Ten-Year Trends of Fluorescein Angiography in Korea Using Data From the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service

Abstract

Background: Fluorescein angiography (FA) is a diagnostic procedure that is crucial for conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, and due to its importance, the use of conventional and wide-angle FA (wide FA) is on the rise. This study aimed to analyze the annual trends of conventional and wide FA and the trends of healthcare institutions performing these examinations in Korea.

Methods: This retrospective study examined data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service's Health and Medical Big Data Open Portal. We investigated the number of patients who underwent conventional and wide FA procedures performed in Korea from 2014 to 2023, categorized by age group and type of healthcare facility. Additionally, trends in healthcare expenditures were analyzed.

Results: The number of patients undergoing conventional FA consistently declined, while those receiving wide FA increased steadily, keeping the overall patient count relatively stable. Healthcare costs related to conventional FA gradually decreased, whereas expenses for wide FA rose steadily, contributing to an increase in total medical expenses. Analysis of ten-year age intervals revealed that patients in their 60s were the most frequent recipients of wide FA in every year, except for 2014. The prevalence of wide FA at primary healthcare facilities has been steadily increasing.

Conclusion: The use of wide FA has been steadily increasing, gradually replacing conventional FA, particularly in primary healthcare settings. Overall, medical expenses continue to rise. The findings of this study provide valuable evidence for the efficient allocation of medical resources in the future.

Keywords: Fluorescein Angiography; Korea; Trends; Wide-Angle Fluorescein Angiography.

Fig. 1. Number of patients who underwent conventional and wide FA from 2014–2023 per 100,000 persons in Korea.

FA = fluorescein angiography, wide FA = wide-angle fluorescein angiography.

Fig. 2. Total medical expenses of conventional and wide FA performed from 2014–2023 in Korea. Medical cost was calculated based on the PPP conversion factor of 800.35 for Korea, 2023 (unit: PPP dollar).

FA = fluorescein angiography, wide FA = wide-angle fluorescein angiography, PPP = purchasing power parity.

Fig. 3. Average number of patients who underwent wide-angle fluorescein angiography from 2014–2023 per 100,000 persons by age group.

Fig. 4. Percentage of patients who underwent wide-angle fluorescein angiography by healthcare facility type.