PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.15 No.21, May 26, 2022 Article TypeCOVID-19 Special ReportEpidemiology and SurveillanceNoncommunicable Disease StatisticsOriginal Articles

• COVID-19 Special Report 2022-05-26

  0 140 77

  Incidence and fatality rates of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant compared with Delta variant in long term care facilities

  Hanul Park, Ji-Joo Lee, Ji Hyun Choi, Hye young Lee, Mi Yu, Yeong-Jun Song, Sang Eun Lee, Young Joon Park, Jeonghee Yu, Eun-Young Kim, Taejong Son, So-hyeon Kim, Yeonjung Kim, Seon Kyeong Park, Hanna Yoo, Seung Woo Nam

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(21): 1426-1434

  Abstract

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  The Omicron variant in South Africa described it as being associated with rapid spread, mild symptoms, low severity, and low mortality. In the Republic of Korea (ROK), as of April 4, 2022, the cumulative number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was 14,003,031. This study analyzed the incidence and fatality rate according to the type of variant and vaccination status of 2,588 patients and workers in nine long term care facilities in the ROK where Delta and Omicron variants were identified between October 23, 2021, and February 18, 2022. The incidence rate of the Omicron variant was about 11.18 times (95% CI: 8.90-14.04) higher than that of the Delta variant, and the fatality rate of the Omicron variant was about 48% (aRR=0.52; 95% CI: 0.32-0.87) lower. In the Delta variant group, the vaccine was effective in 44% (aRR=0.56; 95% CI: 0.42-0.76) of those who had received second vaccinations and 83% (aRR=0.17; 95% CI: 0.12-0.26) of those who had received third vaccinations. The preventive effect of the fatality rate in the Delta variant was 85% (aRR=0.15; 95% CI: 0.06-0.33) for those who completed the second vaccination and 94% for those who completed the third vaccination (aRR=0.06; 95% CI: 0.01-0.43). In the Omicron variant group, the preventive effects of the vaccine were 84% (aRR=0.16; 95% CI: 0.06-0.38) for those who had received third vaccinations, compared to unvaccinated group. While the fatality rate of the Omicron variant is lower than that of the Delta variant, the number of confirmed cases is higher. However, due to the rapidly increasing number of confirmed cases despite the low fatality rate of Omicron in the ROK, severe cases and deaths has increased. This analysis can be further developed and supplemented to identify the virus characteristics of new variants in the future. Moreover, we expect these results to be utilized as evidence for policy decisions related to new variants of COVID-19.

• Noncommunicable Disease Statistics 2022-05-26

  0 199 35

  Trends in prevalence of current cigarette smoking, 2010-2020

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(21): 1485-1486

  

  

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• COVID-19 Special Report 2022-05-26

  0 85 100

  A brief report of COVID-19 test results of overseas entrants to Republic of Korea as requested by two quarantine stations in 2021

  Sang Oun Jung, Karam Kang, Hanseul Jang, Sangmi Park, Young Jee Kim, Jihye Han, Jeonggu Nam

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(21): 1453-1459

  

  

  Abstract

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  This report analyzed the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test results of overseas entrants to Republic of Korea (ROK) as requested by two national quarantine stations (Incheon International Airport and Incheon Port) in 2021. The total number of tests performed in 2021 was 28,401, and the monthly average number of tests was 2,367. The number of tested overseas entrants at Incheon International Airport was 24,120 (84.9%), and the test number at Incheon Port was 4,281 (15.1%). According to the analysis by country of arrivals through Incheon International Airport, the U.S. accounted for the largest portion at 29.3%, followed by Indonesia (6.5%), Japan (6.4%), China (5.1%), and India (4.4%). In the case of Incheon Port, China accounted for 33.7%, followed by Japan (5.9%) and Singapore (4.7%). The total number of positive cases was 1,423 (5.0%) of the COVID-19 tests conducted in 2021. Of the total COVID-19 positive cases of inbound travelers, 1,355 (94.5%) cases were confirmed at Incheon International Airport, and 68 cases (4.8%) were confirmed at Incheon Port. Monthly positive rates increased to 5.9% in April and decreased after increasing to 8.1% and 11.5% in June and July. An increase was also recorded in December. These temporary increases in monthly positive rates were attributed to the increase of positive cases entering from India (April) and from Indonesia (June and July). Notably, COVID-19 outbreaks were confirmed in India and in Indonesia during those same periods. As the conclusion. the rapid and accurate laboratory testing during the quarantine stage was important to effectively block and manage the inflow of infectious diseases from overseas into Korea. For this purpose, it would be helpful to continuously promote the expansion of the types of infectious diseases that can be tested, maintaining test suitability and expertise through Quality Control (Q.C.), and strengthening monitoring functions for the characteristics of infectious disease pathogens.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2022-05-26

  0 137 58

  The first national climate health impact assessment in the Republic of Korea: key findings and scientific issues

  Hyoeun Kim, Seongwoo Park, Youngju Lee, JongHee Kim, Yuna Kim, Ho-jang Kwon

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(21): 1463-1475

  

  

  Abstract

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  Based on the 'Framework Act on Health and Medical Services' (Article 37-2) in 2017, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) identified climate-sensitive health outcomes and 31 evaluation indicators that were collected in three categories: temperature (heat and cold waves), air quality, and infectious disease. The 31 indicators were analyzed over the past 10 years. KDCA developed the methodological framework to evaluate the health impact from climate change in 2018-2020 and conducted the 1st climate health impact assessment in 2021. Data assessment sources included the temperature-related illness surveillance data and national notifiable infectious disease surveillance of KDCA, the Statistics Korea's cause of death, National Health Information Database of the National Health Insurance Service, National Emergency Department Information System of the National Emergency Medical Center, and weather observation data from the Korea Meteorological Administration. As a result of the analysis, temperature related diseases caused by heat and cold waves continuously occurred in the past 10 years (2011-2020). In particular, temperature related deaths were more common in men and aged > 65 years. Over the past 10 years (2010-2019), excess mortality has estimated to have doubled due to the increased ozone concentration level in the atmosphere, and hospitalization rate due to intestinal infectious diseases has increased for 1.7 times during the same period.
  The first climate health impact assessment is meaningful in that it systematically evaluated the effects of climate change on the health of Korean. In the future, KDCA plans to continue the in-depth study on the effects of climate change on health impacts in vulnerable populations, to strengthen the production of scientific evidence for establishing national climate change adaptation measures.

• Original Articles 2022-05-26

  0 173 106

  Status and associated factors of heated tobacco product use among adult males in the Republic of Korea

  Sunhye Choi, Hyejin Kim, Kyungwon Oh

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(21): 1476-1483

  

  

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  Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data were analyzed for the prevalence of current use of heated tobacco products (HTPs) and related factors.
  In 2020, approximately 8.4% of Korean adult males of HTPs. Among general adult males, the odds of current use of HTPs were significantly higher among men in their 30s (OR=8.81, 95% CI=5.95-13.06), middle-high income (OR=1.59, 95% CI=1.09-2.33), college and university (OR=1.82, 95% CI=1.31-2.51), current cigarette smoker (OR=1.54, 95% CI=1.16-2.05), high-risk drinker (OR=2.30, 95% CI=1.73-3.05), and perceived stress (OR=1.56, 95% CI=1.22-2.00). Therefore, it is necessary to continuously monitor the prevalence of HTPs current use through KNHANES and to prepare tobacco control policies focusing on groups with a high prevalence of HTPs current use.