| The societal cost of rotavirus infection in South Korea |
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Bong Min Yang1, Dae Sun Jo2, Youn Hee Kim1, Ji Min Hong1, Jung Soo Kim2 |
1School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul
2Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea |
| 한국에서 로타바이러스 급성 위장관염의 질병 부담 |
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양봉민1, 조대선2, 김윤희1, 홍지민1, 김정수2 |
1서울대학교 보건대학원
2전북대학교 의학전문대학원 소아과학교실 |
Correspondence:
Jung Soo Kim, Email: kimjp@moak.chonbuk.ac.kr
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| Abstract |
Purpose
: This study aims to estimate the financial cost of rotavirus infection in Korea in the year of 2005.
Methods
: The incidence rates used were from the epidemiological profile at Jeoungeub District (5.8 cases/1,000 children <5 years old for inpatients, and 22.65 cases/1,000 children <5 years old for outpatients, per year). The health care cost per capita of rotavirus infection (ICD code: A08.0) was extracted from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database in Korea. The patient survey was conducted to capture information about non-medical costs and associated productivity loss incurred by adult caregivers.
Results
: The number of annual national cases among children <5 years old with rotavirus infection was estimated to be 69,122 (i.e., 55,030 outpatients and 14,092 inpatients). The total cost of rotavirus infection was estimated at 13.3 billion Korean won, comprising 11 billion Korean won (82.7%) of direct medical costs, 1.6 billion Korean won (12.0%) of direct non- medical costs (e.g., transportation and supplies), and 0.68 billion Korean won (5.1%) of productivity lost by adult caregivers.
Conclusion
: Rotavirus infection carries not only medical costs but also non-medical and indirect costs; together, these costs incur a significant burden on South Korean society. The impact of rotavirus on quality of life and health among patient caregivers was not considered in this study, but it does merit further research. |
| Key Words:
Rotavirus, Cost of illness, Health care costs, Korea |
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