Cancer Res Treat.  2015 Jul;47(3):387-398. 10.4143/crt.2014.001.

Economic Burden of Cancer in Korea during 2000-2010

• Lee KS
• Chang HS
• Lee SM
• Park EC

• KMID: 2148487
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2014.001

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study estimated the economic burden of cancer in Korea during 2000-2010 by cancer site, gender, age group, and cost component.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Data came from national health insurance claims data and information from Statistics Korea. Based on the cost of illness method, this study calculated direct, morbidity and mortality cost of cancer in the nation during 2000-2010 by cancer site, gender, and age group.
RESULTS
With an average annual growth rate of 8.9%, the economic burden of cancer in Korea increased from 11,424 to 20,858 million US$ (current US dollars) during 2000-2010. Colorectal, thyroid, and breast cancers became more significant during the period, i.e., the 5th/837, the 11th/257, and the 7th/529 in 2000 to the 3rd/2,210, the 5th/1,724, and the 6th/1,659 in 2010, respectively (rank/amount in million US$ for the total population). In addition, liver and stomach cancers were prominent during the period in terms of the same measures, i.e., the 1st/2,065 and the 2nd/2,036 in 2000 to the 1st/3,114 and the 2nd/3,046 in 2010, respectively. Finally, the share of mortality cost in the total burden dropped from 71% to 51% in Korea during 2000-2010, led by colorectal, thyroid, breast, and prostate cancers during the period. These results show that the economic burden of cancer in Korea is characterized by an increasing importance of chronic components.
CONCLUSION
Incorporation of distinctive epidemiological, sociocultural contexts into Korea's cancer control program, with greater emphasis on primary prevention such as sodium-controlled diet and hepatitis B vaccination, may be needed.

Keyword

Cancer; Burden of illness; Aging; Incidence

MeSH Terms

Aging
Breast
Cost of Illness
Diet
Hepatitis B
Humans
Incidence
Korea
Liver
Mortality
National Health Programs
Primary Prevention
Prostatic Neoplasms
Stomach Neoplasms
Thyroid Gland
Vaccination

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Economic burden of cancer in Korea by cancer site during 2000-2010. NHL, non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

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  Fig. 2. Economic burden of cancer in Korea by cost component during 2000-2010.

Reference

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