title: Economic burden and epidemiology of pneumonia in Korean adults aged over 50 years.
abstract: This study was performed to estimate the direct medical costs and epidemiology of pneumonia in adults of Korea. We conducted a multi-center, retrospective, observational study and collected data targeting for community-acquired pneumonia patients ( ≥ 50 yr) from 11 hospitals. Costs attributable to the treatment of pneumonia were estimated by reviewing resource utilization and epidemiology data (distribution of pathogen, hospital length of stay, overall outcome) were also collected. A total 693 patients were included; average 70.1 ( ± 10.5) aged, 57.3% male and average 1.16 CURB-65 (confusion, blood urea nitrogen, respiratory rate, blood pressure, age > 65 yr) scored. The pathogen was identified in the 32.9% (228 patients); Streptococcus pneumoniae accounted for 22.4% (51 patients) of identified pathogens. The hospital mortality was 3.2% (especially, for S. pneumoniae was 5.9%) and average length of stay was 9 days. The mean total cost for the treatment of pneumonia was US dollar (USD) 1,782 (SD: USD 1,501). Compared to the cost of all caused pneumonia, that of pneumococcal pneumonia was higher, USD 2,049 ( ± USD 1,919), but not statistically significant. Charge of hospitalization accounted the greatest part of total medical costs. The economic burden of pneumonia was high in Korea, and the prevention of pneumonia should be considered as effective strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Ha
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Chul Gyu
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Se Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji Ye
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Myung Goo
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soo Taek
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Uh
authors.forename: Tae Sun
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Kyeongman
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Jae Jeong
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Heung Bum
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chi Ryang
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Kyung Woo
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ki Suck
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification
keywords: Adult; Cost of Illness; Korea; Pneumonia; Streptococcus pneumonia