Osong Public Health Res Perspect.  2018 Jun;9(3):112-117. 10.24171/j.phrp.2018.9.3.05.

Estimating the Incidence of Cases and Deaths Resulting from Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease and Its Related Socioeconomic Disease Burden in Republic of Korea (2010 – 2014)

• Seo D

• KMID: 2416892
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2018.9.3.05

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Hand, Foot and Mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects young children and frequently causes epidemics. A vaccine is available in China (enterovirus 71) and, the Republic of Korea took the first step to develop a new vaccine. New vaccine development requires that disease burden is calculated in advance so the financial cost, morbidity and mortality can be measured.
METHODS
Data from National Sentinel Surveillance and health insurance systems of 1 million claimants were used. Direct medical and non-medical costs, indirect (caregiving and premature death) costs, cases and related deaths were summarized.
RESULTS
From 2010 to 2014, there were an estimated 3,605 to 9,271 cases of HFMD, with 1 to 3 deaths. The estimated socioeconomic disease burden ranged from 80.5 to 164.2 million USD and was similar to that of hepatitis A (93.6-103.8 million USD). Among each costs, costs of caregiving consisted of highest proportion mainly due to hiring caregivers (50% - 60%) or opportunity costs from day off (62% - 69%).
CONCLUSION
Considering the social impact of HFMD, the estimated socioeconomic disease burden is not high and government policies need to focus on reducing the loss of work in caregivers.

Keyword

burden of disease; hand foot and mouth disease; Republic of Korea

MeSH Terms

Caregivers
Child
China
Hand*
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease*
Hepatitis A
Humans
Incidence*
Insurance, Health
Mortality
Republic of Korea*
Sentinel Surveillance
Social Change
Virus Diseases