Young Kim

Incidence and prevalence of ulcerative colitis in the Songpa-Kangdong district, Seoul, Korea, 1986-1997.

Background and Aims : Ulcerative colitis (UC) is regarded as a rare disease in developing countries, but accurate data are generally lacking. We performed the present study to evaluate the incidence and prevalence of UC in Korea.

The impact of morbid obesity on resource utilization after renal transplantation

BACKGROUNDnA growing number of renal transplant recipients have a body mass index ≥40. While previous studies have shown that patient and graft survival are significantly decreased in renal transplant recipients with body mass indexes ≥40, less is known about perioperative outcomes and resource utilization in morbidly obese patients. We aimed to analyze the effects of morbid obesity on these parameters in renal transplant.nnnMETHODSnUsing a linkage between the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients and the databases of the University HealthSystem Consortium, we identified 29,728 adult renal transplant recipients and divided them into 2 cohorts based on body mass index (<40 vsxa0≥40xa0kg/m2). The body mass index ≥40 group comprised 2.5% (nxa0=xa0747) of renal transplant recipients studied.nnnRESULTSnBody mass index ≥40 recipients incurred greater direct costs (

Downstaging therapy followed by liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma beyond Milan criteria

84,075 vs

The center volume–outcome effect in pancreas transplantation: a national analysis

79,580, Pxa0<xa0.01), index admission costs (

Equivalent Treatment and Survival after Resection of Pancreatic Cancer at Safety-Net Hospitals

91,169 vs

Addressing the challenges of sleeve gastrectomy in end-stage renal disease: Analysis of 100 consecutive renal failure patients

86,141, Pxa0<xa0.01), readmission costs (

Benefit of social media on patient engagement and satisfaction: Results of a 9-month, qualitative pilot study using Facebook

5,306 vs

Variability in blood transfusions after pancreaticoduodenectomy: A national analysis of the University HealthSystem Consortium

4,596, Pxa0=xa0.01), and combined costs (

The Importance of Safety-Net Hospitals in Emergency General Surgery

99,590 vs

Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy compared to total cholecystectomy: a matched national analysis

93,939, Pxa0<xa0.001). Thirty-day readmission rates were also greater among body mass index ≥40 recipients (33.92% vs 26.9%, Pxa0<xa0.01). Morbid obesity was not predictive of stay (odds ratio 1.01, Pxa0=xa0.75).nnnCONCLUSIONnMorbidly obese renal transplant recipients incur greater costs and readmission rates compared with nonobese patients. Recognition of increased resource utilization should be accompanied by appropriate, risk-adjustment reimbursement.