Epidemiology, burden, and policy of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in South Korea: a narrative review

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a global health problem and a significant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. COPD also occupies a significant and considerable economic burden on individuals and society in South Korea. We investigated the epidemiology and burden of COPD in South Korea and reviewed the policy regarding COPD. In South Korea, a national COPD prevalence survey has been conducted for two decades. The prevalence of COPD has increased with increasing age, particularly among males, and those also with a higher smoking history and with lower income. The total societal cost of COPD increased by 1.85 times between 2004 and 2013. As the use of inhaled medications has increased, the total medical cost per person has increased. The trends of increasing numbers of patients diagnosed with COPD and the total societal costs are expected to continue. There is one universal-health-coverage system in South Korea. The costs and reimbursement criteria of COPD drugs are established and controlled by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). The HIRA has also implemented quality assessment, including evaluating the appropriateness of a COPD diagnosis and treating all COPD patients to reduce the severity of illness and improve the adequacy of medical-care benefits.