[The survey for the actual condition of drug medication and development of health care cost associated with toxic liver injury in Korean: a multicenter study for the detection and the development of nationwide reporting system of toxic liver injury].
OBJECTIVE
In Korea, interests in health and health care costs have been increased along with the increase of mean survival rate and income level. The aim of this study is to investigate the actual condition of drug medication and burden of health care cost.


METHODS
A total of 1,434 subjects in four tertiary medical centers were enrolled in this study. The questionnaires were obtained between March 2005 and September 2005. Based on this information, the actual condition of drug medication and health care cost were analyzed.


RESULTS
The mean age of the subjects was 55.0+/-11.4 years (16-87 years). The male and female ratio was 1.74:1. The subjects with drug medication except for doctor's prescription are presently 26.6% and were 40.9% in the past. Traditional medicine (39.6%) and health food (29.9%) are more frequently used than herbal medicine (5.8%) and medical supplies (4.2%) now. In the past, herbal medicine (14.6%) was more frequently used compared with the present. The side effects of drug medication were developed in 90 subjects (7.5%). The total mean health care costs were 895,000 Won/year, the herbal medicine, 834,000 Won/year, the health food, 950,000 Won/year, and the traditional medicine, 324,000 Won/year.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, the subjects with other drug medications without doctor's prescription were as high as ever. The frequency of the use of the herbal medicine was decreased. However, the frequency for the use of the health food and traditional medicine have relatively increased. The side effects and additional large amounts of health care costs were occurred.
Yoo
Tae Woo
TW
Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Byung Ik
BI
Kim
Jin Bong
JB
Kim
Dong Joon
DJ
Kim
Jae Woo
JW
Baik
Soon Koo
SK
Kim
Kwang Seok
KS
Cheon
Gab Jin
GJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008099:Liver / Q000293:injuries*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012651:Self Medication / Q000009:adverse effects*
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs