title: The economic burden of epilepsy in Korea, 2010.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of epilepsy and to estimate the cost of epilepsy in Korea, 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used a prevalence based approach to calculate the cost of epilepsy. Claims data from the Korean national health insurance and data from the Korea health panel, the Korea National Statistical Office's records of causes of death, and labor statistics were used to estimate the cost of epilepsy. Patients were defined as those who were hospitalized or visited an outpatient clinic during 2010 with a diagnosis of epilepsy (International Classification of Diseases 10th revision codes G40-G41). Total costs of epilepsy included direct medical costs, direct non-medical cost and indirect costs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The annual prevalence of treated epilepsy was 228 per 100 000 population, and higher in men. The age-specific prevalence was highest for teenagers. The total economic burden of epilepsy was 536 billion Korean won (KW). Indirect cost (304 billion KW) was 1.3 times greater than direct cost (232 billion KW). By gender, the male (347 billion KW) were more burdened than the female (189 billion KW). The estimated cost in young age younger than 20 years old was 24.5% of the total burden of epilepsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant portion of the economic burden of epilepsy is borne by people in young age. To reduce the economic burden of epilepsy, effective prevention and treatment strategies are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jaehun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Ae
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: In-Hwan
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yo Han
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cost of illness; Epilepsy; Prevalence