J Korean Med Sci.  2013 Jun;28(6):888-895. 10.3346/jkms.2013.28.6.888.

Economic Burden and Epidemiology of Pneumonia in Korean Adults Aged over 50 Years

• Yoo KH
• Yoo CG
• Kim SK
• Jung JY
• Lee MG
• Uh ST
• Shim TS
• Jeon K
• Shim JJ
• Lee HB
• Chung CR
• Kang KW
• Jung KS

• KMID: 2158037
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2013.28.6.888

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.

Keyword

Pneumonia; Streptococcus pneumonia; Cost of Illness; Adult; Korea

MeSH Terms

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

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Distribution of hospital services costs per patient. *Diagnostic test, test for pathogen diagnosis defined by reference (6); sputum test, blood culture and serology test, etc.

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