Abstract

The study is aimed at examining changes in economic burden in comparison with figures cited in previous studies. Data from South Korea’s National Health Insurance claims database are used to measure the economic burden of chronic disease. Both direct and indirect costs are considered. Direct costs are those associated directly with treatment, medication, and transportation, and indirect costs are assessed in terms of the loss of productivity and their caregivers and consist of morbidity and mortality costs. We also undertake sensitivity analysis, wherein we extract incidence cases and categorize them in terms of their frequency of hospital visits (from one time to five times). The total economic burden posed by chronic disease in South Korea in 2010 was found to be approximately 3.7 million USD; indirect costs and direct medical costs accounted for most of the economic burden, although the rates of these varied from disease to disease. In a comparison of disability-adjusted life years values and the economic burden of diseases, diseases varied widely in terms of their burden. The findings of this study can be used to inform policymakers as they establish public health policies that address various disease burden indexes.

Key words: Chronic illness, economic analysis, measurement.