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. 2017 Oct;8(5):342-350.
doi: 10.24171/j.phrp.2017.8.5.08. Epub 2017 Oct 31.

Comparative Analysis of the Trends in Medical Utilization of Cancer Inpatients in Korea

Hyun-Ju Lee  1 , Sung-Soo Kim  2
Affiliations

Comparative Analysis of the Trends in Medical Utilization of Cancer Inpatients in Korea

Hyun-Ju Lee et al. Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2017 Oct.

Abstract

Objectives: Cancer has attracted worldwide attention. The incidence and prevalence are increasing, and it is the main cause of death. The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of hospitalized cancer patients.

Methods: This study is a secondary data study using the Korean National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey Data conducted annually by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Using these data, we extracted inpatients who principal diagnosis is cancer for nine years from 2005 to 2013.

Results: According to the analysis, the annual trend of cancer inpatients is steadily increasing. In 2025, it is expected to increase to about 670,000 inpatients. A cancer diagnosis created a change in medical utilization depending on the characteristics of patients and hospital. Men are more at risk of cancer than women. The number of hospital beds and hospital days were inversely proportional to cancer inpatients. There was also a difference in the equity of medical utilization by region. Other cancer management policies should be based on sex.

Conclusion: Populations between the ages of 45 and 64 years should be a priority in cancer policy. Because of the long-term hospitalization of patients with death as the outcome, a terminal cancer patient care facility is needed. These conclusions can provide a basis for various health policies.

Keywords: cancer; inpatients; length of stay; mortality; trends.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Research model.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Trend analysis of cancer inpatient.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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