Economic Burden and Epidemiology of Pneumonia in Korean Adults Aged over 50 Years.
10.3346/jkms.2013.28.6.888
- Author:
Kwang Ha YOO
1
;
Chul Gyu YOO
;
Se Kyu KIM
;
Ji Ye JUNG
;
Myung Goo LEE
;
Soo Taek UH
;
Tae Sun SHIM
;
Kyeongman JEON
;
Jae Jeong SHIM
;
Heung Bum LEE
;
Chi Ryang CHUNG
;
Kyung Woo KANG
;
Ki Suck JUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Multicenter Study ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Pneumonia;
Streptococcus pneumonia;
Cost of Illness;
Adult;
Korea
- MeSH:
Aged;
Aged, 80 and over;
Asian Continental Ancestry Group;
Community-Acquired Infections/economics/*epidemiology/mortality;
Female;
*Health Care Costs;
Hospital Mortality;
Hospitalization;
Humans;
Length of Stay;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Pneumonia/economics/*epidemiology/microbiology;
Pneumonia, Pneumococcal/economics/epidemiology/microbiology;
Republic of Korea/epidemiology;
Retrospective Studies;
Severity of Illness Index;
Streptococcus pneumoniae/isolation & purification
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2013;28(6):888-895
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
This study was performed to estimate the direct medical costs and epidemiology of pneumonia in adults of Korea. We conducted a multi-center, retrospective, observational study and collected data targeting for community-acquired pneumonia patients ( > or = 50 yr) from 11 hospitals. Costs attributable to the treatment of pneumonia were estimated by reviewing resource utilization and epidemiology data (distribution of pathogen, hospital length of stay, overall outcome) were also collected. A total 693 patients were included; average 70.1 ( +/- 10.5) aged, 57.3% male and average 1.16 CURB-65 (confusion, blood urea nitrogen, respiratory rate, blood pressure, age > 65 yr) scored. The pathogen was identified in the 32.9% (228 patients); Streptococcus pneumoniae accounted for 22.4% (51 patients) of identified pathogens. The hospital mortality was 3.2% (especially, for S. pneumoniae was 5.9%) and average length of stay was 9 days. The mean total cost for the treatment of pneumonia was US dollar (USD) 1,782 (SD: USD 1,501). Compared to the cost of all caused pneumonia, that of pneumococcal pneumonia was higher, USD 2,049 ( +/- USD 1,919), but not statistically significant. Charge of hospitalization accounted the greatest part of total medical costs. The economic burden of pneumonia was high in Korea, and the prevention of pneumonia should be considered as effective strategy.
