Implementation of Asthma Management Guidelines and Possible Barriers in Korea

BACKGROUND@#There could be a gap between asthma management guidelines and current practice. We evaluated the awareness of and compliance with asthma management guidelines, and the internal and external barriers to compliance, for the first time in Korea.@*METHODS@#From March to September of 2012, 364 physicians treating asthma patients at primary, secondary, and tertiary teaching hospitals were enrolled. They completed a questionnaire on the awareness of and compliance with asthma management guidelines, and the barriers and alternatives to their implementation.@*RESULTS@#Of the 364 physicians, 79.1% were men and 56.9% were primary care physicians. The mean age was 40.5 ± 11.2 years. Most of them were aware of asthma management guidelines (89.3%). However, only a portion (11.0%) of them complied with the guidelines for asthma. Pulmonary function tests for diagnosis of asthma were performed by 20.1% of all physicians and 9.2% of primary care physicians, and by 9.9% of all physicians and 5.8% of primary care physicians for monitoring. Physicians stated that ‘asthma monitoring’ was the most difficult part of the guidelines, followed by ‘environmental control and risk factors.’ Only 39.6% (31.9% of the primary care physicians) prescribed an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) as the first-line treatment for persistent asthma. The internal barriers were physician's preference for oral medications, difficulty in use even with inhaler training, and concern over ICS side effects. The external barriers were possible rejection of medical reimbursement by health insurance, refusal by the patient, cost, and a poor environment for teaching the patient how to use the inhaler. Alternatives proposed by physicians to implement asthma management guidelines were to improve medical reimbursement policies and the level of awareness of such guidelines.@*CONCLUSION@#Compliance with the asthma management guidelines, including ICS prescription, is low despite the awareness of the guidelines. It is necessary to develop a strategy to overcome the internal and external barriers.

Implementation of Asthma Management Guidelines and Possible Barriers in Korea

BACKGROUND: There could be a gap between asthma management guidelines and current practice. We evaluated the awareness of and compliance with asthma management guidelines, and the internal and external barriers to compliance, for the first time in Korea.METHODS: From March to September of 2012, 364 physicians treating asthma patients at primary, secondary, and tertiary teaching hospitals were enrolled. They completed a questionnaire on the awareness of and compliance with asthma management guidelines, and the barriers and alternatives to their implementation.RESULTS: Of the 364 physicians, 79.1% were men and 56.9% were primary care physicians. The mean age was 40.5 ± 11.2 years. Most of them were aware of asthma management guidelines (89.3%). However, only a portion (11.0%) of them complied with the guidelines for asthma. Pulmonary function tests for diagnosis of asthma were performed by 20.1% of all physicians and 9.2% of primary care physicians, and by 9.9% of all physicians and 5.8% of primary care physicians for monitoring. Physicians stated that ‘asthma monitoring’ was the most difficult part of the guidelines, followed by ‘environmental control and risk factors.’ Only 39.6% (31.9% of the primary care physicians) prescribed an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) as the first-line treatment for persistent asthma. The internal barriers were physician's preference for oral medications, difficulty in use even with inhaler training, and concern over ICS side effects. The external barriers were possible rejection of medical reimbursement by health insurance, refusal by the patient, cost, and a poor environment for teaching the patient how to use the inhaler. Alternatives proposed by physicians to implement asthma management guidelines were to improve medical reimbursement policies and the level of awareness of such guidelines.CONCLUSION: Compliance with the asthma management guidelines, including ICS prescription, is low despite the awareness of the guidelines. It is necessary to develop a strategy to overcome the internal and external barriers.

Implementation of Asthma Management Guidelines and Possible Barriers in Korea

BACKGROUND@#There could be a gap between asthma management guidelines and current practice. We evaluated the awareness of and compliance with asthma management guidelines, and the internal and external barriers to compliance, for the first time in Korea.@*METHODS@#From March to September of 2012, 364 physicians treating asthma patients at primary, secondary, and tertiary teaching hospitals were enrolled. They completed a questionnaire on the awareness of and compliance with asthma management guidelines, and the barriers and alternatives to their implementation.@*RESULTS@#Of the 364 physicians, 79.1% were men and 56.9% were primary care physicians. The mean age was 40.5 ± 11.2 years. Most of them were aware of asthma management guidelines (89.3%). However, only a portion (11.0%) of them complied with the guidelines for asthma. Pulmonary function tests for diagnosis of asthma were performed by 20.1% of all physicians and 9.2% of primary care physicians, and by 9.9% of all physicians and 5.8% of primary care physicians for monitoring. Physicians stated that ‘asthma monitoring’ was the most difficult part of the guidelines, followed by ‘environmental control and risk factors.’ Only 39.6% (31.9% of the primary care physicians) prescribed an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) as the first-line treatment for persistent asthma. The internal barriers were physician's preference for oral medications, difficulty in use even with inhaler training, and concern over ICS side effects. The external barriers were possible rejection of medical reimbursement by health insurance, refusal by the patient, cost, and a poor environment for teaching the patient how to use the inhaler. Alternatives proposed by physicians to implement asthma management guidelines were to improve medical reimbursement policies and the level of awareness of such guidelines.@*CONCLUSION@#Compliance with the asthma management guidelines, including ICS prescription, is low despite the awareness of the guidelines. It is necessary to develop a strategy to overcome the internal and external barriers.

Phenotypes of Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions Caused by Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs

PURPOSE: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are common cause of severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs). The present study aimed to investigate the characteristics of SCARs induced by NSAIDs in the Korean SCAR registry. METHODS: A retrospective survey of NSAID-induced SCARs recorded between 2010 and 2015 at 27 university hospitals in Korea was conducted. Clinical phenotypes of SCARs were classified into Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), SJS-TEN overlap syndrome and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). Causative NSAIDs were classified into 7 groups according to their chemical properties: acetaminophen, and propionic, acetic, salicylic, fenamic and enolic acids. RESULTS: A total of 170 SCARs, consisting of 85 SJS, 32 TEN, 17 SJS-TEN overlap syndrome and 36 DRESS reactions, were induced by NSAIDs: propionic acids (n=68), acetaminophen (n=38), acetic acids (n=23), salicylic acids (n=16), coxibs (n=8), fenamic acids (n=7), enolic acids (n=5) and unclassified (n=5). Acetic acids (22%) and coxibs (14%) accounted for higher portions of DRESS than other SCARs. The phenotypes of SCARs induced by both propionic and salicylic acids were similar (SJS, TEN and DRESS, in order). Acetaminophen was primarily associated with SJS (27%) and was less involved in TEN (10%). DRESS occurred more readily among subjects experiencing coxib-induced SCARs than other NSAID-induced SCARs (62.5% vs. 19.7%, P = 0.013). The mean time to symptom onset was longer in DRESS than in SJS or TEN (19.1 ± 4.1 vs. 6.8 ±1.5 vs. 12.1 ± 3.8 days). SCARs caused by propionic salicylic acids showed longer latency, whereas acetaminophen- and acetic acid-induced SCARs appeared within shorter intervals. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that the phenotypes of SCARs may differ according to the chemical classifications of NSAIDs. To establish the mechanisms and incidences of NSAID-induced SCARs, further prospective studies are needed.

Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions to Antiepileptic Drugs: A Nationwide Registry-Based Study in Korea

PURPOSE: Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) to antiepileptic drug (AED), are rare, but result in significant morbidity and mortality. We investigated the major culprit drugs, clinical characteristics, and clinical course and outcomes of AED-induced SCARs using a nationwide registry in Korea. METHODS: A total of 161 patients with AED-induced SCARs from 28 referral hospitals were analyzed. The causative AEDs, clinical characteristics, organ involvements, details of treatment, and outcomes were evaluated. We compared the clinical and laboratory parameters between SJS/TEN and DRESS according to the leading causative drugs. We further determined risk factors for prolonged hospitalization in AED-induced SCARs. RESULTS: Carbamazepine and lamotrigine were the most common culprit drugs causing SCARs. Valproic acid and levetiracetam also emerged as the major causative agents. The disease duration and hospital stay in carbamazepine-induced SJS/TEN were shorter than those in other AEDs (P< 0.05, respectively). In younger patients, lamotrigine caused higher incidences of DRESS than other drugs (P= 0.045). Carbamazepine, the most common culprit drug for SCARs, was associated with a favorable outcome related with prolonged hospitalization in SJS (odds ratio, 0.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.63, P= 0.12), and thrombocytopenia was found to be a risk factor for prolonged hospitalization in DRESS. CONCLUSION: This was the first large-scale epidemiological study of AED-induced SCARs in Korea. Valproic acid and levetiracetam were the significant emerging AEDs causing SCARs in addition to the well-known offending AEDs such as carbamazepine and lamotrigine. Carbamazepine was associated with reduced hospitalization, but thrombocytopenia was a risk factor for prolonged hospitalization. Our results suggest that the clinical characteristics and clinical courses of AED-induced SCARs might vary according to the individual AEDs.

Multifaceted interventions to reduce acute exacerbations in elderly asthmatics

BACKGROUND: Although many risk factors are known to be associated with poor asthma outcomes in the elderly, the literature on the effect of risk factor control on asthma outcomes in the elderly is very sparse. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of multifaceted interventions in reducing acute exacerbations in elderly asthmatics. METHODS: A total of 100 subjects were randomly selected from our prospective cohort of elderly asthmatics aged 65 years or older and were provided multifaceted intervention for 1 year. Our multifaceted interventions included repeated education on asthma and inhaler technique for patients and their caregivers, provision of an action plan to cope with acute exacerbations, short message service to prevent follow-up losses, and oral replacement of magnesium. The primary outcome was an acute asthma exacerbation rate compared to the previous year. RESULTS: Ninety-two subjects completed this study, although only 58 subjects continued to take magnesium. Compared to the previous year, the acute asthma exacerbation rate showed a significant reduction from 67% to 50% (p = 0001) and significant improvement was observed in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) (p = 0.04, p = 0.036 for each). Interestingly, a subgroup analysis revealed that predicted value of FEV1 increased significantly in subjects who continued to take magnesium from 79.6% to 87.1% (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: To reduce acute exacerbations in elderly asthmatics, a multifaceted approach in increase medical awareness, proficiency and adherence to inhaler, assistance of caregivers and correction of micronutrients deficiency is likely to be effective. In addition, a continuous oral replacement of magnesium may increase FEV1 in elderly asthmatics.

The virtual asthma guideline e-learning program: learning effectiveness and user satisfaction

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Effective educational tools are important for increasing adherence to asthma guidelines and clinical improvement of asthma patients. We developed a computer-based interactive education program for asthma guideline named the Virtual Learning Center for Asthma Management (VLCAM). We evaluated the usefulness of program in terms of its effects on user awareness of asthma guideline and level of satisfaction. METHODS: Physicians-in-training at tertiary hospitals in Korea were enrolled in a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. The e-learning program on asthma guideline was conducted over a 2-week period. We investigated changes in the awareness of asthma guideline using 35-item self-administered questionnaire aiming at assessing physicians' knowledge, attitude, and practice. Satisfaction with the program was scored on 4-point Likert scales. RESULTS: A total of 158 physicians-in-training at six tertiary hospitals completed the survey. Compared with baseline, the overall awareness obtained from the scores of knowledge, attitude, and practice was improved significantly. Participants were satisfied with the VLCAM program in the following aspects: helpfulness, convenience, motivation, effectiveness, physicians' confidence, improvement of asthma management, and willingness to recommend. All items in user satisfaction questionnaires received high scores over 3 points. Moreover, the problem-based learning with a virtual patient received the highest user satisfaction among all parts of the program. CONCLUSIONS: Our computer-based e-learning program is useful for improving awareness of asthma management. It could improve adherence to asthma guidelines and enhance the quality of asthma care.

Serum micronutrients levels and clinical features of elderly asthmatics

PURPOSE: The prevalence of asthma in the elderly is rapidly increasing. However, we do not fully understand the pathogenesis of elderly asthma, especially for the roles of micronutrients. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between serum levels of micronutrients, including several vitamins and minerals, and clinical features of the elderly asthmatics. METHODS: A total of 317 asthmatics aged 65 or older were enrolled. Serum levels of vitamin D, vitamin B₁₂, folate, Mg, and Se were measured and then the associations between serum micronutrient levels and clinical features of elderly asthmatics were evaluated. RESULTS: Positive correlations with significance among serum levels of vitamin B₁₂, vitamin D, and folate were found. Serum micronutrients levels showed no difference according to the atopic status and symptom severity. The serum folate level was significantly associated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and serum vitamin B₁₂ and folate levels were significantly associated with serum total IgE level. Interestingly, elderly asthmatics with exacerbation history showed significantly lower serum levels of vitamin D and Mg, but significantly higher serum levels of Se. CONCLUSION: Serum levels of micronutrients, such as vitamin D, vitamin B₁₂, Mg, folate, and Se, were significantly associated with some clinical features of elderly asthmatics. Clinical meanings of these associations need to be investigated further.

A Case of Endobronchial Carcinoid Tumor Treated by Flexible Bronchoscopic Resection / 결핵및호흡기질환

Bronchial carcinoid tumor accounts for less than 5% of all primary lung tumors in adults. Although surgical resection is the treatment of choice, here we report a case of bronchial carcinoid tumor treated with flexible bronchoscopic resection. A 19-year-old-man presented with a history of wheezing with dyspnea for six months. A simple chest x-ray showed no abnormal findings, but a pulmonary function test showed a moderate obstructive lung disease pattern without a bronchodilator response. A computed tomogram of the thorax revealed an enhanced 15x12 mm nodule in the left main bronchus. Bronchoscopic examination showed a polypoid mass with a stalk in the left main bronchus, which almost completely occluded the left main bronchus. Histopathology of the resected specimen revealed a bronchial carcinoid tumor. We treated the carcinoid tumor with a flexible bronchoscopic resection. During the follow up period of 6 months, the previous tumor didn't relapse. Initial bronchoscopic resection should be considered when bronchial carcinoid tumor can be approached by bronchoscopy.

Two Cases of H2-Receptor Antagonist Hypersensitivity and Cross-Reactivity

H2-receptor antagonists, such as cimetidine, ranitidine and famotidine, are some of the most commonly prescribed medications for gastric acid-related disorders. These compounds are generally well-tolerated and anaphylactic reactions to them are rare. Here, we report two cases of H2-receptor antagonist-induced anaphylactic reactions: the first presented with sudden dyspnea, sneezing, urticaria, and swelling of the eyelids after ranitidine intake. The second presented with sudden severe urticaria, facial swelling, chest discomfort, dizziness, and hypotension. Possible cross-reactivity with other H2-receptor antagonists was assessed by oral challenge and skin tests. To date, only a few reports addressing cross-reactivity among H2-receptor antagonists have been published. We review the literature and summarize the data available on drug cross-reactivity in H2-receptor antagonist hypersensitivity.

Skills in Handling Turbuhaler, Diskus, and Pressurized Metered-Dose Inhaler in Korean Asthmatic Patients

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate skills in handling inhalers and factors associated with these skills among patients with asthma who had undergone treatment at special asthma and allergy clinics in Korea. METHODS: We enrolled 78 subjects who used Turbuhaler and 145 who used Diskus for asthma control at special clinics in 10 university hospitals and visually assessed their skills in handling these inhalers. We also evaluated skills in 137 subjects who had used pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) for symptom relief. Age, sex, duration of asthma and inhaler use, smoking status, monthly income, highest grade completed in school and previous instruction for handling inhalers were also measured to evaluate their association with overall inhaler skills. RESULTS: Performance grade was inadequate for 12.8% of participants using Turbuhaler, 6.2% for Diskus, and 23.4% for pMDIs. The success rates for each step in handling the inhalers were relatively high except for the "exhale slowly to residual volume" step, in which success rates ranged from 24.2% to 28.5%. Older age, male sex, lower educational grade, and absence of previous instruction for handling inhalers were associated with inadequate inhaler technique in univariate analysis; however, only older age and absence of previous instruction remained significant independent risk factors in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Among Korean asthmatic patients in special asthma and allergy clinics, skills in handling their inhalers were mostly excellent; meanwhile, older age and absence of previous instruction for handling inhalers were associated with inadequate techniques.

Usefulness of 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic for diagnosing lung cancer / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) is a modern method for fluorescence imaging of a bronchogenic malignancy. Adverse effects and high costs, partly related to the general application of photosensitizers, are important limitations of the method. However, local application of a photosensitizer could help minimize these problems. 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-induced fluorescence promotes tumor selective accumulation of protoporphyrin, so tumors can be distinguished from healthy tissue. We compared white light bronchoscopy (WLB) with PDD for the early detection and exact staging of lung cancer. METHODS: We examined 56 stage I and II lung cancer patients (age 65 years; range, 44.83) by photodynamic bronchoscopy (D-Light/AFsystem; Karl Storz GmBH, Tuttlingen, Germany) who had symptoms of cough, sputum, and hemoptysis with atypical cells in sputum cytology. Biopsies were taken from suspected lung cancer by both methods, and 181 lesions were analyzed. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy of WLB, using histopathologic results as the standard, was 48.6%, whereas the accuracy using ALA-PDD was 73.5%. The sensitivity of WLB for detecting dysplasia or cancer was 57.1%, and the specificity was 85.6%. When the results from ALA-PDD were considered, these values were 90.5% and 79.1%, respectively. Of 2 patients with carcinoma in situ, only ALA-PDD revealed the lesions. Three patients with initial stage I or II became stage IIIB or IV after ALA-PDD. CONCLUSIONS: Early detection and exact staging of lung cancer can be facilitated using a combination of ALA-PDD and WLB.

Usefulness of Small Caliber Catheter Insertion for a Spontaneous Pneumothorax / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: The large caliber catheter used in the treatment of pneumothorax causes great damage to the chest wall and organs. The purpose of this study was to prove that the use of a smaller caliber catheter is effective in treating pneumothorax with decreasing admission period and that the recurrence rate of spontaneous pneumothorax is low. METHODS: Patients who had been admitted for treatment of first time occurrence of pneumothorax between May, 2004 and December, 2008 were included in the study. The caliber of catheter used this study is 18 Guage (1.2 mm). The efficacy of treatment, admission period and recurrence rate of treating pneumothorax with small caliber catheter were compared to the control group using a tube thoracostomy for treatment. RESULTS: The admission period for primary spontaneous pneumothorax was 10.8+/-3.6 days for the group (n=68) using tube thoracostomy compared to 4.5+/-1.3 days for the group (n=31) using the small caliber catheter (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in recurrence rate between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The use of a smaller caliber catheter for the treatment of pneumothorax reduces the admission period without a significant increase in recurrence rates.

Efficacy of low dose recombinant human erythropoietin treatment in patients with pre-dialysis chronic renal failure / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Anemia is a most common complication of chronic renal failure and erythropoietin has proven to be a effective treatment for anemia in dialysis patient. However, in patients with pre-dialysis chronic renal failure, Use of erythropoietin is usually limited because of its high cost and frequent administration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of low dose erythropoietin treatment in patient with pre-dialysis chronic renal failure. METHODS: We administered erythropoietin 2000U weekly to 25 patients with pre-dialysis chronic renal failure untill hemoglobin and hematocrit reached to 11g/dl, 33% respectively. After then we administered erythropoietin 1000U weekly as a maintenance dose. We measured the level of hemoglobin, hematocrit, reticulocyte count, serum creatinine, BUN, serum iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity every two weeks for 12 months. RESULTS: 1) In 25 patients treated for 16 weeks, hemoglobin and hematocrit level increased from 8.2g/dl,24.2% to 8.8g/dl,28.2%(p< 0.05) respectively. After 28 weeks treatment, 23 patients(92%) reached target hemoglobin and hematocrit value(11g/dl,33%). 2) Serum iron level increased from 180.2ug/dl to 165.1ug/dl(p< 0.05) after 16 weeks treatment. But there were no significant changes in serum ferritin and total iron binding capacitiy. 3) There was no significant change in reciprocal serum creatinine value before and after erythropoietin treatment. 5) There was no significant side effect except mild exacerabation of hypertension(2 cases) during erythropoietin treatment. CONCLUSION: This result show that relatively low dose erythropoietin treatment in patient with pre-dialysis chronic renal failure can be used as a effective treatment for anemia despite of slow and gradual response.

A Case with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Complicated with Multifocal Osteoarticular Tuberculosis / 대한류마티스학회지

Infection is a frequent problem in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Infections contribute greatly to the morbidity of patients and are one of the commonest causes of death. The high frequency and unusual spectrum of infections can be attributed to the multiple disturbances of immune function in SLE in combination with the effects of immunosuppressive therapy. There is increasing evidence to indicate that opportunistic infections including tuberculosis make a large contribution to the infectious mortality in SLE. Tuberculosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in our country where tuberculosis is still endemic. The indolent nature of tuberculous bone and joint disease often leads to delayed or missed diagnosis, sometimes with devastating consequences for the patient. We report a case of multifocal and complicated osteoarticular tuberculosis developing in the spines and knee joint due to delayed diagnosis, with review of literatures.

A Case of Carbamazepine-Induced Acute Interstitial Nephritis / 대한신장학회잡지

Acute interstitial nephritis is a disorder that primarily affect the renal tubule and interstitium. This disease may result from a variety of cause but drug have emerged as the most common cause of acute interstitial nephritis. Characteristically, in acute interstitial nephritis mononuclear cell infiltrate the interstitium, particularly in cortex. Diagnosis of acute intersitital nephritis can be made from historical information, physical examination,or laboratory test. But renal biopsy is the most definitive method of diagnosis. Carbamazepine has been used as a drug for treatment of convulsive disorder. This drug cause rarely renal problem. The authors experienced a case of carbamazepine induced acute interstitial nephritis in a 20 years old man who showed skin rash and mild fever, deminished renal function, and who was diagnosed by history,physical examination, renal biopsy.

A Case of Nephrotic Syndrome Associated with Total Hydatidiform Mole / 대한신장학회잡지

A case study and review of nephrotic syndrome associated with a total Hydatidiform mole in 54- year-old female is presented. She has generalized edema, nephrotic range proteinuria(8.05gm/day), hypoalbuminemia(2.5g/dl) and high serum level of beta- hCG(200,000IU/L). Radiological investigations showed a 16-cm sized heterogenous enhanced mass in the uterus. A renal biopsy performed before evacuation of H-mole showed a focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The complete remission of symptoms and signs of the nephrotic syndrom after evacuation of a molar tissue was achieved. A review of the literature revealed that this patient appears to be the first case of the FSGS with nephrotic syndrome associated with a total mole that remitted completely after the mole evacuation.