Measuring Trends in the Socioeconomic Burden of Disease in Korea, 2007-2015.

This study estimated the direct and indirect socioeconomic costs of 238 diseases and 22 injuries from a social perspective in Korea from 2007 to 2015. The socioeconomic cost of each disease group was calculated based on the Korean Standard Disease Classification System. Direct costs were estimated using health insurance claims data provided by the National Health Insurance Service. The numbers of outpatients and inpatients with the main diagnostic codes for each disease were selected as a proxy indicator for estimating patients' medical use behavior by disease. The economic burden of disease from 2007 to 2015 showed an approximately 20% increase in total costs. From 2007 to 2015, communicable diseases (including infectious, maternal, pediatric, and nutritional diseases) accounted for 8.9-12.2% of the socioeconomic burden, while non-infectious diseases accounted for 65.7-70.7% and injuries accounted for 19.1-22.8%. The top 5 diseases in terms of the socioeconomic burden were self-harm (which took the top spot for 8 years), followed by cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, ischemic heart disease, and upper respiratory infections in 2007. Since 2010, the economic burden of conditions such as low back pain, falls, and acute bronchitis has been included in this ranking. This study expanded the scope of calculating the burden of disease at the national level by calculating the burden of disease in Koreans by gender and disease. These findings can be used as indicators of health equality and as useful data for establishing community-centered (or customized) health promotion policies, projects, and national health policy goals.

Impact of obesity, fasting plasma glucose level, blood pressure, and renal function on the severity of COVID-19: A matter of sexual dimorphism?

AIMS: This study aimed to assess whether body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, blood pressure (BP), and kidney function were associated with the risk of severe disease or death in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: Data on candidate risk factors were extracted from patients' last checkup records. Propensity score-matched cohorts were constructed, and logistic regression models were used to adjust for age, sex, and comorbidities. The primary outcome was death or severe COVID-19, defined as requiring supplementary oxygen or higher ventilatory support. RESULTS: Among 7,649 patients with confirmed COVID-19, 2,231 (29.2%) received checkups and severe COVID-19 occurred in 307 patients (13.8%). A BMI of 25.0-29.9 was associated with the outcome among women (aOR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.41-3.73) and patients aged 50-69 years (aOR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.06-2.54). An FPG ≥ 126 mg/dL was associated with poor outcomes in women (aOR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.13-3.77) but not in men. Similarly, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 was a risk factor in women (aOR, 3.46; 95% CI, 1.71-7.01) and patients aged < 70 years. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of BMI, FPG, and eGFR on outcomes associated with COVID-19 were prominent in women but not in men.