Background: The South Korean government implemented the Narcotics Information Management System (NIMS) on 18 May 2018 to manage benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BzRAs) and narcotics effectively and establish a reporting mechanism for these drugs. This study assessed the effects of NIMS on inappropriate use of BzRAs. Methods: Using National Patient Sample data from 2016 to 2020, we analysed adult outpatients who were prescribed oral BzRAs. We conducted a time series and segmented regression analysis using selected indicators to analyse the monthly variations related to the inappropriate use of these medications. Results: The study revealed no significant changes in the indicators of inappropriate BzRA use following the NIMS implementation. Contrary to expectations, there was a significant increase in the proportion of patients exceeding Defined Daily Dose (DDD) and in those receiving concurrent prescriptions of multiple BzRAs, following the implementation of NIMS. The immediate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was an increase in DDD exceedance; however, overall, this did not significantly affect BzRA use. Conclusion: The introduction of NIMS did not significantly enhance the management of BzRA misuse. Additional measures, including continuous monitoring, system improvements, and comprehensive education for prescribers and patients, are recommended to ensure the appropriate use of psychotropic medications.

Background: Despite cardiovascular benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RA) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), their utilization remains low globally. This study aimed to evaluate the utilization of SGLT2i and GLP1RA in patients with T2DM and ASCVD, as well as the factors associated with medications in South Korea. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted from 2015 to 2020, using National Patient Sample claims data. The study population included adult patients with confirmed T2DM and ASCVD diagnosed between March 1 and October 31 each year. Demographic and clinical characteristics, and influencing factors were investigated. Results: Among 57,576 study participants, SGLT2i use increased from 1.2 % to 10.51 % during the study period, whereas GLP1RA use increased slightly from 0 % to 1.17 %. Older age, comorbid chronic kidney disease, concurrent use of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4i), and prescriptions from specific physician specialties negatively influenced SGLT2i use. Conversely, comorbid dyslipidemia, heart failure, concurrent use of sulfonylurea (SU), and prescriptions from cardiologists positively influenced SGLT2i use. For GLP1RA, older age, concurrent DPP4i use, and specific physician specialty were negative factors, whereas female sex, dyslipidemia, insulin, and SU use were positive factors. Conclusions: Despite increasing utilization, 88.35 % of eligible patients remained untreated with SGLT2i and GLP1RA as of 2020. This study highlights the disparities in utilization based on patient characteristics and physician specialties, emphasizing the need to remove barriers and enhance clinical benefits for high-risk patients.

Objectives: We evaluated the national prevalence of unnecessary GI drugs in the prescription for the common cold in ambulatory settings and the factors influencing this practice. Method: This cross-sectional study used the National Patients Sample data. We identified patients aged ≥20 years diagnosed with a common cold in a primary care clinic in December, 2018. We investigated whether the prescriptions for common cold of study subjects included any unnecessary GI medications. Demographic and clinical factors influencing the prescription of GI drugs were explored using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Unnecessary utilisation of GI medications in treating colds was estimated to be 43.80%. Women were more likely to be prescribed unnecessary GI medications (odds ratio [OR]=1.314). Among physician specialties, paediatricians showed the lowest odds (OR=0.479), whereas surgeons showed the highest (OR=1.655). Patients in urban and rural areas had higher odds than those in the metropolitan areas (OR=1.742). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) use was directly related to unnecessary GI medication prescription (OR=1.903) and the total number of cold drugs prescribed was inversely proportional to unnecessary GI medication use. Patients prescribed three and four or more cold medicines were less likely to receive GI drugs at odds of 0.568 and 0.471, respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the high rate of unnecessary GI medication utilisation in common cold treatment in Korea. Factors influencing unnecessary GI drug utilisation were female sex, physician specialties (surgery), non-metropolitan areas, NSAIDs use, and prescription of fewer cold drugs.