Abstract
Purpose :
The nationwide health coverage system in South Korea allows all patients with cheaper and easier access to various medications for dry eye disease (DED), including hyaluronic acid (HA) and anti-inflammatory topical drugs. This study aims to examine the epidemiologic characteristics of DED prevalence and the use of major DED medications in South Korea.
Methods :
This cross-sectional study was based on the data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA) database, a nationwide registry with mandatory enrollment for all South Koreans. Our study included a sample cohort of 6,383,885 subjects from 2016 to 2020, of whom 567,131 were diagnosed with DED (ICD-10 diagnostic code H04.1). We estimated the overall prevalence of DED and analyzed it by demographic factors, including patient sex and age, geographic distribution, and temporal trends. We also examined prescription patterns for major DED medications, with further analysis on the major ingredients and concentrations, and by formulations, comparing bottled eye drops with single-use vials.
Results :
The prevalence of DED in South Korea from 2016 to 2020 was 8.88%, with a tendency to increase with age. The prevalence was almost twofold higher in females (11.52%) than males (5.92%). Among all DED cases, 472,028 patients were prescribed one or more DED medications. The number of prescription cases was highest among those in their fifties and those aged 75 and above, showing a bimodal pattern. Of all DED medications prescribed, single-use HA was most common during the 5-year study period (202,818, 43.0%), followed by bottled steroids (115,665, 24.5%), bottled HA (92,376, 19.6%), and bottled diquafosol (20,524, 4.3%). Temporal analysis showed an increased prescription rate of cyclosporine and single-use steroids annually. When analyzed by age groups, older patients were more likely to be prescribed bottled formulations than single use-vials (46.8% bottled HA, 19.4% single-use HA in patients 75 and above).
Conclusions :
As the first study to analyze DED prescription patterns within a large-scale population basis, our findings offer valuable insights into the epidemiology of DED and its management in South Korea. Our analysis is particularly meaningful in the context of prescription patterns for DED, as HA-based treatments are commonly used and accessible, providing a unique perspective compared to global trends.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.