Byoung-Whui Choi

The effect of diabetic control status on the clinical features of pulmonary tuberculosis

The aim of this study was to determine whether control status of diabetes mellitus influences clinical and radiographic manifestations and treatment responses in patients with tuberculosis (TB). The medical records of 492 patients who started anti-TB medication between January 2005 and December 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Diabetes was diagnosed in 124 patients (25.2%). Of these, 74 (59.7%) were uncontrolled (HbA1C ≥7.0), 25 (20.2%) were controlled (HbA1C <7.0), and HbA1C levels were not assessed in the remaining 25 (20.2%). There were no differences in clinical symptoms between diabetics and non-diabetics, regardless of diabetes control status. There were also no differences in radiographic findings or AFB results between controlled diabetics and non-diabetics. However, uncontrolled diabetics had more cavitary lesions (pu2009=u20090.008) and higher positive smear rates (pu2009<u20090.001) compared with non-diabetics. After adjustment for age, cavities and positive smears before initiation of treatment, uncontrolled diabetes was a significant risk factor for a positive sputum culture at 2 months (odds ratio, 4.316; 95% CI, 1.306–14.267; pu2009=u20090.017). Uncontrolled diabetics seem to have more cavities, higher positive smear rates and lack of culture conversion after two months of therapy. Therefore, TB patients with uncontrolled diabetes should be carefully managed and treated.

Staphylococcal enterotoxin IgE sensitization in late‐onset severe eosinophilic asthma in the elderly

Asthma in the elderly (aged ≥ 65 years old) is a significant concern with high morbidity, but the pathophysiology remains unclear particularly in late‐onset asthma. Recent studies suggest staphylococcal enterotoxin IgE (SE‐IgE) sensitization to be a risk factor for asthma in general populations; however, the associations have not been examined in late‐onset elderly asthma.

Allergic rhinitis and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level in Korean adults.

BACKGROUNDnRecently, it has been suggested that airway hyper-responsiveness, asthma, and atopic dermatitis are associated with a low vitamin D level.nnnOBJECTIVEnTo evaluate whether the occurrence of allergic rhinitis (AR) is related to serum vitamin D levels in the general Korean adult population.nnnMETHODSnData obtained as part of the fourth annual Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009) of 8,012 adults older than 18 years were analyzed. The correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) level and presence of AR using questionnaires on symptoms, history of diagnosis of AR, and rhinoscopic findings were analyzed. All estimates were calculated based on sampling weight.nnnRESULTSnMean age was 44.41 years and men constituted 49.8% of the sample. Participants with diagnosed AR constituted 11.1%. The mean 25(OH)D level of the AR group was lower than that of the non-AR group (16.71 ± 0.30 vs 17.75 ± 0.25 ng/mL, P < .001). A comparison of the prevalence of AR in the 3 groups showed that AR steadily decreased in the higher 25(OH)D groups (13.0% in group I [<15 ng/mL], 11.5% in group II [≥15-<25 ng/mL], and 7.2% in group III [≥25 ng/mL], P < .001). After adjusting for body mass index, smoking status, age, sex, sun exposure, income quartile, exercise, and body fat percentage, lower serum 25(OH)D levels remained significantly associated with the presence of AR compared with group III (hazard ratio 1.559 in group I and 1.430 in group II).nnnCONCLUSIONnThis study suggested a potential association between low vitamin D levels and AR prevalence in Korean adults.

Economic costs for adult asthmatics according to severity and control status in Korean tertiary hospitals.

Objective. The prevalence of asthma is increasing, and asthma causes considerable socioeconomic burden worldwide. Few studies have been conducted to evaluate the risk factors associated with economic cost of asthma in Korea. This study evaluated asthma cost according to severity, control, and patient factors in Korean tertiary hospitals. Methods. Direct and indirect costs were assessed in physician-diagnosed adult asthmatics recruited from eight tertiary hospitals in Korea. Official direct medical costs were derived from the analysis of 1-year expenditures related to hospital care utilization and asthma medication. Nonofficial medical costs, nonmedical direct costs, and indirect costs were investigated using a questionnaire designed specifically for the study. Results. A total of 314 patients with persistent asthma were recruited. Both direct and indirect costs were significantly higher for patients with severe persistent asthma than for those with mild and moderate persistent asthma (

Clinical Significance of Asthma Clusters by Longitudinal Analysis in Korean Asthma Cohort

2214 vs.

Reliability and validity of the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire for asthma.

871 and

Aspirin-intolerant asthma in the Korean population: Prevalence and characteristics based on a questionnaire survey

978, p < .001;

Costs Attributable to Overweight and Obesity in Working Asthma Patients in the United States

2927 vs.

Pulmonary Impairment in Tuberculosis Survivors: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2012

490 and

Delayed diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis due to absence of asthmatic symptoms

443, p < .001, respectively). Costs of asthma increased significantly in poorly controlled compared with somewhat controlled and well-controlled asthma (