The Journal of Korean Medicine (대한한의학회지)

The Society of Korean Medicine (대한한의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Epidemiological Characteristics of COVID-19 in Chungju City from 2021 July to 2021 December

2021년 7월 - 2021년 12월 충주시 COVID-19의 역학적 특성

  • Cheon-Hoo Jeon (Division of Infectious Disease Control, Chungju Public Healthcenter ) ;
  • Jungtae Leem (Research Center of Traditional Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University )
  • 전천후 (충주시보건소 감염병관리과) ;
  • 임정태 (원광대학교 한의과대학 한국전통의학연구소)
  • Received : 2023.06.29
  • Accepted : 2023.08.17
  • Published : 2023.09.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in Chungju City from July to December 2021. Methods: The authors processed and analyzed the epidemiological analysis report written by researcher. The estimated reproduction rate was analyzed using web-based software that calculates time-varying reproduction numbers. The results were analyzed through univariate multiple regression analysis, with a maximum significance level set at 0.05. Results: During the study period, a total of 1,188 patients were identified, with 7.9% of them progressing to a severe status. The maximum reproduction rate recorded was 3.48. Factors associated with the transition to a severe status included the presence of symptoms at the time of diagnosis, lack of vaccination, and belonging to the age group over 40. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it can be strongly supported that the measures implemented in Chungju City, such as social distancing, vaccination, and preemptive diagnostic tests, were appropriate. Furthermore, it demonstrates that Chungju City effectively managed the impact of COVID-19. Korean Medicine Doctors made significant contributions to the epidemiological investigations of COVID-19. To comprehensively manage infectious diseases, it is crucial to provide administrative and legal support and encourage active research to expand the role of Korean Medicine Doctors in this area.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Korea government (No. NRF-2022R1C1C2008738). This research was also supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean Government (MIST) (No.NRF-2017R1A5A2015805). This research was also supported by the Bio&Medical Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (No. RS-2023-00261934).

References

  1. Hu B, Guo H, Zhou P, Shi ZL. Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2021;19(3):141-54. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-020-00459-7 
  2. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency [Internet]. [cited 2023 Jun 5]. Occurrence Status. Available from: https://ncv.kdca.go.kr/covdash/biz/dsbd/covDsbdOcrn.do 
  3. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Guidelines for COVID-19 Response (for Local Governments), 13th Edition. 
  4. An S, Gwak J, Kwon S, Baek S, Bae H, Kwon GY, et al. Relationship between RT-PCR Ct Values and Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 in Sejong City. Public Health Wkly Rep. 2021;14(31):2229-35. 
  5. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. 2020-2021 Infectious Disease Epidemiological Investigation Report. 
  6. Lipsitch M, Cohen T, Cooper B, Robins JM, Ma S, James L, et al. Transmission dynamics and control of severe acute respiratory syndrome. Science. 2003;300(5627):1966-70.  https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1086616
  7. Chen T, Dai Z, Mo P, Li X, Ma Z, Song S, et al. Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Older Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China: A Single-Centered, Retrospective Study. The Journals of Gerontology. 2020 Sep 1;75(9):1788-95. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaa089 
  8. Jeon CH, Leem JT, Chi GY, Choi GM, Kim HJ. Effect of Non-contact Korean Medical Treatment for Patients Recovering at Home with Positive Coronavirus Disease 2019 Diagnostic Test Results at a Local Public Health Center. Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine. 2022;36(4):130-7.  https://doi.org/10.15188/kjopp.2022.08.36.4.130
  9. Kang B, Chu H, Youn BY, Leem J. Prevention and management of adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination using traditional Korean medicine: An online survey of public health doctors. World J Clin Cases. 2022;10(28):10053. 
  10. Cori A, Ferguson NM, Fraser C, Cauchemez S. A New Framework and Software to Estimate Time-Varying Reproduction Numbers During Epidemics. Am J Epidemiol. 2013 Nov 1;178(9):1505-12. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwt133 
  11. Stoltzfus JC. Logistic Regression: A Brief Primer. Academic Emergency Medicine. 2011 Oct 1;18(10):1099-104. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1553-2712.2011.01185.x 
  12. Jang J, Park SY, Ahn SH, Yang S, Kim SS, Park SB. One-year report of COVID-19 outbreak in the Republic of Korea, January-December 2021. Public Health Wkly Rep. 2022;15(15):231-4. 
  13. Gyeonggi Province Infectious Disease Control Support Team Issue Report. COVID-19 infection status and characteristics among foreign residents in Gyeonggi Province in 2021. 2022. 
  14. Torok M, Nelson A, Alexander L, Mejia GC, MacDonald PD. Epidemic curves ahead. Focus on Field Epidemiology. 2003;1(5):1-6. 
  15. Lim JS, Cho SI, Ryu S, Pak SI. Interpretation of the Basic and Effective Reproduction Number. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health. 2020 Nov 30;53(6):405-8. 
  16. Jang JG, Hur J, Choi EY, Hong KS, Lee W, Ahn JH. Prognostic Factors for Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Daegu, Korea. Journal of Korea Medicine Science. 2020 Jun 2;35(23):e209-0.http://dx.doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e209 
  17. Dorjee K, Kim H, Bonomo E, Dolma R. Prevalence and predictors of death and severe disease in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of 77 studies and 38,000 patients. PLoS One. 2020 Dec 7;15(12): e0243191-. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone. 0243191 
  18. Park HC, Kim DH, Cho A, Kim J, Yun K sang, Kim J, et al. Clinical outcomes of initially asymptomatic patients with COVID-19: a Korean nationwide cohort study. Ann Med. 2021 Jan 1;53(1):357-64. 
  19. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. COVID-19 Vaccination Q&A Fact Sheet. Are COVID-19 vaccinations effective? [Internet]. [cited 2023 Jun 5]. Available from: https://ncv.kdca.go.kr/filepath/boardDownload.es?bid=ATT&list_no=679&seq=1 
  20. Kang B, Chu H, Youn BY, Leem J. Prevention and management of adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination using traditional Korean medicine: An online survey of public health doctors. World J Clin Cases. 2022 Oct 6;10(28):10053-65.  https://doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v10.i28.10053
  21. The Association of Korean Medicine. 2020 Korean Medicine COVID-19 White Paper. 
  22. Akomnews. Korean Medicine Doctor's COVID-19 Antigen Test: "Not a Violation of Medical Law." 2023 Apr 11 [cited 2023 Jun 5]; Available from: https://www.akomnews.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=news&wr_id=52883 
  23. Kim J, Chun H, Lee H, Leem J. The Role and Policy of Korean Medicine Doctor for the Prevention and Management of Infectious Diseases: A Mixed-Methods Approach. Journal of Korean Medicine. 2023;44(2):45-59.  https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.23016
  24. Li M, Zhu H, Liu Y, Lu Y, Sun M, Zhang Y, et al. Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treating Severe or Critical COVID-19: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials and Observational Studies. Front Pharmacol. 2022;13:926189.