PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.14 No.23, June 03, 2021 Article TypeEpidemiology and SurveillanceNoncommunicable Disease Statistics

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-06-03

  0 247 52

  Update : April 2021 Status and Characteristics of Variant Virus Outbreak in the Republic of Korea

  Park Ae Kyung, Kim Il-Hwan, Kim Jeong-Min, Nam-Joo Lee, Rhee JeeEun, Kim Eun-Jin, Kim Jia, Kim JungYeon, Gwack Jin, Kim Eun-Kyoung, Kim Young-Man, Lee Sang-Eun, Park YoungJoon

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(23): 1592-1613

  

  

  Abstract

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  Regarding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Korea, the government intends to evaluate the domestic situation and respond to variant viruses by checking the status, dynamics, and the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 monthly. The aim of this study was to analyze the status and characteristics of COVID-19 variant viruses in Korea. As such, COVID-19 virus variant surveillance was conducted through full-length genome analysis and spike protein gene analysis for positive samples of confirmed cases related to various domestic outbreaks and imported cases.
  The epidemiological and clinical characteristics were analyzed using initial and in-depth epidemiological investigation results reported through the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s (KDCA) COVID-19 information management system; the information system for managing confirmed patients, and wired monitoring. Also, clinical characteristics such as severity and the occurrence of group cases were analyzed.
  Among the number of confirmed cases in April 2021 (18,927), a total of 2,774 isolates were laboratory tested during the month of April for identification of variants of SARS-CoV-2. A total of 302 accounting for 10.9% of the tested were confirmed as Variants of Concern (VOC). The rate of sequenced isolates was 14.7% and the rate of VOC in April was 15.8%, which marked an increase of 9.7% when compared to March 2021.
  By May 3rd 2021, a total of 632 patients of VOCs were confirmed in Korea. The 632 VOC cases were divided into three groups: 501Y.V1 (VOC originating from the United Kingdom), 501Y.V2 (VOC originating from South Africa) and 501Y.V3 (VOC originating Brazil). There were 551 cases (87.2%) of 501Y.V1, 71 cases (11.2%) of 501Y.V2, and 10 cases (1.6%) of 501Y.V3.
  Among the 632 cases, there were 324 imported cases (51.3%). The patients’ average age was 38.1, By age group, there were 71 cases (21.5%) each in their 20s and, 30s. 223 cases (70.6%) were Korean nationals. 192 cases (58.2%) were symptomatic at diagnosis, and 69 cases (20.9%) presented mild respiratory symptoms with fever. Most symptoms of VOC patients in Korea were mild, but 9 of the 501Y.V1 cases, and 1 of the 501Y.V2 cases were severe/critical (including one death). The rate of severe/critical cases of 501Y.V1 was 1.86%, and the fatality rate of 501Y.V1 cases was 2.01%. The rate of severe/critical cases of 501Y.V2 was 8.51%, and the fatality rate of 501Y.V2 cases was 9.22%.
  A total of 25 VOC-related group cases were confirmed in April 2021, with 569 confirmed cases (90 laboratory confirmed cases, and 479 epidemiological cases), which was lower than those confirmed in March, when there was a total of 13 VOC-related group cases, with 284 confirmed cases (81 laboratory confirmed cases, and 203 epidemiological cases). There was a total of 19 VOC-related group cases and 1,094 confirmed cases (256 laboratory confirmed cases and 838 epidemiological related cases). By gender, there were 578 male cases (52.8%) and 224 female cases (20.5%) aged 20-29 years, and 470 (43.0%) cases were reported in Gyeonggi Province, followed by 308 cases (28.0%) reported in Ulsan Metropolitan City.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-06-03

  0 342 140

  Assessment of radiation exposure to Korean population by diagnostic medical radiation

  Kim Kwangpyo, Gil Jongwon, Lee Byeongyoung, Lee Hyunkoo

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(23): 1614-1632

  

  

  Abstract

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  Diagnostic radiography is used as an important tool of modern medicine to diagnose various diseases or injuries in patients. Worldwide, the public radiation dose is increasing as is the use of diagnostic radiography. Therefore, the necessity for the management of patient dose by diagnostic radiography at the national level has emerged. This article summarized the results of a Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) study on the assessment of radiation doses in the Korean population by medical radiation. In the KDCA study, the total number of examinations were 370 million in 2019. The fraction was high in the order of general radiography (270 million), dental radiography (37 million) and interventional procedures (35 million). The collective dose was 125,000 man·mSv in 2019. The annual effective dose per capita was 2.42 mSv in 2019. The effective dose per capita was high in the order of computed tomography (0.94 mSv), general radiography (0.69 mSv), interventional procedures (0.62 mSv). This article recommended that the results be used as part of a national resource database and be used in policy establishment to develop a domestic radiation safety management system. In addition, the results could contribute to increasing the benefits of diagnostic radiography and ultimately reducing the public radiation dose.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-06-03

  0 226 87

  Development of diagnostic reference levels (DRL) in fluoroscopy

  Eo Hong, Gil Jongwon, Lee Byeongyoung, Lee Hyunkoo

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(23): 1633-1647

  

  

  Abstract

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  Medical radiation is an essential tool for diagnosing diseases inspite of its potential harm. According to the recommendation of International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), the principles of radiological protection are required in medical radiation field: justification and optimization. ICRP also recommends the use of diagnostic reference level (DRL) for optimization of patient radiation doses. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) develops and updates national DRLs in medical radiation. This paper summarized the results of a study on development of national DRLs for fluoroscopy in 2020.
  This study perfomed a nationwide survey to collect patient (adult) dose data and analyzed them statistically to establish DRLs. This study collected patient dose data from 51 hospitals and examined the results of 8 fluoroscopic examinations: upper gastrointestinal study (UGIS) (39), esophagography (40), small bowel series (28), small bowel double contrast study (13), colon study (24), colon double contrast study (10), voiding systourethrography (VCUG) (37) and hysterosalpingography (HSG) (27).
  Third quartile values in patient dose distribution defined as DRLs are as follows; esophagography 12.7 Gy·cm², UGIS 39.0 Gy·cm², small bowel series 56.0 Gy·cm², small bowel double contrast study 105.5 Gy·cm², colon study 20.5 Gy·cm², colon double contrast study 90.7 Gy·cm², VCUG 19.0 Gy·cm², HSG 10.3 Gy·cm².
  This is the first time that DRLs for some fluoroscopic examinations such as esophagography and VCUG have been defined. Continuing education and dissemination is necessary for successful implementation of DRL.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-06-03

  0 401 133

  National Supporting Program for Genetic Diagnosis of Rare Diseases in Korea

  Hwang Joo-Yeon, Park So Yeon, Oh Kyungwon

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(23): 1648-1653

  

  

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  In Korea, according to the Rare Disease Act of 2016, a rare disease is defined as a condition that affects fewer than 20,000 persons. Patients with a rare disease receive a misdiagnosis more than once due to low prevalence and low awareness. Patients and their families endure an unpredictable journey, also referred to as a year-long diagnostic odyssey. These rare medical conditions cause excessive medical costs and long-term social burdens.
  The purpose of this report was to summarize the findings from a rare disease genetic testing diagnostic program. Using genetic diagnosis workflow, this study achieved a diagnostic rate of 39.7% in 2020 and established the need for sustainable development. Also, this study anticipates that medically actionable genetic findings may increase the diagnostic yield in undiagnosed or misdiagnosed patients.

• Noncommunicable Disease Statistics 2021-06-03

  0 184 74

  Trend in rate of Korean adults with limited oral function, 2007-2019

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(23): 1654-1657

  

  

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