PURPOSE: To estimate the annual socioeconomic costs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the Republic of Korea. METHODS: We estimated the costs of illness to society of AMD patients, including medical, nonmedical, and productivity costs. The medical costs included official and nonofficial medical costs, and the nonmedical costs consisted of transportation, time, and nursing costs. We used Korea National Health Insurance Claims Database, National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort, and Korea Health Panel study data in the analysis. RESULTS: The socioeconomic costs of AMD were estimated to be 694 billion Korean won (KRW) in 2016. This figure was divided into 501 billion KRW (72.1%) for medical costs, 61 billion KRW (8.8%) for nonmedical costs, and 133 billion KRW (19.1%) for productivity costs. The annual per capita socioeconomic cost of AMD was 1.32 million KRW. CONCLUSIONS: We determined the scale and composition of the socioeconomic costs of AMD. Importantly, the productivity costs accounted for approximately 20% of all costs, suggesting that AMD had a significant impact on productivity. Because the disease costs of AMD are expected to increase continuously with the aging population, effective planning at the governmental level for prevention and treatment of AMD should be considered to reduce socioeconomic costs.
Aging ; Cohort Studies ; Cost of Illness ; Efficiency ; Humans ; Korea ; Macular Degeneration ; National Health Programs ; Nursing ; Republic of Korea ; Transportation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to estimate the socioeconomic costs of glaucoma in Korea. It is to be used as an academic reference regarding policy making for the introduction of glaucoma screening tests in the national health check-ups. METHODS: We estimated the socioeconomic costs of glaucoma from a societal perspective, which included medical, nonmedical, and productivity costs. The medical costs consisted of official and nonofficial medical costs, and the nonmedical costs consisted of transportation, time, and nursing costs. We used the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort 2002–2013 and the Korea Health Panel study. RESULTS: The socioeconomic costs of glaucoma were estimated to be 3,000 billion Korean won (KRW) in 2013. These total costs were divided into 1,539 billion KRW (51.3%) for medical costs, 1,292 billion KRW (43.1%) for nonmedical costs, and 168 billion KRW (5.6%) for productivity costs. CONCLUSIONS: Glaucoma is a large economic burden from a societal perspective. The nonmedical and productivity costs, as well as the medical costs are especially high. Because the disease costs of glaucoma are expected to increase continuously, political support for early detection of glaucoma should be considered.
Cohort Studies ; Cost of Illness ; Efficiency ; Glaucoma ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; National Health Programs ; Nursing ; Policy Making ; Transportation

Purpose: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of cataract surgery for the beginners using intraocular illumination compared to the case of using microscope illumination. Methods: A Markov model was constructed for cost-effectiveness analysis. Hypothetical Korean men and women over 50 years of age were set as a cohort, and cataract surgeons were limited to beginners with less than 2 years of experience. Cataracts were classified as severe cataracts requiring surgery and mild cataracts that did not require surgery. Cataracts was assumed to progress to severe cataracts in 10% of each year. A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed based on the difference in the complications of surgery according to intraocular and microscope illumination. For the cost, data from the National Health Insurance Corporation were used, and a micro cost calculation method was used. In the utility analysis, data from previous studies were used for utility in each cataract and complication status. Sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the uncertainty of the results. Results: The surgery using microscope intraocular illumination showed the cost of 3,168,895 won, and the quality-adjusted life years of 16.4 years. The surgery of intraocular illumination showed the cost of 3,200,552 won and the quality-adjusted life years of 16.5 years. the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of intraocular illumination was 1,675,630 won compared to microscope illumination. In the sensitivity analysis to, the utility of postoperative state without complication had the greatest influence on the results. Conclusions For beginners with less than 2 years of surgical experience, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was 1,675,630 won, which is acceptable in Korea's health care system, when comparing the case of using intraocular illumination to the case of using conventional microscope illumination.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries. Recently, AMD prevalence in Korea has increased from 6.6% to 13.9% over the past decade, which may be a threat to the public health of Korean society. This study describes the current status, including risk factors, treatment, and economic burden of AMD in Korea.Current Concepts: Major AMD risk factors have been consistently reported, including age, hypertension, smoking, and ultraviolet radiation. The primary AMD treatment is intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF). Anti-VEGF was developed and improved in terms of efficacy and safety. However, AMD treatment’s economic burden is significant. Therefore, several treatment strategies have been introduced, such as monthly, as-needed, and treat-and-extend injection strategies.Discussion and Conclusion: With the rapid increase in AMD prevalence in Korea, the economic burden of AMD management will be a significant challenge for the Korean healthcare system. Therefore, cost-effectiveness and resource allocation for AMD treatment needs to be investigated.

Purpose: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of cataract surgery for the beginners using intraocular illumination compared to the case of using microscope illumination. Methods: A Markov model was constructed for cost-effectiveness analysis. Hypothetical Korean men and women over 50 years of age were set as a cohort, and cataract surgeons were limited to beginners with less than 2 years of experience. Cataracts were classified as severe cataracts requiring surgery and mild cataracts that did not require surgery. Cataracts was assumed to progress to severe cataracts in 10% of each year. A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed based on the difference in the complications of surgery according to intraocular and microscope illumination. For the cost, data from the National Health Insurance Corporation were used, and a micro cost calculation method was used. In the utility analysis, data from previous studies were used for utility in each cataract and complication status. Sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the uncertainty of the results. Results: The surgery using microscope intraocular illumination showed the cost of 3,168,895 won, and the quality-adjusted life years of 16.4 years. The surgery of intraocular illumination showed the cost of 3,200,552 won and the quality-adjusted life years of 16.5 years. the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of intraocular illumination was 1,675,630 won compared to microscope illumination. In the sensitivity analysis to, the utility of postoperative state without complication had the greatest influence on the results. Conclusions For beginners with less than 2 years of surgical experience, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was 1,675,630 won, which is acceptable in Korea's health care system, when comparing the case of using intraocular illumination to the case of using conventional microscope illumination.

Purpose: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of cataract surgery for the beginners using intraocular illumination compared to the case of using microscope illumination. Methods: A Markov model was constructed for cost-effectiveness analysis. Hypothetical Korean men and women over 50 years of age were set as a cohort, and cataract surgeons were limited to beginners with less than 2 years of experience. Cataracts were classified as severe cataracts requiring surgery and mild cataracts that did not require surgery. Cataracts was assumed to progress to severe cataracts in 10% of each year. A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed based on the difference in the complications of surgery according to intraocular and microscope illumination. For the cost, data from the National Health Insurance Corporation were used, and a micro cost calculation method was used. In the utility analysis, data from previous studies were used for utility in each cataract and complication status. Sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the uncertainty of the results. Results: The surgery using microscope intraocular illumination showed the cost of 3,168,895 won, and the quality-adjusted life years of 16.4 years. The surgery of intraocular illumination showed the cost of 3,200,552 won and the quality-adjusted life years of 16.5 years. the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of intraocular illumination was 1,675,630 won compared to microscope illumination. In the sensitivity analysis to, the utility of postoperative state without complication had the greatest influence on the results. Conclusions For beginners with less than 2 years of surgical experience, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was 1,675,630 won, which is acceptable in Korea's health care system, when comparing the case of using intraocular illumination to the case of using conventional microscope illumination.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries. Recently, AMD prevalence in Korea has increased from 6.6% to 13.9% over the past decade, which may be a threat to the public health of Korean society. This study describes the current status, including risk factors, treatment, and economic burden of AMD in Korea.Current Concepts: Major AMD risk factors have been consistently reported, including age, hypertension, smoking, and ultraviolet radiation. The primary AMD treatment is intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF). Anti-VEGF was developed and improved in terms of efficacy and safety. However, AMD treatment’s economic burden is significant. Therefore, several treatment strategies have been introduced, such as monthly, as-needed, and treat-and-extend injection strategies.Discussion and Conclusion: With the rapid increase in AMD prevalence in Korea, the economic burden of AMD management will be a significant challenge for the Korean healthcare system. Therefore, cost-effectiveness and resource allocation for AMD treatment needs to be investigated.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries. Recently, AMD prevalence in Korea has increased from 6.6% to 13.9% over the past decade, which may be a threat to the public health of Korean society. This study describes the current status, including risk factors, treatment, and economic burden of AMD in Korea.Current Concepts: Major AMD risk factors have been consistently reported, including age, hypertension, smoking, and ultraviolet radiation. The primary AMD treatment is intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF). Anti-VEGF was developed and improved in terms of efficacy and safety. However, AMD treatment’s economic burden is significant. Therefore, several treatment strategies have been introduced, such as monthly, as-needed, and treat-and-extend injection strategies.Discussion and Conclusion: With the rapid increase in AMD prevalence in Korea, the economic burden of AMD management will be a significant challenge for the Korean healthcare system. Therefore, cost-effectiveness and resource allocation for AMD treatment needs to be investigated.

Purpose: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of cataract surgery for the beginners using intraocular illumination compared to the case of using microscope illumination. Methods: A Markov model was constructed for cost-effectiveness analysis. Hypothetical Korean men and women over 50 years of age were set as a cohort, and cataract surgeons were limited to beginners with less than 2 years of experience. Cataracts were classified as severe cataracts requiring surgery and mild cataracts that did not require surgery. Cataracts was assumed to progress to severe cataracts in 10% of each year. A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed based on the difference in the complications of surgery according to intraocular and microscope illumination. For the cost, data from the National Health Insurance Corporation were used, and a micro cost calculation method was used. In the utility analysis, data from previous studies were used for utility in each cataract and complication status. Sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the uncertainty of the results. Results: The surgery using microscope intraocular illumination showed the cost of 3,168,895 won, and the quality-adjusted life years of 16.4 years. The surgery of intraocular illumination showed the cost of 3,200,552 won and the quality-adjusted life years of 16.5 years. the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of intraocular illumination was 1,675,630 won compared to microscope illumination. In the sensitivity analysis to, the utility of postoperative state without complication had the greatest influence on the results. Conclusions For beginners with less than 2 years of surgical experience, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was 1,675,630 won, which is acceptable in Korea's health care system, when comparing the case of using intraocular illumination to the case of using conventional microscope illumination.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries. Recently, AMD prevalence in Korea has increased from 6.6% to 13.9% over the past decade, which may be a threat to the public health of Korean society. This study describes the current status, including risk factors, treatment, and economic burden of AMD in Korea.Current Concepts: Major AMD risk factors have been consistently reported, including age, hypertension, smoking, and ultraviolet radiation. The primary AMD treatment is intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF). Anti-VEGF was developed and improved in terms of efficacy and safety. However, AMD treatment’s economic burden is significant. Therefore, several treatment strategies have been introduced, such as monthly, as-needed, and treat-and-extend injection strategies.Discussion and Conclusion: With the rapid increase in AMD prevalence in Korea, the economic burden of AMD management will be a significant challenge for the Korean healthcare system. Therefore, cost-effectiveness and resource allocation for AMD treatment needs to be investigated.