No abstract

Dementia is a major concern among growing chronic diseases in the aging society and its association with polypharmacy has not been adequately assessed. The objective of this study was to determine the association between polypharmacy and dementia through multiple statistical approaches. We conducted a nested case-control study for newly diagnosed dementia cases using the South Korean National Health Insurance Service sample cohort database (2002–2013, n = 1,025,340). Interactions between polypharmacy (an average use of ≥5 prescription drugs daily) and comorbidities or potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) were tested. The odds ratios (ORs) for dementia were analyzed according to the presence of comorbidities, PIM uses, the average number of prescribed daily drugs, and significant interactions with polypharmacy using univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses. A higher prevalence of comorbidities, history of PIM use, higher PIM exposure, and higher proportion of polypharmacy were noted among cases than in controls. In the univariate analysis, the OR for dementia increased significantly with the increase in the number of prescribed drugs [1–<5 drugs: 1.72, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.56–1.88; 5–<10 drugs: 2.64, 95% CI: 2.32–3.05; ≥10 drugs: 3.35, 95% CI: 2.38–4.71; <1 drug used as reference]. Polypharmacy was correlated with comorbidities and PIM use, and significant interactions were observed between polypharmacy and anticholinergics; H2-receptor antagonists; and comorbidities such as hypertension, peripheral or cerebrovascular disease, congestive heart failure, hemiplegia, diabetes, depression, all other mental disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, peptic ulcer disease, and chronic liver disease (p<0.001). In the multiple regression analysis, most cases exhibited increasing ORs for dementia with increasing polypharmacy levels. Moreover, the increase in OR was more evident in the absence of drugs or comorbidities that showed significant interactions with polypharmacy than in their presence. Polypharmacy increases the risk of PIM administration, and as some PIMs may have cognition-impairing effects, prolonged polypharmacy may result in dementia. Therefore, efforts are needed to limit or decrease the prescription of medications that have been associated with risk of dementia in the elderly.

Purpose While current osteoporosis management guidelines recommend use of pharmacologic treatment following hip fracture, the care of such patients has been suboptimal. The objective of this cross-national study is to quantify the use of and adherence to osteoporosis medication following hip fracture in three countries with different health care systems- the United States, Korea and Spain. Methods In three cohorts of patients aged ≥65 years hospitalized for hip fracture, we calculated the proportion receiving ≥1 osteoporosis drug after discharge. Adherence to osteoporosis treatment was measured as the proportion of days covered (PDC) during the first year following the hip fracture. Results We identified 86,202 patients with a hip fracture - 4,704 (U.S. Medicare), 6,700 (U.S. commercial), 57,631(Korea), and 17,167 (Spain). The mean age was 77–83 years and 74–78% were women. In the year prior to the index hip fracture, 16–18% were taking an osteoporosis medication. Within 3 months following the index hip fracture, 11% (U.S. Medicare), 13% (U.S. commercial), 39% (Korea), and 25% (Spain) of patients filled ≥1 prescription for osteoporosis medication. For those who filled one or more prescriptions for an osteoporosis medication, the mean PDC in the year following the fracture was 0.70 (U.S. Medicare), 0.67 (U.S. commercial), 0.43 (Korea) and 0.66 (Spain). Conclusions Regardless of differences in health care delivery systems and medication reimbursement plans, the use of osteoporosis medications for the secondary prevention of osteoporotic fracture was low. Adherence to osteoporosis treatment was also suboptimal with the PDC<0.70 in all three countries.

Background The present study evaluated the associations of the fat‐to‐muscle ratio (FMR) with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and insulin resistance (IR) in Korean adults using nationally representative survey data. Methods A two‐stage stratified sampling method was reflected in a cross‐sectional study involving a total of 13 032 participants aged ≥ 19 years who participated in the fourth and fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. The homeostasis model assessment for IR (HOMA‐IR) was used to evaluate IR and was calculated as follows: [fasting plasma glucose level (mg/dL) × fasting plasma insulin level (uIU/mL)]/405. MetS was defined using the 2006 International Diabetes Federation criteria, and FMR was measured using whole‐body dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry and calculated as follows: total fat mass (kg) divided by total lean mass (kg). In addition, the optimal FMR cut‐off values for detecting MetS and the odds ratios (ORs) for MetS risk were determined according to the FMR quartile and sex. Results Among all participants, the proportion of women was 58.4%, and the mean age was 44.22 ± 0.26 years. The FMR significantly differed between men and women (0.30 ± 0.002 vs. 0.53 ± 0.003, respectively, P < 0.001), and the prevalence of MetS and IR gradually increased as FMR increased (P for trend: <0.001). The optimal FMR cut‐off value for detecting MetS was higher in women than in men (0.555 vs. 0.336, respectively). The negative predictive value was the highest in normal‐weight participants (0.9992 in women and 0.9986 in men), while the positive predictive value was the highest in obese participants (0.5994 in women and 0.5428 in men). Based on the derived cut‐off FMR, a high FMR was associated with poor outcomes in terms of cardiometabolic risk markers (P < 0.001). The multivariable‐adjusted ORs for MetS, abdominal obesity, and IR (HOMA‐IR ≥ 3) were 5.35 [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.39–6.52], 7.67 (95% CI: 6.33–9.30), and 3.25 (95% CI: 2.70–3.92), respectively, in men and 5.59 (95% CI: 4.66–6.72), 7.48 (95% CI: 6.35–8.82), and 2.55 (95% CI: 2.17–3.00), respectively, in women. Conclusions In the present study, a high FMR was significantly associated with the prevalence of MetS and IR. The present findings also showed that FMR can be a novel indicator for detecting the absence or presence of MetS, particularly in metabolically healthy normal‐weight individuals and metabolically obese obese‐weight individuals.

The infection rate of Enterobius vermicularis was investigated in 1,191 preschool children in 25 daycare centers in Seoul, Korea by cellotape anal swab from July to August 1999. Both the directors of the daycare centers and the children's parents were asked to complete questionnaires that inquired about the potential risk factors involved. The overall egg positive rate for E. vermicularis was 9.5%, and the prevalence in the daycare centers ranged from 0 to 31.1%. Children aged 6-7 years showed a significantly higher egg positive rate than younger children, but the infection rate was similar for boys and girls. The socioeconomic status of the family and personal hygiene were not associated with enterobiasis, but anthelmintic medication significantly reduced the infection rate. The daycare centers in residential areas showed significantly lower egg positive rates than those situated near traditional markets. The environment of daycare centers is an important factor in enterobiasis, and the mass screening and treatment of children at high risk is recommended.