Direct Medical Costs of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in South Korea

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has very high economic burdens on society and healthcare system. The aim of this study was to estimate the annual direct costs and predictors of cost in Korean patients with SLE

Methods: This study used a national insurance claims database during the period from 2006 to 2010. Information was taken from the Korea National Health Insurance (KNHI) Claims Database of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). Factors associated with the direct medical costs were analyzed by using multiple regression and multivariate logistic regression.

Results: A total of 13,047 SLE patients were mainly analyzed. The estimated total annual direct medical costs amounted to $2,240 (2010 US dollars), of which 47.1% was accounted for by inpatient costs and 52.9% by outpatient costs. Among the cost domains for total direct medical costs, the biggest component was the costs of medication. The mean medication costs were $983, which accounted for 43.9% of the total healthcare costs, followed by costs for diagnostic procedures and tests, accounting for 32.8% of the total. For the type of insurance, national health insurance were 92%, and medical aid were 8%. Total reimbursement rates of patients with SLE were 86.4%, and copayment comprised 13.6%, respectively. Reimbursement rates have shown a tendency to increase, whereas, out-of pocket was decreasing gradually each year between 2006 and 2010. In the multivariate regression analyses, the predictors of increased direct costs were male sex, medical aid -insurance type, more comorbidity disease, and the use of immunosuppressant including steroids

Conclusion: We have reported on the first population-based cost study of SLE patients in South Korea. The results of this study will contribute to a better understanding of the economic burden of SLE, and should provide information that is useful when allocating healthcare resources.