The purpose of this study was to estimate the cost, with a focus on forecasting the expenditure on industrial accident compensation insurance, arising from workrelated cerebrovascular and cardiac disease.

We used a total of 4,480 work-related cerebrovascular and cardiac disease data points, collected between 1995 and 2000, based on the year of occurrence, and which had been approved by industrial accident compensation insurance. Firstly, we calculated the number of approved cases per 100,000 workers benefiting from industrial accident compensation insurance between 1995 and 2000. We then forecasted the numbers of work-related cases of cerebrovascular and cardiac disease for the period from 2001 through 2005 using a linear regression equation. Secondly, we analysed the expenditure on industrial accident compensation insurance due to work-related cerebrovascular and cardiac disease, and estimated the expenditure per capita for the former period. Thirdly, we estimated the expenditure on industrial accident compensation insurance due to work-related cerebrovascular and cardiac disease for the latter period based on the cohort of occurrence year.

Approved cases per 100,000 workers for work-related cerebrovascular and cardiac disease were 3.36 in 1995 and 13.16 in 2000. It is expected that the approved cases would be 1,336 (95 % CI 1,211-1,460) in 2001 and 1,769 (95 % CI 1,610-1,931) in 2005, based on the year of occurrence. The mean expenditure per capita was estimated to be 75 million won, which comprised of 19 million won for medical care benefits and 56 million won for other benefits. It was anticipated that the claims for the 2001 cohort would be 107.9 billion won and 192.4 billion won for the 2005 cohort.

The magnitude of the economic burden of work-related cerebrovascular and cardiac disease is substantial. From an economic perspective, this study proves the importance and need for the management of work-related cerebrovascular and cardiac disease.