Evaluation of use and cost of medical care of common lumbar disorders in Korea: cross-sectional study of Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service National Patient Sample data.
To assess medical care and costs of the 3 highest prevalence lumbar disorders-non-specific low back pain (nLBP), intervertebral disc disorder (IDD) and spinal stenosis (SS)-from national billing data to provide basic information for standards of appropriate management.



Retrospective analysis of National Health Insurance National Patient Sample data provided by the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA).



2011 claims data from all medical institutions which filed billing statements to HIRA.



A total of 135 561 patients with lumbar disorder who received medical services during 2011.



Patient characteristics, medical procedures, medication, cost, injection and surgery.



In the nLBP and IDD groups, the 50-59 age range had the highest prevalence, whereas prevalence increased with age in SS. All 3 groups showed a higher percentage in women. The average treatment cost was 196 552 KRW in the nLBP and 362 050 KRW in the IDD group, and highest in the SS group at 439 025 KRW. While in the nLBP group women spent more on medical expenses, in the other 2 groups men showed higher expenditure. Expenditure grew with age in the nLBP and SS groups, whereas that of the IDD group peaked in their 40s. Analgesics were used in 73.43% of patients with nLBP, 82.64% of patients with IDD and 86.46% of patients with SS, and opioids in 4.12% of patients with IDD and 5.36% of patients with SS. Surgery rates were highest in the SS group at 4.85%, with 0.9% for nLBP and 4.59% for IDD. The most frequent injection code was lumbar/caudal epidural nerve block. Expenditure and surgery rates were higher in the injection than in the non-injection subgroup in all 3 groups.



Patterns of medical care of most frequent lumbar disorders from HIRA data showed significant difference between groups and provide a basic standard for future usual care guidelines linked with health policy and budget appropriation.
Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Yong-Jun
YJ
Ahn
Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Joon-Shik
JS
Shin
Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jinho
J
Lee
Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Yoon Jae
YJ
Lee
Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Me-Riong
MR
Kim
Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Ki Byung
KB
Park
Clinical Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea University of Science & Technology (UST), Korean Medicine Life Science, Campus of Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Jun-Hwan
JH
Lee
Clinical Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Kyung-Min
KM
Shin
Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
In-Hyuk
0000-0002-5020-6723
IH
Ha
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service Claims Data; National Patient Sample; cost of care; intervertebral disc disorder; nonspecific low back pain; spinal stenosis