title: Health care use and economic burden of patients with diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Korea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence and economic burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are increasing worldwide. However, little information is available concerning COPD-associated health care use and costs in Korea.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse 1) health care use, medical costs and medication use in 2009, and 2) changes in costs and medication use over 5 years (2006-2010).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the database of the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, COPD patients were identified by searching on both ICD-10 codes and COPD medication. RESULTS A total of 192,496 COPD patients were identified in 2009. Total medical costs per person were US$2803 ± 3865; the average annual number of days of out-patient care and days of hospitalisation were respectively 40 ± 36 and 11 ± 33. Methylxanthine and systemic beta-agonists were the most frequently used drugs. However, the number of prescriptions for long-acting muscarinic antagonist increased rapidly. The total cost of COPD-related medications increased by 33.1% over 5 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study provides new insight into health care use and the economic burden of COPD in Korea. Changing patterns of COPD-related medication use could help inform COPD management policies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Konkuk, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yeouido St Mary's Hospital, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Y-M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: S-D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research Support, National Strategic Coordinating Center for Clinical Research, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: K-J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: J-H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Y B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000639:trends; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents