Korean J Epidemiol.  2004 Dec;26(2):71-80.

Incidence of complication and societal cost of measles in Korea, 2000

• Lee WY
• Ki M
• Oh JK
• Lee JK
• Kim MB
• Choi BY

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To estimate the complication rate and the societal cost of measles, a survey was conducted in Seoul, Jeonju city, and Kyonggi province in 2001.
METHODS
A telephone survey was conducted in Jeonju city (175/307) and four local areas of Kyonggi province (793/1,238) to gather information on the complications of measles. To estimate societal cost, the telephone survey was conducted for the sampled subject by complication type and the age group. The response rate was 78% (180/230). Paid bills were examined for direct cost estimation, and the time cost and the transportation expense were analyzed for indirect cost estimation.
RESULTS
The incidence of a complication of measles was 3.1% which found to be higher in younger age group. The incidence of pneumonia, otitis media, and encephalitis were 2.1%, 0.8%, and 0.2% respectively. Direct and indirect costs of in-patients without a complication were $417.00 (US $1.00 = 1,000 won) and $256.00 per case, respectively, and the out-patients who have no complication were $54.00 and $65.00, respectively. The average cost for a patient with measles without complication was $119.00 as the result. The societal cost of encephalitis was high as $6,660. Estimated total societal cost of measles ranges from $14 million to $69 million in the year 2000.
CONCLUSION
Complication rate of measles was fairly low compared to foreign countries. The lower rate could result from the difference in vaccination rate and the age distribution of the measles patients. The cost of measles without complication was not high. However, the cost for the complication and the total disease burden caused by measles shown to be high in the year 2000.

Keyword

Measles; Complications; Cost of illness

MeSH Terms

Age Distribution
Cost of Illness
Encephalitis
Gyeonggi-do
Humans
Incidence*
Jeollabuk-do
Korea*
Measles*
Otitis Media
Outpatients
Pneumonia
Seoul
Telephone
Transportation
Vaccination