Cost of chronic hepatitis B infection in South Korea.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the direct medical costs of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection and its liver disease sequelae in South Korea.


BACKGROUND
Korea is a hepatitis B-endemic area with 5.79% to 10.87% of males and 1.51% to 4.44% of females over 20 years of age carrying the virus. It is estimated that 25% of carriers will develop serious hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related complications. While vaccination programs have reduced the prevalence of hepatitis B in people younger than 20 years, significant CHB-related morbidity will continue to occur for the next 15 to 30 years until the benefits of the vaccination programs take effect.


METHODS
Direct medical costs for six CHB-related disease states, including hepatocellular carcinoma and liver transplant, were estimated for the year 2001.


METHODS
Four data sources were used to gather information: the National Health Insurance Corporation database, patients' medical charts, expert opinion, and patient survey data.


RESULTS
In 2001, the total medical costs of six CHB-related diseases were 250 million Korean Won (KRW) (equivalent to U.S. 208.6 million dollars), based on an exchange rate of KRW 1200 = US 1 dollar. Annual treatment costs per patient ranged from KRW297,392 (US 248 dollars) for chronic hepatitis B to KRW 80.6 million (U.S. 67,156 dollars) for liver transplant. The cost of treatment rose continuously with liver disease progression. The main cost driver was inpatient hospitalizations (including surgical costs).


CONCLUSIONS
CHB-related diseases are a significant cost burden to the South Korean healthcare system. In addition to the obvious clinical benefits, the prevention or delay of chronic hepatitis B liver disease progression in South Korea could result in substantial economic benefits to the whole society.
Yang
Bong-Min
BM
School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 110-799, South Korea.
Kim
Cheol-Hwan
CH
Kim
Ji-Yun
JY
D017048:Health Care Costs; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea