J Korean Med Sci.  2018 May;33(21):e161. 10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e161.

Impact of Osteoarthritis on Household Catastrophic Health Expenditures in Korea

• Kim H
• Cho SK
• Kim D
• Kim D
• Jung SY
• Jang EJ
• Sung YK

• KMID: 2428952
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e161

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease of old age whose prevalence is increasing. This study explored the impact of OA on household catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) in Korea.
METHODS
We used data on 5,200 households from the Korea Health Panel Survey in 2013 and estimated annual living expenses and out-of-pocket (OOP) payments. Household CHE was defined when a household's total OOP health payments exceeded 10%, 20%, 30%, or 40% of the household's capacity to pay. To compare the OOP payments of households with OA individuals and those without OA, OA households were matched 1:1 with households containing a member with other chronic disease such as neoplasm, hypertension, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, or osteoporosis. The impact of OA on CHE was determined by multivariable logistic analysis.
RESULTS
A total of 1,289 households were included, and households with and without OA patients paid mean annual OOP payments of $2,789 and $2,607, respectively. The prevalence of household CHE at thresholds of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% were higher in households with OA patients than in those without OA patients (P < 0.001). The presence of OA patients in each household contributed significantly to CHE at thresholds of 10% (odds ratio [OR], 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.87), 20% (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.01-1.66), and 30% (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.05-1.78), but not of 40% (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.87-1.57).
CONCLUSION
The presence of OA patients in Korean households is significantly related to CHE. Policy makers should try to reduce OOP payments in households with OA patients.

Keyword

Osteoarthritis; Health Expenditure; Households

MeSH Terms

Administrative Personnel
Cerebrovascular Disorders
Chronic Disease
Family Characteristics*
Health Expenditures*
Heart Diseases
Humans
Hypertension
Korea*
Osteoarthritis*
Osteoporosis
Prevalence