Journal List > J Korean Diabetes Assoc > v.30(5) > 1062399

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Chung, Kim, Kim, Kim, Kim, Min, Park, Park, Baik, Son, Ahn, Oh, Lee, Lee, Choi, Choi, and Park: Current Status of Diabetic Foot in Korean Patients Using National Health Insurance Database
Original Article
The Journal of Korean Diabetes Association

The Journal of Korean Diabetes Association 2006; 30(5): 372-376.

Published online: 30 September 2006

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4093/jkda.2006.30.5.372

Current Status of Diabetic Foot in Korean Patients Using National Health Insurance Database

Choon Hee Chung*, , Dae Jung Kim*, 1, Jaiyong Kim**, Hyeyoung Kim**, Hwayoung Kim**, Kyung Wan Min*, 2, Seok Won Park*, 3, Jeong Hyun Park*, 4, Sei Hyun Baik*, 5, Hyun Shik Son*, 6, Chul Woo Ahn*, 7, Jee-Young Oh*, 8, Sunhee Lee**, Juneyoung Lee*, 9, Kyung Mook Choi*, 5, Injeoung Choi**, Ie Byung Park*, 10

*Task Force Team for Basic Statistical Study of Korean Diabetes Mellitus of Korean Diabetes Association, Korea.

**Department of Research, Health Insurance Review Agency, Korea.

Department of Internal Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Korea.

1Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ajou University School of Medicine, Korea.

2Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Eulji University, Korea.

3Department of Internal Medicine, Pochon CHA University, Korea.

4Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan Paik Hospital, Inje College of Medicine, Korea.

5Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University, Korea.

6Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Korea.

7Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea.

8Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Korea.

9Department of Biostatistics, College of Medicine, Korea University, Korea.

10Department of Endocrinology, Gachon University of Science and Medicine, Gil Medical Center, Korea.

Received 4 August 2006       Accepted 28 September 2006

Copyright © 2006 Korean Diabetes Association

Abstract

Background

Foot ulcer diseases are more prevalent in diabetic patients than that those of non-diabetic patients. Several reports showed the risk of amputation and the medical cost were increased when foot ulcer developed. Therefore, strict glycemic control from the initial period of diabetes is necessary. Since there is no enough epidemiologic data, large scaled studies for medical and economic consequences about diabetic foot ulcer are needed.

Methods

This study was based on health insurance claims submitted to the National Health Insurance Review Agency during the period from December 1994 through December 2002. We investigated the incidence and medical cost of foot disorders in Korean population using the disease-classification codes on the health insurance claim forms.

Results

The incidences of foot disorders (per 100,000 of population) were 49.7 for amputations, 99.7 for ulcers, and 1,051 for injuries in diabetic patients, and 4.2 for amputations, 10.3 for ulcers, and 943 for injuries in non-diabetic patients. Relative risk of the incidences of foot amputation, ulcer, and injury in diabetic patients comparing with non-diabetic patients were 11.7, 9.7, and 1.1, respectively. Total medical costs (per capita) of foot amputation, ulcer, and injury in diabetic patients were 2.0, 1.7, and 2.1 times higher, respectively, than those of non-diabetic patients. Mean hospital stay of foot amputation, ulcer, and injury in diabetic patients were 1.6, 1.3, and 1.7 times more, respectively, than those of non-diabetic patients.

Conclusion

In diabetic patients, the incidences of foot amputation and ulcer are higher than those of non-diabetic patients. To reduce those incidences, we need to early strict glycemic control as well as government based management.

Keywords: Diabetic foot ulcer, Incidence, Medical cost

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Incidences of foot amputation in diabetic and non-diabetic patients according to age (per population 100,000).
jkda-30-372-g001
Table 1
Incidences of Foot Disorders in Diabetic and Non-diabetic Patients According to Age (per population 100,000)
jkda-30-372-i001

Data express incidences in diabetic/non-diabetic patients.

Table 2
Comparison between the Incidences of the Foot Disorders in Diabetic and Non-diabetic Patients
jkda-30-372-i002

Numbers of diabetic patients, 3,911,647; Numbers of non-diabetic patients, 44,396,740.

Data express age and sex-adjusted incidences.

Table 3
Comparison between Annual Total Medical Costs and Hospital Stay in Diabetic and Non-diabetic Patients
jkda-30-372-i003

Hospital cost, 1000 won per capita; Hospital stay, day.

Data express mean ± S.D.

*P < 0.001 vs. nondiabetics.

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