• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.473-485
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report the effectiveness of the combination of Korean medicine therapy on elderly patients with delirium due to overdose of sedative-hypnotics. Methods: The patient was diagnosed with delirium, which occurred after an overdose of sedative-hypnotics. The patient received Korean Medicine treatment, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion and psychotherapy, and other treatments. The evaluation variables to check the effectiveness of the interventions were the Korean Version of the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (K-DRS-R-98) Mini-Mental State Examination-Korean (MMSE-K) Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) and Manual Muscle Test (MMT). Results: During the hospitalization period, the K-DRS-R-98 score decreased from 31 to 4, MMSE-K score increased from 18 to 26. CDR score decreased from 2 to 0. MMT in the Right lower extremity was improved. Normal daily activities were possible. Conclusions: Combining Korean Medicine treatments, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, psychotherapy, and other treatments, may help alleviate delirium.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.254-263
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• 2015

Objectives: The present study assessed the prevalence of the potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in Korean elderly patients with Parkinson's disease. In addition, this study examined risk factors that affect PIM use. Method: A retrospective, observational study was conducted using Korean National Health Insurance claims database of 2009. PIM use in Parkinson's disease patients aged 65 years or older was examined based on 2012 Beers Criteria. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify risk factors for PIM use. Results: Among 5,277 elderly patients with Parkinson's disease, 88.9% of patients used PIM(s) at least once. The average number of PIM items used per patient was 4.2. PIM use ratio, the proportion of total amount of PIMs to all medications per patient, was 12.6%. Frequently used PIM therapeutic classes were benzodiazepines (32.7%), first-generation antihistamines (19.2%), and prokinetics (17.5%). Individual PIMs most commonly used included chlorpheniramine (11.4%), levosulpiride (10.9%), diazepam (9.0%), and alprazolam (7.6%). Women (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-1.16), medical aid (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.15-1.21), and long-term facilities (OR 2.43, 95% CI 2.22-2.65) were shown to be risk factors associated with PIM use. Of particular, wide variation in PIM use was associated with the types of healthcare facility. Conclusion: The PIM prevalence was very high in elderly Parkinson's disease patients. Nationally effective and systematic efforts to identify and prevent PIM use should be made to ensure patient safety and to improve quality of care in the elderly.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to provide the elderly and their family kowledge about senile dementia and to get them to have positive attitude about senile dementia. The subjects were 204 elderly who lived in the whole country. The data were collected from Sep. to Dec., 1998, using a 36 items questionnaire and analyzed by SAS program for t-test, ANOVA. Scheffe test, Pearson Correlation Coefficients. The results were as follows: 1. The mean score of knowledge about senile dementia was $9.33\pm2.68$(range 0-15), The elderly who was unschooled, lived in Kyung Sang province, didn't have any hobby or interest, didn't access to informations about senile dementia got lower score than the others. 2. The examples of knowledge test items about senile dementia that the subjects above fifty percents answered uncorrectly were 'the patient of senile dementia doesn't die soon', 'senile dementia is uncurable disease', 'the symptoms of senile dementia is apparent in new and strange circumstances', 'the pood and lonely elderly is apt to have senile dementia'. 3. The mean score of attitude about senile dementia was $15.87\pm2.25$(range 0-20) and attitude about senile dementia was relatively positve. Attitude about senile dementia by general characteristic was not significantly different. 4. The examples of attitude test items about senile dementia to which the majority of subjects agreed were 'It is a pity to see the patient suffered from senile dementia', 'It is difficult to take care of senile dementia patient' and so on. 5. The correlation between kowledge and attitude about senile dementia was very low. Therefore this study suggests that it is crucial to educate the elderly and their family to induce positive attitude about senile dementia.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.97-100
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• 2012

We report a case of delayed diagnosed pneumonia due to an aspirated metallic crown, which had been detached from a molar tooth. Dental prosthesis should be checked and a careful review of the chest radiograph is mandatory when an elderly patient with delirium after hip fracture surgery develops pneumonia postoperatively.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.103-111
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• 2003

This study has been performed to riewed and summerized the articles about the therapy and managements. The purpose of this study is that find a part of physical therapy and occupational therapy for dementia elderly patients, try to provide necessary therapy program for dementia elderly patients.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.21-53
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to measure the resource use of the elderly in long-term care services and to examine the effects of patient and facility characteristics on their use of resources. The data were collected from 510 old people over sixty years of age, residing in five long-term care hospitals and two skilled nursing homes during the period between December 1, 2000 and February 28, 2001. For a full sample, when the first level of RUG(Resource Use Group)-III categories were employed as the proxy of patient severity, facility characteristics, such as location, size and ownership, have large effects on the resource use measured by service intensity, whereas patient characteristics such as severity have little or no effect. The resource use is significantly high if the facility: (1) is located in rural areas (gun): (2) has mare than 200 beds; (3) is a long-term care hospital; (4) is private; and (5) has a low percentage of medical aid patients. The analysis of the resource use in each RUG-III categories, for which ADL(Ability of Daily Living) were employed as the prosy of patient severity, shows a similar result. The loose relationship between the needs of residents and the resource use seems to be closely associated with the ineffective reimbursement system for providers. The current reimbursement system has no provision for quality improvement and reimburses facilities simply according to their types: fee-for-service for long-term care hospitals, and monthly-flat-rate or full-coverage-national-aid for skilled nursing facilities. It will be necessary to develop a more reasonable reimbursement system that takes patient's severity into account and gives incentives for long-term care providers to offer cost-effective services.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2008

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in South Korea since the year 2000 and it is more common in elderly patients, with a peak incidence at around 70~80 years of age. However, these elderly patients receive treatment less often than do the younger patients because of organ dysfunction related to their age and their comorbidities, and they show poor tolerance to chemotherapy. The aims of this study were to analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment-related survival of elderly patients with lung cancer. Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the clinical data of 706 lung cancer patients who were diagnosed at hospitals in Daegu and Gyeongsangbukdo from January 2005 to December 2005. We compared the clinical characteristics and outcomes of the patients who were aged 70 years and older (elderly patients) with those clinical characteristics and outcomes of the younger individuals. Results: The median age of the patients was 68 years (from 29 to 93) and the elderly patients were 38.7% (n=273) of all the study's patients. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common type of lung cancer in both the elderly and younger patient groups. Elderly patients had more symptoms of dyspnea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than the younger patients (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). A good performance status (ECOG 0-1) was less common for the elderly patients (p<0.001). The median survival of the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients was significantly higher in the younger patient group than in the elderly patient group (962 days vs 298 days, respectively, p=0.001). However, the median survival of the NSCLC patients who received any treatment showed no significant difference between the younger patient group and the elderly patient group (1,109 days vs 708 days, respectively, p=0.14). Conclusion: Our data showed that appropriate treatment for selected elderly patients improved the survival of patients with NSCLC. Therefore, elderly NSCLC patients with a good performance status should be encouraged to receive appropriate treatment.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.115-125
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to assess the incidence of the potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in Korean elderly patients with heart failure, and to evaluate factors that influence PIM use. Method: Korean National Health Insurance claims database between January 2009 and December 2009 was used. Using 2012 updated Beers criteria, PIM use in heart failure patients aged 65 years or older was examined. Result: The incidence of PIM use in elderly heart failure patients was higher than in overall elderly patients. Among the 12,759 elderly patients with heart failure, 46.2% of study subjects were prescribed PIM(s) at least once. The number of PIM per 10 medications that patients received per patient was 1.53. The most commonly used PIMs in elderly heart failure patients were benzodiazepines (30.9%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including COX-2 inhibitors (16.3%), digoxin (9.9%), and spironolactone (9.0%). Women (odds ratio, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.17-1.24), medical aid (odds ratio, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.08-1.13), and long-term facilities (odds ratio, 2.69; 95% CI, 2.44-2.96) were revealed to be important factors associated with PIM use. In addition, patient's age also seems to influence PIM use. Conclusion: Elderly heart failure patients are at a greater risk for adverse drug events attributed by inappropriate medication use. Efforts to increase awareness of PIM use in elderly heart failure patients are needed. In addition, various comprehensive strategies and policies to identify and prevent PIM use should be established nationwide.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.189-198
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• 2015

Objectives The purpose of this study was to report the improvement of elderly patient's severe anorexia including low blood pessure and cold hypersensitivity of hands and feet after treatment with Osuyubujaijung-tang. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records. This patient was diagnosed Soeumin lesser yin symptom according to Sasang constitutional medicine. He treated by Osuyubujaijung-tang. Results and Conclusions A patient with anorexia, low blood pressure, cold hypersensitivity of hands and feet, dizziness, general weakness showed the improvement of symptoms with treatment after Osuyubujaijung-tang.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.175-179
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• 2006

Objective : The surgical outcome of anterior lumbar interbody fusion[ALlF] with pedicle screw fixation for elderly isthmic spondylolisthesis was analyzed. Methods : Consecutive nineteen elderly patients [aged 65 years or more] with isthmic spondylolisthesis [Grade I or II] who underwent single level ALIF with pedicle screw fixation in 2002 were analyzed. Using clinical chart and mailed questionnaires, preoperative and postoperative Visual Analogue Scale[VAS] of back and leg pain and postopertive Macnab criteria were evaluated. Results : The mean age at the time of operation was 68.4 years [range 65 to 78 years]. Twelve patients underwent ALIF with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation. Seven patients underwent ALIF followed by posterior decompression and pedicle screw fixation. The postoperative complication rate was 10.5% [wound dehiscence in 1 patient and incisional hernia in 1 patient]. There was no postoperative major morbidity or mortality. At a mean follow-up duration of 30.7 months [range 25 to 35 months], 93.3% [14/15] of the patients showed excellent or good outcomes in terms of Macnab criteria. The mean VAS scores of back pain and leg pain significantly decreased after surgery. Conclusion : ALIF with pedicle screw fixation yielded favorable results for elderly isthmic spondylolisthesis in selected cases.