Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TUBERCULOSIS AND LUNG DISEASE
Volume 18, Issue 6, Pages 737-743Publisher
INT UNION AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS LUNG DISEASE (I U A T L D)
DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.13.0634
Keywords
pulmonary disease; chronic obstructive; health care use; health care costs; drug prescriptions
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Funding
- Korea Healthcare Technology RD Project [A102065]
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BACKGROUND: The prevalence and economic burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are increasing worldwide. However, little information is available concerning COPD-associated health care use and costs in Korea. OBJECTIVE: To analyse 1) health care use, medical costs and medication use in 2009, and 2) changes in costs and medication use over 5 years (2006-2010). DESIGN: Using the database of the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, COPD patients were identified by searching on both ICD-10 codes and COPD medication. RESULTS: A total of 192 496 COPD patients were identified in 2009. Total medical costs per person were US$2803 +/- 3865; the average annual number of days of out-patient care and days of hospitalisation were respectively 40 +/- 36 and 11 +/- 33. Methylxanthine and systemic beta-agonists were the most frequently used drugs. However, the number of prescriptions for long-acting muscarinic antagonist increased rapidly. The total cost of COPD-related medications increased by 33.1% over 5 years. CONCLUSION: The present study provides new insight into health care use and the economic burden of COPD in Korea. Changing patterns of COPD-related medication use could help inform COPD management policies.
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