Body Mass Index and Medical Expenses Paid by the National Health Insurance Service in Korean Adults

초록

This study aimed to analyze the medical expenses paid by the Korea National Health Insurance Service (KNHIS) according to body mass index (BMI) in Korean adults. We included 1,170,464 adults (623,498 men and 546,966 women) aged ≥19 years from the KNHIS-National Sample Cohort database (2016 to 2019) after excluding individuals with cancer. Average yearly medical expenses per person and average yearly medical expenses (Korean won [KRW], 1 United States dollar=1,292 KRW) by BMI classification were assessed according to age and sex. The medical expenses comprised those for medication, outpatient department (OPD), and hospitalization. The means and 95% confidence intervals were analyzed using a two-factor t-test. The average yearly medical expenses per person increased significantly as BMI increased in women but not in men. The average yearly medical expenses were highest in the highest quintile of BMI in all age groups and in women. Even though BMI showed a U-shape association with medical expenses for OPD and hospitalization in young and elderly individuals, medical expenses for medication in all age groups and those for OPD and hospitalization in middle-aged individuals increased sharply in the highest quintile of BMI. All types of medical expenses increased in higher BMI groups in all Korean adults, particularly in women, and those with the highest BMI had the highest direct medical expenses. Strategies for preventing and managing obesity are warranted to minimize the burden from medical expenses.

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