A Study on Socioeconomic Costs of Menopausal Syndrome Treated with Oriental Medicine

Abstract

Purpose: This study was conducted to estimate the annual socioeconomic costs of menopausal syndrome treated with oriental medicine in Korea 2008. Methods: Study subjects selected were patients aged 40 years or older who had national health insurance(NHI) claims record with menopausal syndrome(KCDO codes: K04, K04.0, K04.2, K04.3, K04.4) for oriental medicine treatment in 2008. Direct medical cost of oriental medicine treatment for menopausal syndrome were measured from NHI claims records. Direct non-medical costs were estimated as transportation costs incurred when visiting hospitals. Indirect costs were defined as patients' productivity loss associated with office visits or hospitalization. Also, the costs of unpaid-household chores were calculated. Results: The total cost for the oriental medicine treatment of menopausal syndrome in the nation was estimated to be 743,091,219 Korean won(KRW) which included direct costs at 442,971,637 KRW and indirect costs at 300,119,583 KRW. Conclusion: This study provides an important perspective of socioecnomic influence due to menopausal syndrome treated with oriental medicine. And this results can be used as elementary data for menopausal syndrome-related health policy of oriental medicine.