Trend of health care utilization of cleft lip and/or palate in Korea during 2007–2016

OBJECTIVE: This study is performed to investigate the trend of health care (HC) utilization among cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) during 2007–2016 by using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (KNHIS). METHODS: The KNHIS data were reorganized to count a specific patient only once for a specific year. Cleft type (cleft lip [CL], cleft palate [CP], and cleft lip and palate [CLP]), sex, and age at HC utilization were investigated. The study period was divided into the first half (2007–2011) and the last half (2012–2016). The utilization number and rate per 1,000 population were calculated for the total population and for new-born patients. Independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: The total CL/P population (n = 48,707) comprised 19.2% CLP, 35.5% CL, and 45.3% CP (CLP < CL < CP; p < 0.001). Their HC utilization rate increased from 0.066 in 2007 to 0.118 in 2016. The new-born patient population (n = 7,617) comprised 18.6% CLP, 30.4% CL, and 51.0% CP (CLP < CL < CP; p < 0.001). Their HC utilization rate increased from 1.12 in 2007 to 1.74 in 2016. An examination of the utilization number and rate among new-born patients revealed CP exhibited a female-dominant pattern (all p < 0.01), while CL and CLP exhibited a male-dominant pattern (all p < 0.01). However, utilization number showed no difference by sex and cleft type between 2007–2011 and 2012–2016. CONCLUSIONS: These results might serve as a guideline for HC utilization among patients with CL/P.