Current Status of Diabetic Foot in Korean Patients Using National Health Insurance Database

Abstract

Background: Foot ulcer diseases are more prevalent in diabetic patients than that those of non-diabetic patients. Several reports showed the risk of amputation and the medical cost were increased when foot ulcer developed. Therefore, strict glycemic control from the initial period of diabetes is necessary. Since there is no enough epidemiologic data, large scaled studies for medical and economic consequences about diabetic foot ulcer are needed. Methods: This study was based on health insurance claims submitted to the National Health Insurance Review Agency during the period from December 1994 through December 2002. We investigated the incidence and medical cost of foot disorders in Korean population using the disease-classification codes on the health insurance claim forms.