National trends in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis prevalence in South Korea, 1998-2021

Global burden of vaccine-associated rheumatic diseases and their related vaccines, 1967-2023: A comprehensive analysis of the international pharmacovigilance database

Vaccine-associated rheumatic diseases are rare but one of the most feared adverse drug reactions (ADRs). However, this topic has been investigated less with large-scale data in the literature. With the rapid progress in the development and approval of vaccines during the pandemic, public concerns regarding their safety have been raised. To assess the global and regional burden, long-term trends, and potential risk factors of vaccines-associated six types of rheumatic diseases (ankylosing spondylitis [AS], polymyalgia rheumatica [PMR], rheumatoid arthritis [RA], Sjögren's syndrome, Systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE], Systemic scleroderma), this study conducted disproportionality analysis based on the reports from the World Health Organization International Pharmacovigilance Database documented between 1967 and 2023 (n for total reports = 131 255 418) across 156 countries and territories. We estimated the reporting odds ratio (ROR) and information component (IC) to determine the disproportionality signal for rheumatic diseases. Of 198 046 reports of all-cause rheumatic diseases, 14 703 reports of vaccine-associated rheumatic diseases were identified. While the reporting counts have gradually increased over time globally, we observed a dramatic increase in reporting counts after 2020, potentially due to a large portion of reports of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine-associated rheumatic diseases. The disproportionality signal for rheumatic diseases was most pronounced in HBV vaccines (ROR, 4.11; IC025, 1.90), followed by COVID-19 mRNA (ROR, 2.79; IC025, 1.25), anthrax (ROR, 2.52; IC025, 0.76), papillomavirus (ROR, 2.16; IC025, 0.95), encephalitis (ROR, 2.01; IC025, 0.58), typhoid (ROR, 1.91; IC025, 0.44), influenza (ROR, 1.49; IC025, 0.46), and HAV vaccines (ROR, 1.41; IC025, 0.20). From age- and sex-specific perspective, young females and old males are likely to have vaccine-associated rheumatic disease reports. Furthermore, overall vaccines showed a disproportionality signal for PMR (IC025, 3.13) and Sjögren's syndrome (IC025, 0.70), systemic scleroderma (IC025, 0.64), specifically while the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are associated with all six types of diseases. Although multiple vaccines are associated with rheumatic disease reports, healthcare providers should be aware of the potential of autoimmune manifestations following vaccination, particularly the COVID-19 mRNA and HBV vaccines, and take into account for risk factors associated with these ADRs. Most ADRs exhibited an average time to onset of 11 days, underscoring the significance of monitoring and timely management by clinicians.

National prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Korean adolescents from 2009 to 2022

Previous studies have examined the prevalence of allergic diseases in adolescents 1-2 years after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, more data is needed to understand the long-term impact of COVID-19 on allergic diseases. Thus, we aimed to examine the trend of the atopic dermatitis prevalence in Korean adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic across 14 years. Additionally, we analyze the risk factors of atopic dermatitis (AD) based on the results. The Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency conducted the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey from 2009 to 2022, from which the data for this study were obtained. Prevalence trends were compared across subgroups, and the β difference (βdiff) was calculated. We computed odds ratios to examine changes in the disease prevalence before and during the pandemic. This study included a total of 917,461 participants from 2009 to 2022. The prevalence of atopic dermatitis increased from 6.79% (95% CI 6.66-6.91) in 2009-2011 to 6.89% (95% CI 6.72-7.05) in 2018-2019, then decreased slightly to 5.82% (95% CI 5.60-6.04) in 2022. Across the 14 years, middle school student status, low parent's highest education level, low household income, non-alcohol consumption, non-smoker smoking status, no suicidal thoughts, and no suicide attempts were associated with increased risk of atopic dermatitis, while female sex, rural residence, high BMI, low school performance, low household income, and no feelings of sadness and despair was associated with a small increase. This study examined the prevalence of atopic dermatitis across an 18-year, and found that the prevalence increased in the pre-pandemic then decreased during the start of the pandemic and remained constant throughout the pandemic. This trend could be explained mainly by the large scale social and political changes that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

National trends of allergic diseases and pandemic-related factors among individuals with obesity in South Korea: A nationwide representative serial study, 2005-2021

Background

Although obesity is known to be related to allergic diseases, few studies have investigated the prevalence of allergic diseases in individuals with obesity, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, this study aimed to analyze national trends of allergic diseases among individuals with obesity and sociodemographic factors.

Methods

This study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to examine the prevalence of allergic diseases among individuals with obesity in South Korea from 2005 to 2021. A nationally representative sample of 118,275 participants aged over 2 years or above was divided into six groups for analysis. This study used weighted multivariate regression analysis to examine the estimates of related factors. It assessed the weighted odds ratios or β-coefficients for these factors across different categories, including age, sex, region of residence, education level, household income, and body mass index for the entire population.

Results

All allergic diseases showed a general upward trend from 2005 to 2021, but each disease showed different prevalence trends when compared by age. Before the pandemic, those aged ≤39 years had an increasing trend for asthma and AD, but those aged ≥40 years had a decreasing trend. For asthma, β-coefficients were 0.629 (95 % CI, 0.299 to 0.958) for 19-39 years, -0.245 (-0.450 to -0.040) for 40-59 years, and -0.668 (-1.024 to -0.313) for ≥60 years. For AD, β-coefficients were 2.514 (1.258-3.769) in those aged 2-18 years, 0.630 (0.173-1.086) in those aged 19-39 years, -0.458 (-0.648 to -0.268) in those aged 40-59 years, and -0.253 (-0.454 to -0.052) in those aged ≥60 years. However, for both asthma and AD, there were no significant changes in prevalence during the pandemic. In the case of AR, trends were different from those of asthma and AD. Before the pandemic, AR showed an increasing trend in those aged ≤39 years and those aged ≥40 years: β-coefficients were 3.067 (2.344-3.790) in 19-39 years, 2.051 (1.609-2.493) in 40-59 years, and 1.173 (0.820-1.526) in ≥60 years. During the pandemic, there was an increasing trend only among those aged 40-59, with no significant changes in other age groups: β-coefficients were 1.438 (0.065-2.811) in 40-59 years.

Conclusions

From 2005 to 2021, all allergic diseases (asthma, AD, and AR) increased overall, but with different age-related trends. No significant link was found between COVID-19 and allergic diseases, possibly due to preventive measures like mask-wearing and social distancing. Anxiety about accessing healthcare during the pandemic likely contributed to a decline in allergy diagnoses, highlighting the need for comprehensive strategies to manage and prevent allergic diseases.

Design of a Self-Measuring Device Based on Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis for Regular Monitoring of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease, in which permanent joint deformation is largely preventable with the timely introduction of appropriate treatment strategies. However, there is no consensus for patients with RA to monitor their progress and communicate it to the rheumatologist till the condition progresses to remission. In response to this unmet need, we proposed the design of a self-measuring device based on bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for regular monitoring of inflammation levels. Twenty joints of both hands were measured to monitor trends in inflammation levels. Three electrodes were used to measure two joints of each finger. A central electrode was used for two consecutive measurements. A suitable form factor for the device was proposed for the vertical placement of the hand. To ensure the stability of measurements, an air cushion was incorporated into the back of the hand, hand containers were designed on both sides, and a mobile application was designed. We conducted a convergence-assessment experiment with five air pressures to validate the consistency and convergence of bioimpedance measurements. A heuristic evaluation of the usability around the product and mobile application was conducted in parallel by six subject matter experts and validated the design. This study underscores the significance of considering patients' disease activity during intervals between hospital visits and introduces a novel approach to self-RA care.

National prevalence and trends in food labeling awareness, comprehension, usage, and COVID-19 pandemic-related factors in South Korea, 2014-2022

Although food labeling on food packages is crucial for promoting a healthy diet, limited research has been conducted on how the COVID-19 pandemic (hereinafter "the pandemic") has affected food labeling awareness. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the changes in trends in food labeling awareness, comprehension, and usage in South Korea during the pandemic. We utilized a nationwide, large-scale, and long-term dataset provided by the Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS) from 2014 to 2022 (total = 1,756,847 participants). This allowed the researchers to assess the long-term trends in the prevalence of food labeling awareness, comprehension, and usage. Furthermore, we investigated the factors associated with awareness specifically related to the pandemic. In total, 1,756,847 adults (54.19% women) participated in this study. The upward slope in overall food labeling awareness became less pronounced and even exhibited a downward slope during the pandemic (βdiff - 1.759; 95% CI - 1.874 to - 1.644). The upward slope in food labeling comprehension and usage became more pronounced during the pandemic (comprehension: βdiff 0.535; 95% CI 0.436-0.634; usage: βdiff 0.693; 95% CI 0.601-0.785). The vulnerability factors associated with lower food labeling awareness during the pandemic included older age, male, obesity, residing in rural areas, lower household income, lower educational level, smoking, and increased alcohol consumption. This study analyzed the 9-year trend in the prevalence of food labeling awareness, comprehension, and usage based on nationally representative data of adults in South Korea from 2014 to 2022. Our findings suggest that personalized nutrition strategies are needed to recognize vulnerable groups with risk factors and improve food labeling awareness among Korean adults during the pandemic.