Epidemiology and Health

COVID-19: Original Article

Worsening of health disparities across COVID-19 pandemic stages in Korea: Hyejin Lee, Hyunwoo Nam, Jae-ryun Lee, Hyemin Jung, Jin Yong Lee; Epidemiol Health. 2024;46:e2024038. Published online March 13, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2024038

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Abstract Summary PDF: Abstract
OBJECTIVES
With the end of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the health outcomes of this disease in Korea must be examined. We aimed to investigate health outcomes and disparities linked to socioeconomic status during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea and to identify risk factors for hospitalization and mortality.
METHODS
This nationwide retrospective study incorporated an analysis of individuals with and without COVID-19 in Korea between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2022. The study period was divided into 4 stages. Prevalence, hospitalization, mortality, and case-fatality rates were calculated per 100,000 population. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors for COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality.
RESULTS
Overall, the incidence rate was 40,601 per 100,000 population, the mortality rate was 105 per 100,000 population, and the case-fatality rate was 259 per 100,000 cases. A total of 12,577,367 new cases (24.5%) were recorded in stage 3 and 8,979,635 cases (17.5%) in stage 4. Medical Aid recipients displayed the lowest 3-year cumulative incidence rate (32,737 per 100,000) but the highest hospitalization (5,663 cases per 100,000), mortality (498 per 100,000), and case-fatality (1,521 per 100,000) rates. Male sex, older age, lower economic status, non-metropolitan area of residence, high Charlson comorbidity index, and disability were associated with higher risk of hospitalization and death. Vaccination was found to reduce mortality risk.
CONCLUSIONS
As the pandemic progressed, surges were observed in incidence, hospitalization, and mortality, exacerbating disparities associated with economic status and disability. Nevertheless, Korea has maintained a low case-fatality rate across all economic groups.; Summary

Korean summary
국민건강보험공단 자료를 이용하여 2020-2022년 후향적 코호트를 구축하여 시기별 코로나19 유병률, 입원률, 사망률, 치명률과 장애, 소득에 따른 건강격차를 확인하였을 때, 코로나19 대유행이 진행됨에 따라 발병률, 입원률, 사망률이 급증하고 건강 격차가 확대되었다. 그러나 이러한 격차에도 불구하고 한국은 다른 국가들과 비교하여 모든 소득수준에서 낮은 치명률을 유지하였다.

Key Message
Using data from the National Health Insurance Service, a retrospective cohort for the years 2020-2022 was established. By examining the COVID-19 prevalence rate, hospitalisation rate, mortality rate, and case-fatality rate, along with health disparities based on disability and economic status, as the pandemic progressed, there was a surge in incidence, hospitalisation, and mortality, widening disparities related to economic status and disability. Despite these disparities, Korea has maintained a low case-fatality rate across all economic groups.

Original Article

Survival Rate and Prognostic Factors of Cancer Patients Diagnosed in a University Hospital.: Un Je Park, Tae Yong Lee, Sug Gu Lee, Sun Young Kim; Korean J Epidemiol. 2000;22(2):136-147.

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Abstract PDF: Abstract
PURPOSE
This study was conducted to investigate case-fatality rates and survival rates, prognostic factors of prevalent five cancers(stomach, lung, liver, cervix, colon) in a university hospital located in Taejon City.
METHODS
2,158 cancer patients who have admitted the hospital from Jan. 1, 1991 to Dec. 31, 1998 were analysed. The higher ratio of outbreak and growing were selected among the investigated cancer data for over 100 of subjects in Korean cancer patient was examined into two method. The one is medical record and the other is affirm a government office for existence or not.
RESULTS
The lung cancer was discovered for the highest fatality rate. The crude 5-year survival rate of all cancer patients was 43.9% and that in male was higher than that in female. The 5-year survival rate of stomach cancer patients were 49.7%, that treated with combined(operation and chemotherapy) were 66.2%, that with metastasis to lymph node were 48.1%, and distant metastasis were 31.9%. Lung cancer patients were 25.9%, that treated with operation were 42.7%, and that with metastasis to lymph node were 29.3%. Hepatoma patients were 25.5%, that treated with operation were 37.8%. Uterine cervix cancer patients were 74.8%, that treated with operation were 95.0%, that with metastasis to lymph node were 83.3%, and distant metastasis 74.8%. Colon cancer patients were 41.8%, that treated with operation were 50.2%, that with metastasis to lymph node were 33.4%. Prognostic factors affecting survival rate among stomach cancer patients were age, operation, operation with cancer chemotherpy, and metastais to lymph node and distant matastasis. Prognostic factors of uterine cervix cancer was age, and that of colon cancer were operation with radiotherapy, metatasis to lymph node and distant metastasis.
CONCLUSION
case-fatality rate in male were higher than that in female, and increased with age. The cancer survival rate of female is high, the high in over 40 years group, and operation is exposed in the highest survival rate, also significant difference in metastasis level.; Summary

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