ABSTRACT
Background@#and Purpose All young males in South Korea must undergo a physical examination for their participation in military service. We aimed to determine the prevalence rate (PR) of various neuromuscular diseases in young South Korean males using the data of exempted patients and soldiers. @*Methods@#The number of males exempted based on specific items of physical examination corresponding to neuromuscular disease during 2011–2020 were obtained from the records of the Military Manpower Administration. The list of enlisted soldier patients who were discharged from military service due to neuromuscular diseases during 2011–2020 was obtained from the Armed Forces Medical Command, and their medical records were reviewed. @*Results@#The PR of neuromuscular diseases was calculated among 948 identified males: 713 exempted males and 235 soldiers. The PRs of overall hereditary neuropathies, Hirayama disease (HD), myasthenia gravis (MG), and inherited muscle diseases in South Korean males in their early 20s were 8.34 (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.39–9.30), 5.54 (95% CI, 4.76–6.32), 2.97 (95% CI, 2.40–3.55), and 10.38 (95% CI, 9.31–11.46) per 100,000 persons, respectively.Among the enlisted soldiers, hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy was the most common neuromuscular disease, with a prevalence among the enlisted soldiers of 3.11 (95% CI, 2.42–3.80) per 100,000 persons. Myotonic dystrophy was the most prevalent myopathy, followed by facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. @*Conclusions@#The 10-year PRs of hereditary polyneuropathies, HD, MG, and inherited muscle diseases in young South Korean males have been reported. These data could be valuable to understanding each neuromuscular disease in the young male population of South Korea.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Previous studies have reported an association between pneumonia risk and the use of certain drugs. We investigated the relationship between antihypertensive drugs and pneumonia in the general population. @*Methods@#This case-crossover study utilized the nationwide data of South Korea. We included participants who were hospitalized for pneumonia. A single case period was defined as 30 days before pneumonia onset, and two control periods were established (90–120 and 150–180 days before pneumonia onset). Further, we performed sensitivity and subgroup analyses (according to the presence of diabetes, documented disability, and whether participants were aged ≥ 70 years). We used conditional logistic regression models adjusted for covariates, such as angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), other antihypertensives, statins, antipsychotics, benzodiazepine, and the number of outpatient visits. @*Results@#In total, 15,463 subjects were included in this study. ACE inhibitors (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.660; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.558–0.781), ARBs (aOR, 0.702; 95% CI, 0.640–0.770), and other antihypertensive drugs (aOR, 0.737; 95% CI, 0.665–0.816) were significantly associated with reduced pneumonia risk. Subgroup analyses according to the presence of diabetes mellitus, documented disability, and whether participants were aged ≥ 70 years consistently showed the association of antihypertensives with a reduced risk of hospitalization for pneumonia. @*Conclusion@#All antihypertensive drug types were related to a lower risk of hospitalization for pneumonia in the general population. Our results implied that frequent medical service usage and protective immunity were primarily related to a reduced risk of pneumonia in the general population of South Korea.
ABSTRACT
Background@#We aimed to examine the association between antihypertensive use and the incidence of hospitalized pneumonia in patients with a history of stroke. @*Methods@#In this case-crossover study, we obtained data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service–National Sample Cohort database. We included the data of patients with history of stroke who were admitted with a disease code of pneumonia. We analyzed the patients’ exposure to antihypertensives in the 30 (single case period), 90–120, and 150–180 days (2 control periods) before the onset of pneumonia using conditional logistic regression analysis. Additionally, sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis according to diabetes status, age, and documented disability were performed. @*Results@#Angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) use was associated with a reduced risk of hospitalized pneumonia (adjusted odds ratio [OR] [95% confidence interval; 95% CI]: 0.718 [0.576–0.894]). However, the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and other antihypertensives were not associated with a change in hospitalized pneumonia incidence (adjusted OR [95% CI]: 0.902, [0.603–1.350] and 0.788 [0609–1.018], respectively). Subgroup analysis revealed that ARB use was associated with a reduced incidence of hospitalized pneumonia in patients with a history of stroke who were older than 65 years, but not in younger (≤ 65 years) group (adjusted OR [95% CI]: 0.687 [0.536–0.880]). @*Conclusion@#ARB use is associated with a reduced incidence of hospitalized pneumonia in patients with a history of stroke, especially in older adults.