While the number of patients with urolithiasis has been increasing in South Korea, it has been confirmed that the number is exceptionally high in August every year.
Urolithiasis is a disease in which urinary stones are formed in the urinary tract and hinder the flow of urine. Severe pain or urinary tract infection, hydronephrosis, or renal failure may appear.
The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) announced on the 19th the status of health insurance treatment for urolithiasis disease for the past five years (2016-2020).
According to NHIS, the annual number of urolithiasis patients increased by 25,093 from 277,122 in 2016 to 303,215 in 2020, average yearly growth of 2.2%.
During this period, the number of male patients increased by 10.6% from 183,419 to 202,882 and 5.9% from 94,703 to 100,333 for female patients in 2020.
As the number of patients increased, the medical care received per 100,000 people rose from 719 to 788 for men and 375 to 392 for women.
Regarding why there are more male patients than women, Kang Sung-Ku, a professor of urology at National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital, said, “There is a hypothesis that male hormones (testosterone) increase the urinary oxalate levels.”
He explained, “Living habits such as drinking and eating, and physical conditions such as obesity can also affect the occurrence of diseases.”
When analyzing the patients with urolithiasis by age in 2020, the 50s accounted for the most at 24.1%, followed by 40s (20.7%) and 60s (20.7%).
As for the reason why there are the most patients in the summer (August), Professor Kang said, “When the loss increases due to sweat on a hot day, the urine is concentrated, and crystals are easily formed in the concentrated urine. In particular, summertime increases the synthesis of vitamin D and promotes calcium excretion in urine, and this leads to an increase of urolithiasis.”
Meanwhile, the total health insurance expenses for urolithiasis disease increased by 49.7% (120.7 billion won) to 363.4 billion won in 2020, rising at an average annual rate of 10.6% from 242.2 billion won in 2016.
Medical expenses per person rose 37.4% from 873,000 won in 2016 to 1,198,000 won last year.
