title: Economic Impact of Atopic Dermatitis in Korean Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopic dermatitis is a global public health concern owing to its increasing prevalence and socioeconomic burden. However, few studies have assessed the economic impact of atopic dermatitis in Korea.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We conducted a cost analysis of atopic dermatitis and evaluated its economic impacts on individual annual disease burden, quality of life, and changes in medical expenses with respect to changes in health related-quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cost analysis of atopic dermatitis was performed by reviewing the home accounting records of 32 patients. The economic impact of the disease was evaluated by analyzing questionnaires. To handle uncertainties, we compared the results with the data released by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Board on medical costs claimed by healthcare facilities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The direct cost of atopic dermatitis per patient during the 3-month study period was 541,280 Korean won (KRW), and expenditures on other atopic dermatitis-related products were 120,313 KRW. The extrapolated annual direct cost (including expenditures on other atopic dermatitis-related products) per patient was 2,646,372 KRW. The estimated annual indirect cost was 1,507,068 KRW. Thus, the annual cost of illness of atopic dermatitis (i.e., direct+indirect costs) was estimated to be 4,153,440 KRW.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The annual total social cost of atopic dermatitis on a national level is estimated to be 5.8 trillion KRW.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chulmin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kui Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seohee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Ha
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kapsok
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Do Won
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon-Beom
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeon Woo
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Seo
keywords: Atopic dermatitis; Cost analysis; Cost of illness; Economic evaluation; Quality of life