Journal of Korean medical science
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Sep 2020
Blood Transfusion for Elderly Patients with Hip Fracture: a Nationwide Cohort Study.
This nationwide study aimed to investigate the blood transfusion status of elderly hip fracture patients and to examine the effect of packed red blood cell transfusion on all-cause mortality. ⋯ In this nationwide representative cohort study, blood transfusion was performed in 75% of hip fracture patients. Even after adjusting for comorbidity and anticoagulant use, the postoperative results (hospitalization, mortality) of the transfusion group did not show significantly worse results than the non-transfusion group. Therefore, adequate patient blood management can only improve the patient's outcome after hip fracture surgery.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Sep 2020
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Conduct of Clinical Trials for Medical Products in Korea.
The number of clinical trials conducted in Korea continues to increase and an increasing proportion focus on severe and rare incurable diseases. After the start of the severe acute respiratory syndrome, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) developed guidelines to prevent the spread of infection. This study evaluated the impact of COVID-19 and the KCDC guideline on the conduct of clinical research in Korea. The purpose was to develop recommendations on how to minimize the risk of infection while enabling subjects to take part in the trials if no better alternative treatment options were available. ⋯ The COVID-19 and the KCDC guideline influenced all parties involved in clinical trials in Korea. In order to ensure the safety and well-being of trial subjects during the pandemic, new approaches are required for clinical trials to respond to the impact actively. Method of non-contact is developed to replace and supplement the face-to-face contact and alternatives to reduce the travel is introduced to decrease the risk of infection for all trial participants in whole trial process. The relevant regulations should be developed and the guidelines for foreign countries need to be adopted in accordance with the situation in Korea. COVID-19 trial is rapidly increasing worldwide and continuous support of health authorities, regulation, and facilities is required for developing the treatments with protecting all trial participants.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Sep 2020
Clinical Characteristics and Mortality Predictors of COVID-19 Patients Hospitalized at Nationally-Designated Treatment Hospitals.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in December 2019 in China, and then it has disseminated worldwide. In Korea, a religious group-related super-spreading event triggered a sudden outbreak in Daegu city and Gyeongsangbuk-do in southeast Korea. This study was undertaken to document the clinical characteristics of patients hospitalized in Gyeongsangbuk-do. ⋯ Patients aged ≥ 70 years, those with fever on admission, and patients with an underlying malignancy or diabetes were found to be more likely to succumb to COVID-19. Elderly in care facilities or hospitalized patients with an underlying disease should receive more attention and be considered for preventive quarantine.