This study tried to investigate the effects of number of medications and age on antihypertensive medication adherence in a real-world setting using a nationwide representative cohort. We obtained data from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) of Korea, which is a sample of 2.2% (N = 1,048,061) of total population (N = 46,605,433). Patients aged 20 years or older (N = 150,550) who took antihypertensive medications for at least 1 year were selected. Medication possession ratio (MPR) was used for measuring adherence. The subjects were divided into 5 subgroups according to total number of medications: 1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7–8, and 9 or more. The mean age and the mean number of medications were 60.3 ± 12.6 years and 4.1 ± 2.2, respectively. The mean MPR was 80.4 ± 23.9%, and 66.9% (N = 100,645) of total subjects were adherent (MPR ≥ 80%). The overall tendency of antihypertensive medication adherence according to the total number of medications displayed an inverted U-shape with a peak at 3–4 drugs. Adherence consistently increased as the age increased until age 69 and started to decrease from age 70. The proportion of adherent patients (MPR ≥ 80%) according to the total number of medications also showed an inverted U-shape with a peak at 3–4 drugs. When the same number of drugs was taken, the proportion of adherent patients according to age featured an inverted U- shape with a peak at 60 to 69 years. Patients taking 9 or more total drugs had the overall odds ratio (95% CI) of non-adherence (MPR < 80%) with 1.17 (1.11–1.24) compared with those taking 1 to 8 total drugs and the odds ratios in the age subgroups of 40 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 69 years were 1.57 (1.31–1.87), 1.21 (1.08–1.36), and 1.14 (1.04–1.25), respectively (P < .05). Association between age, total number of medications, and antihypertensive adherence displayed an inverted U-shape with a peak at 3 to 4 total medications and at age 60 to 69 years. When the total number of drugs was 9 or more, adherence decreased prominently, regardless of age.

Background and purpose: Previous studies have reported that early hospital arrival improves clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke; however, whether early arrival is associated with favorable outcomes regardless of reperfusion therapy and the type of stroke onset time is unclear. Thus, we investigated the impact of onset-to-door time on outcomes and evaluated the predictors of pre-hospital delay after ischemic stroke. Methods: Consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients who arrived at the hospital within five days of onset from September 2019 to May 2020 were selected from the prospective stroke registries of Seoul National University Hospital and Chung-Ang University Hospital of Seoul, Korea. Patients were divided into early (onset-to-door time, ≤4.5 h) and late (>4.5 h) arrivers. Multivariate analyses were performed to assess the effect of early arrival on clinical outcomes and predictors of late arrival. Results: Among the 539 patients, 28.4% arrived early and 71.6% arrived late. Early hospital arrival was significantly associated with favorable outcomes (three-month modified Rankin Scale [mRS]: 0−2, adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.03, 95% confidence interval: [CI] 1.04–3.96) regardless of various confounders, including receiving reperfusion therapy and type of stroke onset time. Furthermore, a lower initial National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (aOR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90–0.97), greater pre-stroke mRS score (aOR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.18–2.13), female sex (aOR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.14–2.58), unclear onset time, and ≤6 years of schooling (aOR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.03–3.00 compared to >12 years of schooling) were independent predictors of late arrival. Conclusions: Thus, the onset-to-door time of≤4.5 h is crucial for better clinical outcome, and lower NIHSS score, greater pre-stroke mRS score, female sex, unclear onset times, and ≤6 years of schooling were independent predictors of late arrival. Therefore, educating about the importance of early hospital arrival after acute ischemic stroke should be emphasized. More strategic efforts are needed to reduce the prehospital delay by understanding the predictors of late arrival.

Cut-off values for visceral fat area (VFA) measured by computed tomography (CT) for identifying individuals at risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) have not been clearly established in Korean adults, particularly for large populations. We aimed to identify optimal VFA and waist circumference (WC) cut-off values and compare the ability of VFA and WC to predict the presence of ≥2 metabolic risk factors. We included 36,783 subjects aged 19-79 years undergoing abdominal fat CT during regular health checkups between January 2007 and February 2015 in Seoul. The risk factors for MetS except WC were based on the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were used to determine the appropriate VFA and WC cut-off values for MetS. VFA was a more significant predictor of metabolic risk factors than WC and body mass index (BMI). The optimal cut-off values for VFA and WC were 134.6 cm2 and 88 cm for men and 91.1 cm2 and 81 cm for women, respectively. We estimated age-specific cut-off values for VFA, WC, and BMI. VFA cut-off values increased with age, particularly among women. This large population study proposed the cut-off values for VFA and WC for identifying subjects at risk of MetS among Korean adults. For more accurate diagnosis, different age-specific cut-off values for VFA and WC may be considered.

Lee EJ, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2023 Mar;38(10):e74. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e74

Objectives We tried to clarify, by using representative national data in a real-world setting, whether single-pill combinations (SPCs) of antihypertensives actually improve medication adherence. Design A nationwide population-based study. Setting We used a 2.2% cohort (n=1 048 061) of the total population (n=46 605 433) that was randomly extracted by National Health Insurance of Korea from 2008 to 2013. Participants We included patients (n=116 677) who were prescribed with the same antihypertensive drugs for at least 1 year and divided them into groups of angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB)-only, calcium channel blocker (CCB)-only, multiple-pill combinations (MPCs) and SPCs of ARB/CCB. Primary outcome measures Medication possession ratio (MPR), a frequently used indirect measurement method of medication adherence. Results Adjusted MPR was higher in combination therapy (89.7% in SPC, 87.2% in MPC) than monotherapy (81.6% in ARB, 79.7% in CCB), and MPR of SPC (89.7%, 95% CI 89.3 to 90.0) was higher than MPR of MPC (87.2%, 95% CI 86.7 to 87.7) (p<0.05). In subgroup analysis, adherence of SPC and MPC was 92.3% (95% CI 91.5 to 93.0) vs 88.1% (95% CI 87.1 to 89.0) in those aged 65–74 years and 89.3% (95% CI 88.0 to 90.7) vs 84.8% (95% CI 83.3 to 92.0) in those ≥75 years (p<0.05). According to total pill numbers, adherence of SPC and MPC was 90.9% (CI 89.8 to 92.0) vs 85.3% (95% CI 84.1 to 86.5) in seven to eight pills and 91.2% (95% CI 89.3 to 93.1) vs 82.5% (95% CI 80.6 to 84.4) in nine or more (p<0.05). The adherence difference between SPC and MPC started to increase at five to six pills and at age 50–64 years (p<0.05). When analysed according to elderly status, the adherence difference started to increase at three to four pills in the elderly (≥65 years) and at five to six in the non-elderly group (20–64 years) (p<0.05). These differences all widened further with increasing age and the total medications. Conclusion SPC regimens demonstrated higher adherence than MPC, and this tendency is more pronounced with increasing age and the total number of medications.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of dyslipidemia and identify the predictors of optimal control (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol < 100 mg/dL) among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the representative Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2014–2018). Overall, 4311 patients with DM, aged ≥19 years, and without cardiovascular diseases were selected, and the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of dyslipidemia were calculated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the factors influencing the optimal control of dyslipidemia.Results: Dyslipidemia was prevalent in 83.3% of patients with DM, but the awareness and treatment rates were 36.5 and 26.9%, respectively. The control rate among all patients with dyslipidemia was 18.8%, whereas it was 61.1% among those being treated. Prevalence and awareness rates were also significantly higher in women than in men. Dyslipidemia was most prevalent in those aged 19–39 years, but the rates of awareness, treatment, and control among all patients with dyslipidemia in this age group were significantly lower than those in other age groups. The predictors of optimal control were age ≥ 40 years [range 40–49 years: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 3.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43–9.72; 50–59 years: aOR 6.25, 95% CI 2.50–15.65; 60–69 years: aOR 6.96, 95% CI 2.77–17.44; 70–79 years: aOR 9.21, 95% CI 3.58–23.74; and ≥ 80 years: aOR 4.43, 95% CI 1.60–12.27]; urban living (aOR 1.44, 95% CI 1.15–1.80); higher body mass index (aOR 1.27, 95% CI 1.13–1.42); lower glycated hemoglobin levels (aOR 0.71, 95% CI 0.67–0.76); hypertension (aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.22–1.92); poorer self-rated health status (aOR 0.72, 95% CI 0.62–0.84); and receiving regular health check-ups (aOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.25–2.00).Conclusions: Most patients with DM were diagnosed with dyslipidemia, but many were unaware of or untreated for their condition. Therefore, their control rate was suboptimal. Thus, by understanding factors influencing optimal control of dyslipidemia, physicians should make more effort to encourage patients to undergo treatment and thus, adequately control their dyslipidemia.