Hyperhidrosis, Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy, and Cardiovascular Outcomes: A Cohort Study Based on the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service Database

Jae-Min Park, Duk Hwan Moon, Hye Sun Lee, Ju-young Park, Ji-Won Lee and Sungsoo Lee
Additional contact information
Jae-Min Park: Department of Health Promotion, Severance Hospital, 10 Tongil-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 04527, Korea
Duk Hwan Moon: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 211 Eonju-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06273, Korea
Hye Sun Lee: Biostatistics Collaboration Unit, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 211 Eonju-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06273, Korea
Ju-young Park: Biostatistics Collaboration Unit, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 211 Eonju-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06273, Korea
Ji-Won Lee: Department of Family Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 211 Eonju-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06273, Korea
Sungsoo Lee: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 211 Eonju-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06273, Korea

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 20, 1-11

Abstract: Sympathetic overactivity is associated with hyperhidrosis and cardiovascular diseases. Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) is a treatment for hyperhidrosis. We aimed to compare the risk for cardiovascular events between individuals with and without hyperhidrosis and investigate the effects of ETS on cardiovascular outcomes. We conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study using data acquired from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Subjects newly diagnosed with hyperhidrosis in 2010 were identified and divided into two groups according to whether or not they underwent ETS. Propensity scores were calculated using a logistic regression model to match hyperhidrosis patients with control subjects. Combined cardiovascular events were defined as stroke and ischemic heart diseases. Subjects were followed up until the first cardiovascular event or 31 December 2017. The risk for cardiovascular events with hyperhidrosis and ETS was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. The risk for stroke was significantly higher in the hyperhidrosis group than in the control group (hazard ratio (HR), 1.28; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.08–1.51); nonetheless, no significant difference in the risk for ischemic heart diseases was observed between the hyperhidrosis group and the control group (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.99–1.31). Hyperhidrosis patients who did not undergo ETS were at significantly higher risk for cardiovascular events than the control group (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.13–1.45). However, no significant difference in the risk for cardiovascular events was observed between hyperhidrosis patients who underwent ETS and the control group. Hyperhidrosis increases the risk for cardiovascular events. ETS could reduce this risk and needs to be considered for high-risk patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: cardiovascular diseases; endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy; hyperhidrosis; sympathetic overactivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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