title: Prevalence of treated epilepsy in Korea based on national health insurance data.
abstract: The Korean national health security system covers the entire population and all medical facilities. We aimed to estimate epilepsy prevalence, anticonvulsant utilization pattern and the cost. We identified prevalent epilepsy patients by the prescription of anticonvulsants under the diagnostic codes suggesting seizure or epilepsy from 2007 Korean National Health Insurance databases. The information of demography, residential area, the kind of medical security service reflecting economic status, anticonvulsants, and the costs was extracted. The overall prevalence of treated epilepsy patients was 2.41/1,000, and higher for men than women. The age-specific prevalence was the lowest in those in their thirties and forties. Epilepsy was more prevalent among lower-income individuals receiving medical aid. The regional prevalence was the highest in Jeju Island and lowest in Ulsan city. New anticonvulsants were more frequently used than old anticonvulsants in the younger age group. The total annual cost of epilepsy or seizure reached 0.46% of total medical expenditure and 0.27% of total expenditure on health. This is the first nationwide epidemiological report issued on epilepsy in Korea. Epilepsy prevalence in Korea is comparable to those in developed countries. Economic status and geography affect the prevalence of epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seo-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ki-Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Il Keun
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Do
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Yong Won
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Dong Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung-Sik
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Sejin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants