(Health Korea News / Chang-Yong Lee) The implementation rate of clinic-level pulmonary function tests for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has increased, but the proportion of patients with continuous visits has decreased. The proportion of patients prescribed inhaled medications increased only for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
In 2023, the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) will report on the number of patients using nursing facilities with asthma (age 15 or older) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (age 40 or older) as their main or primary disease, and asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (over 40 years of age). The 10th assessment of asthma and the 9th assessment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were conducted targeting nursing facilities (asthma: 17,068 places, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: 6,339 places) where outpatient treatment was requested due to the disease as a major or primary disease.
As a result of the evaluation, the asthma screening implementation rate in 2023 was 41.5% and the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease implementation rate was 80.3%, an increase of 18.0%p and 21.6%p, respectively, compared to the first evaluation. Although the testing rate of lawmakers is low compared to the overall population, it has increased compared to the previous session.
On the other hand, the proportion of patients with continuous visits decreased. Asthma was 74.4% and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was 80.2%, a decrease of 2.8%p and 2.4%p, respectively, compared to the previous session, and all clinic levels also decreased.
The ‘proportion of patients prescribed inhaled steroids’ for asthma was 51.8%, and the ‘proportion of patients prescribed inhaled bronchodilators’ for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was 91.5%, an increase of 26.4%p and 23.6%p, respectively, compared to the first evaluation.
To ensure that patients with chronic respiratory diseases can receive consistent care at hospitals and clinics with high quality medical care, HIRA has classified asthma clinics into grades 1 to 5 and classified hospitals and clinics into grades 1 to 5 for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is being made public.
Looking at excellent institutions by region, it was found that nationwide there were 1,802 institutions for asthma and 642 for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
An official from HIRA said, “There are excellent institutions in each region, so you can find and use an institution close to your area.”
For detailed information on excellent institutions, visit the HIRA website.(click) Alternatively, you can use the mobile communication application ‘Healthy eum’ to find good hospitals in your area → detailed search.
An official from HIRA said, “Lung function tests should be performed at least once a year for early diagnosis and disease management of chronic respiratory diseases.” “Using appropriate inhaled medications from the beginning of diagnosis is effective in improving lung function, and when discontinued, “Symptoms may worsen, so continuous use is necessary,” he said.
At the same time, he said, “There are cases where patients overlook the need for continuous disease management, such as selectively visiting hospitals depending on the severity of their symptoms, so a change in patient perception and efforts by hospitals and medical staff to actively manage patients are necessary.” “Continuous outpatient management is necessary to prevent complications,” he advised.
Copyright © Health Korea News Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited
Source: www.hkn24.com
