Bone Abstracts

Objectives: Vertebral fracture (VF) is a hallmark of osteoporosis, and it increases morbidity, mortality and large amount of medical cost. In this study, we aimed to describe the treatment pattern and estimate the cost of VF among elderly patients in Korea.

Methods: Using Korean national healthcare claims database, we analyzed a 2% sample of patients aged ≧ 50 years between years of 2008 and 2012. New VF was identified on the basis of selected ICD-10 codes in patients who did not have VF in past 1 year, and medical cost includes in-hospital and outpatient medication cost. After estimating incidence of VF, treatment pattern and medical cost in first and second year in VF were compared according to age and gender.

Results: The incidence of VF was much higher in female (616 and 1597 per 100 000 in male and female, respectively). The 14% of patients underwent vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, 42% of patients needed hospitalization for pain control, the other 43% were treated without hospitalization. Patients aged 50–59 years showed lowest proportion for vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty (1.8% in male and 8.2% in female), the proportion was increased with the age (7.9% in male and 12.2% in female aged 60–69 years; 16.7% and 17.5% in 70–79 years; 20.0% and 17.7% ≧80 years). Patients underwent vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty paid the largest medical cost in first year (&z.euro;1532 in male and &z.euro;1514 in female), followed by hospitalization (&z.euro;762 and &z.euro;687) and without hospitalization (&z.euro;305 and &z.euro;262). In addition, medical cost according to age group did not show significant trend, whereas proportion of medical cost in second year was increased with age.

Conclusion: In Korean patients with VF, 14% of patients underwent vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, and the proportion was increased with age. In addition, older patients tend to pay more medical cost for longer period.