Medicine
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Observational Study
Comparison of emergency department utilization trends between the COVID-19 pandemic and control period.
Infectious disease pandemics has a great impact on the use of medical facilities. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the use of emergency medical facilities in the Republic of Korea. This single-center, retrospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary teaching hospital located in Incheon Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea. ⋯ In terms of diagnostic codes, a significant decrease was observed in the proportion of certain infectious or parasitic diseases (A00-B99), and respiratory diseases (J00-J99) in the pediatric and younger adult patient groups (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively). The COVID-19 pandemic reduced the number of ED patients; however, the proportion of patients using ambulances increased. In particular, the proportion of patients with diagnostic codes for infectious and respiratory diseases significantly decreased during the pandemic period.
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To investigate the factors affecting the duration of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) colonization in stroke patients. A total of 52 stroke patients with VRE colonization were enrolled. We divided the groups into several factors and confirmed whether each factor affected VRE colonization. ⋯ Bivariate correlation analysis showed duration of ICU care (P < .001) was associated with duration of VRE colonization. Cox proportional hazard model showed oral feeding (P = .001), use of antibiotics (P = .003), and duration of ICU care (P = .001) as independent factors of duration of VRE colonization. Careful attention should be given to oral feeding, duration of ICU care, and use of antibiotics in stroke patients, especially hemorrhagic stroke patients, for intensive rehabilitation at the appropriate time.
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Observational Study
The prognostic value of the SOFA score in patients with COVID-19: A retrospective, observational study.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to serious illness and death, and thus, it is particularly important to predict the severity and prognosis of COVID-19. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score has been used to predict the clinical outcomes of patients with multiple organ failure requiring intensive care. Therefore, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and relationship between the SOFA score and the prognosis of COVID-19 patients. ⋯ Regarding the 60-day mortality rates of patients in the 2 groups classified by the optimal cutoff value of the SOFA score (5), patients in the high SOFA score group (SOFA score ≥5) had a significantly greater risk of death than those in the low SOFA score group (SOFA score < 5). The SOFA score could be used to evaluate the severity and 60-day mortality of COVID-19. The SOFA score may be an independent risk factor for in-hospital death.
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Observational Study
Antipsychotic patterns in outpatients with schizophrenia in China: A cross sectional study.
It is essential to monitor pharmacological treatment for schizophrenic outpatients regularly in clinical practice. Especially in China, the situation of common prescribing patterns remains unclear. The objective of this study is to reveal real-world treatment prescription patterns of antipsychotics for schizophrenia patients in a representative large tertiary hospital in China. ⋯ Disease course, self-paying cost and LAI antipsychotic use were independently associated with antipsychotics treatments. Second-generation antipsychotics showed domination in prescriptions. More concerns should be paid with concomitant psychiatric medications in clinics.
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Previous studies on hospital specialization in spinal joint disease have been limited to patients requiring surgical treatment. The lack of similar research on the nonsurgical spinal joint disease in specialized hospitals provides limited information to hospital executives. To analyze the relationship between hospital specialization and health outcomes (length of stay and medical expenses) with a focus on nonsurgical spinal joint diseases. ⋯ An increase in specialization status, that is, IHI, was associated with a decrease in medical expenses and the length of stay, after adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics. Hospital specialization had a positive effect on hospital efficiency. The results of this study could inform decision-making by hospital executives and specialty hospital-related medical policymakers.