title: Association between chronic disease and catastrophic health expenditure in Korea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence and economic burden of chronic diseases are increasing worldwide. Nevertheless, little information is available on catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) associated with chronic diseases in Korea. This study explored the burden of household out-of-pocket health expenditures among the Korean population for different chronic diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted utilizing data collected from the 7,006 households that participated in the Korea Health Panel Survey (KHPS) in 2008. The effect of CHE in relation to type of chronic disease was assessed via multiple logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Roughly 3.5% of the participating households experienced CHE. As opposed to households headed by females and middle-aged individuals (40-59 years), those of low economic status, elderly households, and households with a member who suffered from a chronic disease were more likely to experience CHE. According to type of chronic condition, households with a member who suffered from cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease were at a significantly higher risk of experiencing CHE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although Korea has greatly expanded its health insurance coverage, financial protection against CHE remains a concern. Policy-makers need to focus on expanding benefits according to the economic burden of individual chronic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. jwchoi2695@hanmail.net.|Institute of Health Services Research, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. jwchoi2695@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Jae-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Division of Business Administration, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea. finalone@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Jong-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. kjh0930@yuhs.ac.|Institute of Health Services Research, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. kjh0930@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Jae-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. virtuaon@yuhs.ac.|Institute of Health Services Research, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. virtuaon@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Ki-Bong
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Services Research, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. ecpark@yuhs.ac.|Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. ecpark@yuhs.ac.|Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea. ecpark@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Eun-Cheol
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002388:Catastrophic Illness / Q000191:economics*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000191:economics; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012306:Risk; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult