Osong Public Health Res Perspect.  2019 Dec;10(6):343-350. 10.24171/j.phrp.2019.10.6.04.

An Investigation into Chronic Conditions and Diseases in Minors to Determine the Socioeconomic Status, Medical Use and Expenditure According to Data from the Korea Health Panel, 2015

• Moon JH

• KMID: 2467103
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2019.10.6.04

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study compared the socioeconomic status, medical use and expenditures for infants (1-5 years), juveniles (6-12 years), and adolescents (13-19 years) with a chronic condition or disease to determine factors affecting health spending.
METHODS
Data from 3,677 minors (< 20 years old, without disabilities) were extracted from the Korea Health Panel (2015) database.
RESULTS
Minors with chronic conditions or diseases were older (juveniles, and adolescents; p < 0.001), and included a higher proportion of Medicaid recipients (p = 0.004), a higher use of hospital outpatient care (p < 0.001), and higher medical expenditure (p < 0.001) compared to minors without chronic conditions or diseases. Boys were more likely to have a chronic condition or disease than girls (p = 0.036). Adolescents and juveniles were more likely than infants to have a chronic condition or disease (p = 0.001). Medicaid recipients were more likely to have a chronic condition or disease than those who were not Medicaid recipients (p = 0.008). Minors who had been hospital outpatients were more likely to have a chronic condition or disease, compared with minors who had not been an outpatient (p = 0.001). Having a chronic condition or disease, was a factor increasing medical expenditure (p = 0.001). Medical expenditure was higher in infants than in juveniles and adolescents (p = 0.001). Infants had higher rates of medical use when compared with juveniles and adolescents (p = 0.001).
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that systematic health care management for minors with chronic conditions or diseases, is needed.

Keyword

adolescents; chronic disease; health expenditures; infant

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Ambulatory Care
Chronic Disease
Delivery of Health Care
Female
Health Expenditures*
Humans
Infant
Korea*
Medicaid
Outpatients
Social Class*