J Korean Med Sci.  2006 Apr;21(2):181-187. 10.3346/jkms.2006.21.2.181.

The Current Status of Asthma in Korea

• Cho SH
• Park HW
• Rosenberg

• KMID: 1781819
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2006.21.2.181

Abstract

A systematic review of English and Korean articles published between 1990 and 2004 and a search of database and various online resources was conducted to determine the prevalences, mortality rates, socioeconomic burden, quality of life, and treatment pattern of asthma in Korean adults and children. Asthma morbidity and mortality in Korea are steadily increasing. The prevalence of asthma in Korea is estimated to be 3.9% and its severity is often underestimated by both physicians and patients. Mortality resulting from chronic lower respiratory diseases including asthma increased from 12.9 to 22.6 deaths per 100,000 of the population between 1992 and 2002. Disease severity, level of control, and symptom state were all found to negatively impact the quality of life of asthmatics. Although international and Korean asthma management guidelines are available, familiarity with and implementation of these guidelines by primary care physicians remain poor.

Keyword

Asthma; Prevalence; Mortality; Cost of Illness; Quality of Life; Korea

MeSH Terms

Risk Factors
Quality of Life
Practice Guidelines
Korea/epidemiology
Humans
Costs and Cost Analysis
Child
*Asthma/economics/epidemiology/mortality/therapy
Adult

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Age of onset of asthma in children (A) and adults (B) in eight urban areas in the Asia-Pacific region, including Korea (12).

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  Fig. 2 Comparison of leading causes of death in 1992 and 2002 in Korea (50).

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  Fig. 3 Patients' perception of adequate disease control versus their objective severity assessment results, according to the AIRIAP study (12).

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  Fig. 4 Prescription patterns reported by 325 internal medicine clinics in Seoul, for patients with mild or severe asthma (65). BA, β2 agonist; LABA, Long acting β2 agonist; SABA, Short acting β2 agonist; IC, Inhaled corticosteroids.

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