• Smart Media Journal
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.48-54
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• 2021

Sepsis is one of the leading causes of mortality globally, and it costs billions of dollars annually. However, treating septic patients is currently highly challenging, and more research is needed into a general treatment method for sepsis. Therefore, in this work, we propose a reinforcement learning method for learning the optimal treatment strategies for septic patients. We model the patient physiological time series data as the input for a deep recurrent Q-network that learns reliable treatment policies. We evaluate our model using an off-policy evaluation method, and the experimental results indicate that it outperforms the physicians' policy, reducing patient mortality up to 3.04%. Thus, our model can be used as a tool to reduce patient mortality by supporting clinicians in making dynamic decisions.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between the nurse staffing level and the patient mortality using Korean National Health Insurance data. Methods: The data of 1,068,059 patients from 913 hospitals between 2015 and 2016 were analyzed. The nurse staffing level was categorized based on the bed-to-nurse ratio in general wards, intensive care units (ICUs), and hospitals overall. The x² test and generalized estimating equations (GEE) multilevel multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore in-hospital mortality and 30-day mortality after admission. Results: The in-hospital mortality rate was 2.9% and 30-day mortality after admission rate was 3.0%. Odd Ratios (ORs) for in-hospital mortality were statistically lower in general wards with a bed-to-nurse ratio of less than 3.5 compared to that with 6.0 or more (OR=0.72, 95% CI=0.63~0.84) and in ICUs with a bed-to-nurse ratio of less than 0.88 compared to that with 1.25 or more (OR=0.78, 95% CI=0.66~0.92). ORs for 30-day mortality after admission were statistically lower in general wards with a bed-to-nurse ratio of less than 3.5 compared to that with 6.0 or more (OR=0.83, 95% CI=0.73~0.94) and in ICUs with a bed-to-nurse ratio of less than 0.63 compared to that with 1.25 or more (OR=0.85, 95% CI=0.72~1.00). Conclusion: To reduce the patient mortality, it is necessary to ensure a sufficient number of nurses by improving the nursing fee system according to the nurse staffing level.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.618-626
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• 1986

Univentricular heart is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly in which the atrial chambers are connected to only one ventricular chamber and it consists of a diverse group of cardiac malformation characterized by both AV valves or a common AV valve opening into the same ventricle, or the presence of only a solitary AV valve. In spite of recent development in cardiac surgery, corrective operations for univentricular heart still have high mortality and complication rate. Twenty eight patients underwent corrective operation for univentricular heart at Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital from February 1979 to July 1986. Of the 28 patients, 7 patients were operated on by ventricular septation and 21 patients by modified Fontan operation. Of the 28 patients, 19 patients were male and 9 patients female and ages ranged from 5 months to 18 years old with the average age of 7.3 years. There were 2 mortalities in 7 patients operated on by septation with the mortality rate of 28.6% and 5 complications, 3 complete AV block, 1 low cardiac output and 1 arrhythmia. All survived patients are being followed up without specific problem till now. There were 10 mortalities in 21 patients operated on by modified Fontan operation with the mortality rate of 47.6% and 10 complications, 2 low cardiac output, 2 respiratory failure necessitating tracheostomy, 2 persistent cyanosis, 2 arrhythmia, 1 missing of left AV valve in situs inversus patient due to misdiagnosis and one rupture of closed right AV valve. Incremental risk factors for operative mortality are young age less than 5 years old, anomalous pulmonary and systemic venous drainage and atrial septation procedure. In 11 survived patients, 9 patients show good follow-up results but one patient complains of persistent cyanosis and another one patient is suffered from CHF. In our series, results of corrective operation for univentricular heart shows continuing improvement but still high mortality and complication rate. So there must be continuing improvement in surgical result by selection of patient, by adequate decision making for timing and method of operation and by improving operative methods.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.96-107
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• 2024

Malnutrition affect clinical outcomes in hospitalized old age patients, but the data on the related outcomes on the basis of different age categories are still limited. We aimed to investigate the interplay of associations among body mass index (BMI), falls risk, and mortality rate in different older adult patient age categories. This retrospective study included hospitalized patients aged ≥ 65 years who received artificial nutrition. Demographic, biochemical, and survival data were collected. BMI was evaluated using the World Health Organization BMI cutoffs for Asians, and patients were classified into high (≥ 23.0 kg/m²), normal (18.5-22.9 kg/m²), and low (< 18.5 kg/m²) BMI groups. The Morse Fall Scale was used to assess falls risk. By age categories, all patients (n = 4,642) were divided into the 65-74 (n = 2,649) and ≥ 75 (n = 1,993) years age groups. We found that the proportion of low-BMI and high risk of falls increased with age. Further, low-BMI was associated with increased falls risk in both age groups. Overall survival rate tended to be lower in the low-BMI and ≥ 75 years group than that in other patient groups, but did not differ significantly compared with the low-BMI and 65-74 years group. Low-BMI was associated with increased falls risk and mortality; however, the association depended on specific patient age groups.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.370-376
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• 1990

From April, 1981, through March, 1989, 30 patients had received valve replacements and 1 patient had received foreign body removal for infective endocarditis at Seoul National University Hospital. There were 22 male and 9 female patients, ranged in age from 22 to 59 [mean 34.9] years. Twenty-three had native valve endocarditis, 7 had prosthetic valve endocarditis and 1 had infected transvenous permanent pacemaker electrode in right heart. Twenty-four required operation during active phase of disease and 7 during inactive phase. The infecting organism was Streptococcus in 10 patients, Staphylococcus in 5 patients, both Staphylococcus and Streptococcus in 1 patient, E. coli in 2 patients, and Candida in 1 patient. Indications for Surgery were congestive heart failure in 20, systemic emboli in 5, combination of both in 3, congestive heart failure with uncontrolled sepsis in 2, and complete heart block in 1 patient. Hospital mortality was 9.7% [3/31], and all were the patients who received emergency operation. There were 2 late mortality [7.7 %] due to acute myocardial infarction and recurrent endocarditis. This report suggests that the surgical treatment can be achieved with acceptable low mortality and morbidity in medically intractable congestive heart failure, emboli and sepsis.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.122-129
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the difference of direct nursing activity and patient outcomes as mortality rate, complication rate, readmission rate and length of stay related to graded fee of nursing management for inpatient. Method: The subjects of this study were 44 general hospitals with more than 500 beds. Data totaled to 86,044 claims provided to inpatients in Jan. 2001 requested by an electronic data interchange from a Health Insurance Review Agency. The data was analyzed by SPSS win(ver.10.0) and statistical methods used were frequency, one-way ANOVA, $X^2$-Test and regression. Result: Synthetic judgment through performance index and 95% confidence interval, direct nursing activity showed to provided adequate quality of nursing care on 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th nursing degree. Also, patient outcomes showed difference by graded fee of nursing management for inpatient. Mortality rate of 2nd was the lowest with P.I. 67.9, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 4th in order. In case of complication rate, 2nd, 3rd and 4th were lower than other nursing degree. Readmission rate of 4th and 5th was the lowest. Length of stay of 2nd was the shortest with P.I. 88.3, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 4th, 6th in order. Conclusion: The findings from this study showed that, the higher nurse-to-patient ratio, the greater amount of direct nursing care activity for the patient. Also, the more direct nursing activities influenced a lower mortality rate, complication rate and readmission rate, shorter length of stay.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.217-227
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• 2017

In terms of years of life lost to premature mortality, cancer imposes the highest burden in Korea. In order to reduce the burden of cancer, the Korean government has implemented cancer control programs aiming to reduce cancer incidence, to increase survival rates, and to decrease cancer mortality. However, these programs may paradoxically increase the cost burden. For examples, a cancer screening program for early detection could bring about over-diagnosis and over-treatment, and supplying medical services in a paternalistic manner could lead to defensive medicine or futile care. As a practical measure to reduce the cost burden of cancer, appropriate cancer care should be established. Ensuring appropriateness requires patient-doctor communication to ensure that utility values are shared and that autonomous decisions are made regarding medical services. Thus, strategies for reducing the cost burden of cancer through ensuring appropriate patient-centered care include introducing value-based medicine, conducting cost-utility studies, and developing patient decision aids.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.400-408
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• 2019

Background: For decades, trauma has been recognized globally as a major cause of death. Reducing the mortality of patients with trauma is an extremely pressing issue, particularly for those with severe trauma. An early and accurate assessment of the risk of mortality among patients with severe trauma is important for improving patient outcomes. Methods: We performed a retrospective medical record review of 582 patients with severe trauma admitted to the emergency department between July 2011 and June 2016. We analyzed the associations of in-hospital mortality with the baseline characteristics and initial biochemical markers of patients with severe trauma on admission. Results: The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 14.9%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the patient's Rapid Emergency Medicine Score (REMS; odds ratio [OR], 1.186; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.018-1.383; p=0.029), Emergency Trauma Score (EMTRAS; OR, 2.168; 95% CI, 1.570-2.994; p<0.001), serum lactate levels (SLL; OR, 1.298; 95% CI, 1.118-1.507; p<0.001), and Injury Severity Score (ISS; OR, 1.038; 95% CI, 1.010-1.130; p=0.021) were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: The REMS, EMTRAS, and SLL can easily and rapidly be used as alternatives to the injury severity score to predict in-hospital mortality for patients who present to the emergency department with severe trauma.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.2 s.53
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• pp.279-294
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• 1996

This study was to evaluate hospital characteristics as composition of manpower and facilities to the death rate of patient; and to earmark the factors affecting the overall hospital mortality rates. The data utilized were derived from survey material conducted by the Korean Hospital Association on 32 tertiary referral hospitals in Korea between 1986 and 1994. The findings are : 1. Those hospitals having the most capacity per bed had little difference to the mortality rates than the others. 2. Those hospitals having the most daily patients per specialist had significantly higher mortality rates than the others, but the number of daily patients per nurse had little effect on the mortality rates. 3. Those hospitals which had a relatively sufficient number of quality assurance activities revealed a lower mortality, and particularly in case where such effort was directed to the clinicians, the outcome was remarkable. We concluded that the major factor affecting the hospital mortality rates seems to be the number of specialists per number of beds, the degree of quality assurance assessment of the clinicians, the quality assurance activities of each hospital as a whole, and the number of daily patient per specialist. According to the findings of this study, the composition and quality of specialist and adequate quality assurance activities seemed to be the essential for the improvement of hospital care. Therefore, in this regard e proper implementation of policy and support is highly recommended. Due to lack of available research material, the personal characteristics of specialists haven't been considered in this study. However, this longitudinal observation of 32 tertiary referral hospitals over a nine year period has significant merit alone.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.260-268
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• 2024

Objectives: Regional disparities in cardiovascular care in Korea have led to uneven patient outcomes. Despite the growing need for and access to procedures, few studies have linked regional service availability to mortality rates. This study analyzed regional variation in the utilization of major cardiovascular procedures and their associations with short-term mortality to provide better evidence regarding the relationship between healthcare resource distribution and patient survival. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using nationwide claims data for patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), stent insertion, or aortic aneurysm resection in 2022. Regional variation was assessed by the relevance index (RI). The associations between the regional RI and 30-day mortality were analyzed. Results: The RI was lowest for aortic aneurysm resection (mean, 26.2; standard deviation, 26.1), indicating the most uneven regional distribution among the surgical procedures. Patients undergoing this procedure in regions with higher RIs showed significantly lower 30-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.55 to 0.96; p=0.026) versus those with lower RIs. This suggests that cardiovascular surgery regional availability, as measured by RI, has an impact on mortality rates for certain complex surgical procedures. The RI was not associated with significant mortality differences for more widely available procedures like CABG (aOR, 0.96), PCI (aOR, 1.00), or stent insertion (aOR, 0.91). Conclusions: Significant regional variation and underutilization of cardiovascular surgery were found, with reduced access linked to worse mortality for complex procedures. Disparities should be addressed through collaboration among hospitals and policy efforts to improve outcomes.