Korean J Ophthalmol.  2018 Jun;32(3):182-189. 10.3341/kjo.2017.0072.

Time Series Changes in Cataract Surgery in Korea

• Song JH
• Kang JY
• Nam KY
• Lee SU
• Lee SJ

• KMID: 2412796
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2017.0072

Abstract

PURPOSE
We analyzed time series changes in cataract surgeries in Korea, and provide basic data to enhance the efficiency of medical services for cataract surgery.
METHODS
Among cataract surgery statistics registered in the Korean National Health Insurance Cooperation from 2006 to 2012, we used data regarding the number of patients and operations and the number of patients and operations per 100,000 people. We analyzed various time series changes, including differences by sex and age.
RESULTS
The total numbers of patients from 2006 to 2012 by year were 207,370; 228,170; 250,289; 268,548; 289,867; 308,111; and 302,182, respectively. The total numbers of operations from 2006 to 2012 by year were 272,920; 305,807; 338,332; 365,874; 398,338; 428,158; and 420,905, respectively. The number of patients and operations per 100,000 people were highest in men 80 to 84 years old and women 75 to 79 years old. Comparing the number of operations in 2006 and after, the patient age group with the highest increase rate changed from over 85 years old to 75-79 years old since 2010 in men and from over 85 years old to 50-54 years old since 2009 in women. For each year investigated, the number of operations performed was higher than the number of patients who received operations.
CONCLUSIONS
Over the study period, the number of cataract surgeries increased, while the age of cataract patients decreased. Additionally, the number of cataract-related surgeries increased in relation to the number of patients.

Keyword

Cataract extraction; Epidemiology; Trends

MeSH Terms

Cataract Extraction
Cataract*
Epidemiology
Female
Humans
Korea*
Male
National Health Programs

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Peak age group with regard to number of patients, number of operations, number of patients per 100,000 people, and number of operations per 100,000 people according to age group and sex. (A,B) The peak age group for patients who underwent operation and for the highest number of total operations was 70 to 74 years for men and women for each year studied. (C,D) The peak age group for the number of operations per 100,000 people for each year studied was 80 to 84 years in men and 75 to 79 years in women.

• 

  Fig. 2 Surgery frequency trends according to sex. (A) Women undergo operations more often than men, but the ratio of women to men in number of operations decreased with time (Spearman's rho = −0.964, p < 0.001). (B) Sex differences in the number of operations per 100,000 people according to age group. Positive values on the vertical axis indicate that women underwent operations more frequently than men, and negative values on the vertical axis indicate that men underwent operations more frequently than women.

• 

  Fig. 3 Comparison of number of operations during 2006 and each year from 2007–2012, according to age group. The numerical values on the vertical axis indicate the increase rates in the annual numbers of operations from 2007–2012 compared to the number of operations in 2006. (A) For women, the age group associated with a peak increase rate began getting younger in 2009. (B) For men, the age group associated with a peak increase rate began getting younger in 2010. *,†Peak age group of increase rate.

• 

  Fig. 4 Ratio of number of operations to number of patients. The ratio increased over time among the total patient population, male patients, and female patients (Spearman's rho = 1.000, p < 0.001).

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