various subgroups. Despite the large number of RBC transfusions used in contradiction to the restrictive strategy, there was no notable difference in the prognosis of critically ill patients. To minimize unnecessary RBC transfusions, the promotion of transfusion guidelines and research on transfusion criteria that reflect individual patient conditions are required.

Clinicians' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding the Management of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders With Neuromodulators and Psychological Treatment.

Little is known about the practical clinical application of neuromodulators and psychiatric treatments in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). We investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Korean clinicians regarding the use of neuromodulators and psychiatric treatments for FGIDs. This prospective, online, cross-sectional study was conducted between May and August 2022. A questionnaire regarding the knowledge, attitude, and practice of neuromodulators and psychiatric treatments for FGIDs was developed and administered to primary care clinicians and gastroenterologists in university hospitals in Korea. Overall, 451 clinicians from primary (n = 179, 39.7%), secondary (n = 113, 25.1%), and tertiary (n = 159, 35.3%) hospitals participated in the survey. Most of them considered that neuromodulators (98.7%) and psychiatric treatment (86.5%) were required for patients with FGIDs. However, approximately one-third of them did not prescribe neuromodulators, mainly due to unfamiliarity with the drugs, and only one-quarter considered psychiatric referral. Compared to gastroenterologists at university hospitals, primary care clinicians' prescriptions had a lower rate (87.2% vs 64.2%, P < 0.001) and shorter duration of neuromodulator. The psychiatric referral rate was lower for primary care clinicians than for gastroenterologists at university hospitals (19.0% vs 34.2%, P < 0.001). Knowledge, attitude, and practice levels regarding neuromodulators and psychiatric treatment among clinicians are inhomogeneous, and a knowledge gap exists between primary care clinicians and gastroenterologists at university hospitals. Encouraging ongoing education for Korean clinicians regarding the appropriate use of neuromodulators and psychiatric treatments in patients with FGIDs is suggested.

Smartphone application for improving self-awareness of adherence to edoxaban treatment: a randomised controlled trial (ADHERE-APP)

Abstract Background Adherence to oral anticoagulants is essential for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aims to test the feasibility and effectiveness of the smartphone app-based intervention to improve drug adherence in patients with AF. Methods This prospective, randomised, open-label, multicentre trial (ADHERE-APP) enrolled a total of 502 patients at 9 university hospitals in South Korea from November 2021 to January 2023. Patients with AF aged ≥19 years requiring oral anticoagulation,and were treated with edoxaban were enrolled. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the conventional treatment group and the app conditional feedback group. Patients in the app conditional feedback group used a smartphone application that pushed alarms for taking medication and measuring blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) at specific times of the day. In addition to medication alarms, the habit of measuring one’s BP and HR could improve drug adherence by increasing self-awareness of the disease. The automatic BP machine was connected to the smartphone via Bluetooth and the measured BP and HR were automatically updated on the smartphone app. The primary endpoint was adherence to edoxaban as measured by pill count at 12 and 24 weeks. In addition, we evaluated the differential effect of the smartphone application by age on the primary endpoint. Results Among the 502 patients, the mean age was 66.0±10.0 years and 67.7% were male. Of the 372 patients who completed 12-weeks trial, edoxaban adherence at 12 weeks was high in both arms, with no difference in the primary outcome (96.5% [92.5%-100.0%] vs. 98.0% [93.2%-99.5%], P = 0.488). or in secondary outcomes, including the proportion of patients achieving adherence ≥ 80% or 95%. In patients aged &amp;gt;65 years, adherence to edoxaban was higher in the app conditional feedback group than in the conventional treatment group (95.8% [93.0%-99.5%] vs. 98.0% [95.8%-99.5%], P = 0.049). Conclusions Overall adherence to edoxaban was much higher than expected in patients with AF. There was no difference in edoxaban adherence between the app conditional feedback group and the conventional treatment group, however, in older patients, app feedback increased medication adherence.

Conventional machine learning-based prediction models did not outperform the International IgA Nephropathy Prediction Tool.

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is a major cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The International IgA Nephropathy Prediction Tool (IIgAN-PT) predicts IgAN prognosis, but improvement in the prediction performance using machine learning (ML)-based methods is needed. We analyzed 4,425 biopsy-confirmed patients with IgAN and ≥6 months of follow-up from nine tertiary university hospitals in Korea. The study population was divided into development and validation cohorts. Using the collected 87 clinicodemographic and pathological variables, ML-based prediction models for ESKD or estimated glomerular filtration rate were constructed: 1) the conventional CatBoost model, 2) the optimized CatBoost model with Cox proportional hazards, 3) the deep Cox proportional hazards model, and 4) the deep Cox mixture model. The area under the curve (AUC) and calibration plots were used to investigate the discriminative and calibration performance of the models, which were then compared with those of the IIgAN-PT full model. The full model showed excellent performance (AUC [95% confidence interval] for 5-year outcome, 0.896 [0.8530.940]), with acceptable calibration results. The ML-based models showed good performance in predicting adverse kidney outcomes and revealed acceptable discrimination performance in the external validation (AUC [95% confidence interval] for the 5-year outcome: 1) 0.829 [0.791-0.866]; 2) 0.847 [0.804-0.890]; 3) 0.823 [0.784-0.862]; and 4) 0.832 [0.794-0.870]), although they underestimated the external validation cohort risks. With the validation data, the overall performance of the IIgAN-PT was non-inferior to that of the ML-based model. Conclusions: Our ML-based models showed good performance in predicting adverse kidney outcomes in patients with IgAN but they did not outperform the IIgAN-PT.

Effect of Hospital-to-Home Transitional Care for COPD on Patient-Centered Outcomes.

Appropriate hospital-to-home transitional care has been recognized for its positive impact on health care usage and health outcomes in patients with COPD. However, there is limited research assessing its effects on patient-centered outcomes, focusing on patient symptoms and experiences. This single-blind randomized controlled trial included subjects diagnosed with COPD at one of 2 university hospitals in South Korea. The study included 179 subjects (transitional care group [transitional care], 87; usual care group [usual care], 92). The transitional care received transitional care comprising post-discharge care planning, personalized education, breathing exercises, telephone counseling, home visits, and referral to social services. We analyzed the effects of these interventions by comparing breathing symptoms and various patient-centered outcomes between the 2 groups. The Modified Medical Research Council scores (mean [SD], transitional care 1.3 [1.06], usual care 1.82 [1.1], P = .002) and COPD Assessment Test scores (transitional care 6.32 [5.5], usual care 9.43 [7.16], P = .001) in the intervention group demonstrated more significant improvement than did those in the usual care. Following intervention, the subjects exhibited enhanced awareness of their disease, an increased frequency of inhaler use (transitional care 49.69 [1.67], usual care 46.86 [7.92], P = .002), and lower depression and anxiety scores. Additionally, the transitional care outperformed the usual care in the domain of subject experience during hospitalization (transitional care 39.34 [6.14], usual care 37.5 [5.61], P = .036), preparedness before discharge (transitional care 34.54 [4.96], usual care 32.3 [5.09], P = .003), and post-discharge management (transitional care 34.72 [4.36], usual care 30.29 [4.26], P = .003). Evidence-based transitional care services can exert positive effects on patient-centered indices. Our findings can be used as evidence of the need to establish patient-centered transitional care as a form of universal care for patients with COPD.

Economic Evaluation of Remote Monitoring for Implantable Cardiac Devices: Evidence from a Remote-Care Study.

The adoption of remote monitoring (RM) is especially relevant for patients with implantable cardiac devices due to their high risk of hospitalization and the need for frequent outpatient visits. Though RM can help with early detection of cardiac episodes, it may also increase the number of tasks healthcare providers engage in to monitor patients' health. The adoption of RM may increase healthcare providers' workloads, potentially impacting the quality of care and increasing the risk of clinician-provider burnout. Little is known about the link between RM adoption and changes in healthcare providers' workloads. Using data from a non-randomized clinical trial conducted in 2021-2022 at a University Hospital in Korea, we examined the relationship between RM adoption and changes in patient time savings and healthcare providers' workloads. The clinical trial included patients with a cardiac implantable electronic device compatible with the Biotronik Home Monitoring System. For patients, RM was associated with a 41-minute decrease in total visit duration, attributed to reductions in both wait time (37 minutes; P<0.001) and total examination time (3.7 minutes; P=0.137). For healthcare providers, RM was linked to an increase in overall workload by 107.9 minutes per patient. The increase was primarily due to managing RM alerts (91.8 minutes) and preparing monthly patient reports (19.9 minutes). Our findings suggest that RM was associated with a decrease of 1540 KRW (44%) in average cost of care per minute. RM is associated with time-saving patient benefits and increased healthcare providers' workloads. Even though this was a single-center study with a small number of patients, our research highlights the importance of carefully examining changes in healthcare staff workloads linked to the adoption of RM within the national health insurance system.

Minimal Access vs Conventional Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy

While nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) for breast cancer was only performed using the open method in the past, its frequency using endoscopic and robotic surgical instruments has been increasing rapidly. However, there are limited studies regarding postoperative complications and the benefits and drawbacks of minimal access NSM (M-NSM) compared with conventional NSM (C-NSM). To examine the differences in postoperative complications between C-NSM and M-NSM. This was a retrospective multicenter cohort study enrolling 1583 female patients aged 19 years and older with breast cancer who underwent NSM at 21 university hospitals in Korea between January 2018 and December 2020. Those with mastectomy without preserving the nipple-areolar complex (NAC), clinical or pathological malignancy in the NAC, inflammatory breast cancer, breast cancer infiltrating the chest wall or skin, metastatic breast cancer, or insufficient medical records were excluded. Data were analyzed from November 2021 to March 2024. M-NSM or C-NSM. Clinicopathological factors and postoperative complications within 3 months of surgery were assessed. Statistical analyses, including logistic regression, were used to identify the factors associated with complications. There were 1356 individuals (mean [SD] age, 45.47 [8.56] years) undergoing C-NSM and 227 (mean [SD] age, 45.41 [7.99] years) undergoing M-NSM (35 endoscopy assisted and 192 robot assisted). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding short- and long-term postoperative complications (<30 days: C-NSM, 465 of 1356 [34.29%] vs M-NSM, 73 of 227 [32.16%]; P = .53; <90 days: C-NSM, 525 of 1356 [38.72%] vs M-NSM, 73 of 227 [32.16%]; P = .06). Nipple-areolar complex necrosis was more common in the long term after C-NSM than M-NSM (C-NSM, 91 of 1356 [6.71%] vs M-NSM, 5 of 227 [2.20%]; P = .04). Wound infection occurred more frequently after M-NSM (C-NSM, 58 of 1356 [4.28%] vs M-NSM, 18 of 227 [7.93%]; P = .03). Postoperative seroma occurred more frequently after C-NSM (C-NSM, 193 of 1356 [14.23%] vs M-NSM, 21 of 227 [9.25%]; P = .04). Mild or severe breast ptosis was a significant risk factor for nipple or areolar necrosis (odds ratio [OR], 4.75; 95% CI, 1.66-13.60; P = .004 and OR, 8.78; 95% CI, 1.88-41.02; P = .006, respectively). Conversely, use of a midaxillary, anterior axillary, or axillary incision was associated with a lower risk of necrosis (OR for other incisions, 32.72; 95% CI, 2.11-508.36; P = .01). Necrosis occurred significantly less often in direct-to-implant breast reconstruction compared to other breast reconstructions (OR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.11-7.34; P = .03). The similar complication rates between C-NSM and M-NSM demonstrates that both methods were equally safe, allowing the choice to be guided by patient preferences and specific needs.

Ocular Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potential Assists in the Differentiation of Multiple System Atrophy From Parkinson's Disease.

Vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) can help in assessing otolithic neural pathway in the brainstem, which may also contribute to the cardiovascular autonomic function. Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with altered VEMP responses; however, the associations between VEMP abnormalities and multiple system atrophy (MSA) remain unknown. Therefore, we compared the extent of otolith dysfunction using ocular (oVEMP) and cervical VEMPs between patients with MSA and PD. We analyzed the clinical features, VEMP, and head-up tilt table test (HUT) findings using the Finometer in 24 patients with MSA and 52 with de novo PD who had undergone neurotologic evaluation at a referral-based university hospital in South Korea from January 2021 to March 2023. MSA was associated with bilateral oVEMP abnormalities (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 9.19 [1.77-47.76], p = 0.008). The n1-p1 amplitude was negatively correlated with the Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale I-II score in patients with MSA (r = -0.571, p = 0.033), whereas it did not correlate with the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale-III score in patients with PD (r = -0.051, p = 0.687). The n1 latency was negatively correlated with maximum changes in systolic blood pressure within 15 s during HUT in patients with PD (r = -0.335, p = 0.040) but not in those with MSA (r = 0.277, p = 0.299). Bilaterally abnormal oVEMP responses may indicate the extent of brainstem dysfunction in MSA. oVEMP reflects the integrity of otolith-autonomic interplay, reliably assists in differentiating between MSA and PD, and helps infer clinical decline.

The incidence of periungual desquamation and thrombocytosis in Kawasaki disease and the importance of systematic observation in the subacute phase.

Periungual desquamation and thrombocytosis are characteristic of the subacute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD). However, accurate observations of periungual desquamation and thrombocytosis are lacking. This retrospective study included patients with acute-phase KD who received treatment at seven affiliated university hospitals in Korea between 2015 and 2017. Data were extracted from an anonymized registry established by the Korean Society of Kawasaki Disease. We investigated whether the findings of patients observed according to a set protocol until the subacute stage (group I) were different from those of patients observed without the use of a protocol (group II). A total of 879 patients with KD were included in the analysis. Periungual desquamation was observed in 85% and 12.7% of patients in groups I and II, respectively. Thrombocytosis was observed in 76.7% and 44.7% of patients in groups I and II, respectively. Furthermore, compared to the initial test, the platelet counts of patients increased 100% and 67.9% in group I and II, respectively. When incomplete KD was defined only by the main symptoms during the acute stage and the diagnostic criterion of periungual desquamation during the subacute stage was excluded, the significant difference in the incidence of incomplete KD between groups I and II was no longer apparent. Performing regular and detailed observations has resulted in a higher incidence of periungual desquamation and thrombocytosis during the subacute phase of KD than those reported in recent studies. This indicates that until now, we have been neglecting the observation of symptoms and signs during the subacute phase. Regular monitoring during this period can also aid in differentiating suspected cases of KD and facilitate appropriate follow-up of complications.

Intraoperative neuromonitoring during thyroidectomy does not decrease vocal cord palsy risk, but the cumulative experience of the surgeon may

PurposeTo evaluate the influence of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) on vocal cord palsy (VCP) rates and assess the temporal trends in VCP rates.MethodsThe subjects of this retrospective study were patients who underwent thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer between March, 2014 and June, 2022, at a university hospital in Korea. We compared VCP rates between the non-IONM and IONM groups and analyzed the risk factors for VCP and VCP rates over time.ResultsA total of 712 patients were included in the analysis. The rates of transient and permanent VCP did not differ significantly between the non-IONM and IONM groups. Transient VCP occurred in 4.6% and 4.3% patients (p = 0.878) and VCP was permanent in 0.7% and 0.4% patients (p = 0.607) in the non-IONM and IONM groups, respectively. Among the nerves at risk, transient damage occurred in 2.8% and 3.0% patients (p = 0.901), and permanent damage occurred in 0.4% and 0.3% (p = 0.688), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed no significant risk factors for VCP. There was a significant decreasing trend in VCP rates over time as the cumulative number of cases increased (p = 0.017).ConclusionsIONM did not reduce the risk of VCP significantly. However, the declining trend of VCP rates suggests that the surgeon’s experience may mitigate VCP risk.

Enhancing ACLS training effects through video-assisted boosting methods: A comparative analysis of self-simulation and model simulation videos

AimsTo assess the impact of learner-participation and instructor-led simulation videos on nurses’ CPR skills, focusing on iterative learning to boost proficiency in ACLS. BackgroundAdvanced cardiac life support (ACLS) training is crucial for nurses, especially to improve cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) proficiency, for which an effective training strategy is needed. DesignA quasi-experimental, pretest–posttest design was implemented to assess the impact of self-simulation and model simulation videos on sustaining CPR education. MethodsThe research was carried out at a university hospital in Korea from August 2021 to July 2022. A total of 110 nurses were allocated into three groups based on the building of their workplace in the hospital. Each group watched training videos at 4-month intervals after the simulation training. The self-video group viewed simulations featuring their participation, while the model video group watched instructor-led simulations. A comparison group participated in the simulations without subsequent video boosting. ResultsBoth the self-video and model video groups exhibited significantly superior ACLS performance compatred with the comparison group at both four months (H = 70.33, p <.001) and eight months (H = 81.52, p <.001) following the intervention, with large effect sizes (self-video vs. comparison: d = 4.73 at four months, d = 12.54 at eight months; model video vs. comparison: d = 4.53 at four months, d = 11.01 at eight months). ACLS knowledge scores also significantly increased over time in both intervention groups (self-video: χ² = 22.09, p <.001; model video: χ² = 24.13, p <.001), but not in the comparison group (χ² = 3.75, p =.153). There were no significant differences among the groups in terms of CPR self-efficacy or stress at either time point. ConclusionSupplementary training using simulation videos is an effective method for maintaining and enhancing nurses’ ACLS competency, offering a sustainable approach to repetitive CPR training. This study underscores the value of incorporating recorded simulation videos in clinical training, offering insights into efficient methods for continuous learning and CPR proficiency among nursing professionals.

Association of menopausal status with body composition and anthropometric indices in Korean women.

Menopause induces various health problems and is associated with obesity, but the association between menopausal status and obesity is unclear due to several confounding factors, such as aging and reduced physical activity. The objective of this study was to examine the association of menopausal status with anthropometric indices and body composition indices in South Korean women. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 734 subjects (297 postmenopausal women, 437 premenopausal women) from five university hospitals in South Korea were included. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association of menopause with anthropometric indices and body composition indices. Height, body mass index, waist-to-height ratio, waist-to-hip ratio, and neck, armpit, chest, rib, waist, iliac, and hip circumferences were associated with menopausal status in the crude analysis, but these associations disappeared in the adjusted models. Among the body composition indices, menopausal status was strongly associated with total body water, skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass, and body fat percentage in the crude analysis. However, the associations with body fat mass and body fat percentage disappeared in the adjusted models. Only the associations with total body water and skeletal muscle mass remained in the adjusted models. Most of the anthropometric indices and body composition indices were not associated with menopausal status, but total body water and skeletal muscle mass were significantly lower in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women.

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ORTHOSTATIC HYPERTENSION AND FRAILTY AMONG OLDER PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION

Objective: Frailty frequently co-exists with hypertension in older patients. We aimed to evaluate the association between frailty and positional change in blood pressure, especially orthostatic hypertension. Design and method: Participants were recruited from 12 University hospitals in South Korea. Using a digital device, trained research nurses measured blood pressure in the supine and standing positions. Physical frailty was evaluated using the Korean version of the FRAIL questionnaire, gait speed, and hand-grip strength. Orthostatic hypertension was defined as a &gt;= 20-mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure within 3 min of standing and upright systolic blood pressure of &gt;= 140 mmHg. Results: We analyzed the data of 2,065 participants who had been enrolled until December 31, 2022. The mean age was 73.2 ± 5.6 years and 52.0% were female. The mean blood pressure was 137.1 ± 14.9 / 75.1 ± 9.7 mmHg. Among the participants, 1,886 (91.3%) showed normal response after standing, but 94 (4.6%) had orthostatic hypertension, and 85 (4.1%) had orthostatic hypotension. Orthostatic hypertension was associated with female sex, obesity, cognitive function, physical frailty, and lower quality of life (QOL). In the multivariable analysis, body mass index and frailty status were independently associated with orthostatic hypertension. Conclusions: Orthostatic hypertension is associated with physical frailty, cognitive impairment, and low QOL in older patients with hypertension. Therefore, evaluation of orthostatic blood pressure changes to confirm orthostatic hypertension or hypotension in frail older adults will serve as an important diagnostic procedure in vulnerable patients. Further studies are required to identify the underlying mechanisms of this association.

Association Between Orthostatic Hypertension and Frailty Among Older Patients With Hypertension.

Frailty frequently coexists with hypertension in older patients. We aimed to evaluate the association between frailty and positional change in blood pressure, especially orthostatic hypertension. Participants were recruited from 12 University hospitals in South Korea. Using a digital device, trained research nurses measured blood pressure in the supine and standing positions. Physical frailty was evaluated using the Korean version of the FRAIL questionnaire, gait speed, and handgrip strength. Orthostatic hypertension was defined as a ≥20-mm Hg increase in systolic blood pressure within 3 minutes of standing and upright systolic blood pressure of ≥140 mm Hg. We analyzed the data of 2065 participants who had been enrolled until December 31, 2022. The mean age was 73.2±5.6 years, and 52.0% were female. The mean blood pressure was 137.1±14.9/75.1±9.7 mm Hg. Among the participants, 1886 (91.3%) showed normal response after standing, but 94 (4.6%) had orthostatic hypertension, and 85 (4.1%) had orthostatic hypotension. Orthostatic hypertension was associated with female sex, obesity, cognitive function, physical frailty, and lower quality of life. In the multivariable analysis, body mass index and frailty status were independently associated with orthostatic hypertension. Orthostatic hypertension is associated with physical frailty, cognitive impairment, and low quality of life in older patients with hypertension. Therefore, evaluation of orthostatic blood pressure changes to confirm orthostatic hypertension or hypotension in frail older adults will serve as an important diagnostic procedure in vulnerable patients. Further studies are required to identify the underlying mechanisms of this association.

Differences in patient-reported and clinical characteristics by age group in adults with type 2 diabetes.

The global burden of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is growing, and the age of onset is widening, resulting in increasing numbers of young adults and elderly patients with T2D. Age-specific diabetes care needs have yet to be fully explored. This study examined (1) differences in patient-reported and clinical characteristics by age group and (2) the effect of age on two proxy measures assessing psychological health and self-care adherence after adjusting for potential mediators. A cross-sectional, correlational design was used. Adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were recruited from a university hospital in Korea between 2019 and 2020. Participants were divided into four groups based on years of age (40s and younger group [n = 27]; 50s group [n = 47]; 60s group [n = 54]; and 70s and older group [n = 48]) to compare patient-reported and clinical characteristics. Chi-square tests, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and logistic regression analysis were performed to assess group differences and effect of age on psychological health and self-care adherence. Of 178 participants, two-thirds were men (n = 114; 64.41%). The mean ages in the 40s and younger, 50s, 60s, and 70s and older groups were 39.4, 54.7, 63.9, and 76.0 years, respectively. There were significant differences in patient-reported and clinical characteristics by age group. The youngest group reported the poorest psychological health and self-care behaviors. Although the oldest group showed the poorest physical functioning, this group also showed the highest self-care adherence and the best psychological health. Regarding clinical characteristics, traditional diabetes-related blood test results showed no significant group differences. Age-specific diabetes care needs were identified in adults with T2D. Interventions to improve psychological health and priming effects of behavioral adherence need to be developed. Furthermore, meticulous investigation to detect potential complications early is essential in adults with T2D.

GCN-assisted attention-guided UNet for automated retinal OCT segmentation

With the increase in the aging population of many countries, the prevalence of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is expected to increase. Morphological parameters such as intraretinal fluid (IRF), subretinal fluid (SRF), subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM), and pigment epithelium detachment (PED) of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images are vital markers for proper treatment of nAMD, especially to get the information of treatment response to determine the proper treatment interval and switching of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents. For the precise evaluation of the change in nAMD lesions and patient-specific treatment, quantitative evaluation of the lesions in the OCT volume scans is necessary. However, manual segmentation requires many resources, and the number of studies of automatic segmentation is increasing rapidly. Improving automated segmentation performance in SD-OCT visual results requires long-range contextual inference of spatial information between retinal lesions and layers. This paper proposes a GAGUNet (graph convolution network (GCN)-assisted attention-guided UNet) model with a novel global reasoning module considering these points. The dataset used in the main experiment of this study underwent rigorous review by a retinal specialist from Konkuk University Hospital in Korea, contributing to both data preprocessing and validation to ensure a qualitative assessment. We conducted experiments on the RETOUCH dataset as well to demonstrate the scalability of the proposed model. Overall, our model demonstrates superior performance over the baseline models in both quantitative and qualitative evaluations.

Developing and evaluating an evidence-based practice research competency enhancement program for clinical nurses in Korea: a pilot study

BackgroundEvidence-based practice (EBP) is crucial for delivering high-quality healthcare and effective self-care. Enhancing clinical nurses’ research competencies through structured mentorship is key to the widespread application of EBP. This study evaluated a newly developed Research Competency Enhancement Program (RCEP), aimed at bolstering EBP among experienced nurses.MethodsConducted in a tertiary university hospital in Korea, this single-group study employed a pretest-post-test design and a mixed-methods approach. The RCEP involved 11 experienced clinical nurses in an 8-week intervention, featuring mentor-led workshops, interactive sessions, and resource-driven activities. Data were collected using the Evidence-Based Practice Beliefs Scale (EBPB), the Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPA), and the Research Practice Ability (RPA) tool, alongside qualitative feedback. These measures assessed the program’s feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness.ResultsThe quantitative analysis indicated significant improvements in research competency post-intervention. Mean scores on the EBPB and RPA scales increased (Z = -2.53, p = .011; Z = -2.66, p = .008). Participants described the RCEP as inspirational and challenging, creating an environment conducive to research. Facilitators included mentor support and innovative learning tools, while barriers were internet connectivity and scheduling conflicts. Suggestions for improvement included more hands-on sessions, small team collaborations, and integration with academic institutions.ConclusionThe RCEP, facilitated by EBP mentors, significantly improved the research competencies and attitudes of clinical nurses towards EBP. The study underscores the importance of continual RCEP refinement, integrating structured, interactive, and collaborative elements to further empower nurses in evidence-based practice. The program shows promise in enhancing research competencies and fostering a commitment to EBP in clinical settings.