Background: Interest in cardiac rehabilitation therapy has been increasing in Korea after the addition of cardiac rehabilitation as a benefit item in the National Health Insurance Service in 2017. However, few epidemiological studies have characterized cardiac rehabilitation in Korea. Objects: To assess the national epidemiological data on cardiac rehabilitation therapy in Korea from 2017 to 2023. Methods: This study analyzed MM453, a prescription code for cardiac rehabilitation therapy in the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database. The data reviewed included the total number of cases per year and the number of cardiac rehabilitation therapy prescriptions per 100,000 people, along with sex and age distribution of patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation therapy. Results: The number of cardiac rehabilitation therapy prescriptions in Korea increased from 4,443 in 2017 to 15,646 in 2023 (252.1% increase in 7 years). The incidence per 100,000 person-years rose from 8.64 in 2017 to 30.22 in 2023. The number of males undergoing therapy increased from 3,183 (incidence: 12.35) in 2017 to 11,276 (incidence: 43.53) in 2023. The number of females undergoing therapy increased from 1,260 (incidence: 4.91) in 2017 to 4,370 (incidence: 16.89) in 2023. The highest number of patients undergoing therapy from 2017 to 2023 was observed in the 60s age group (patients: 4,747, incidence: 9.17), followed by the 70s, 50s, and > 80s age groups. Conclusion: From 2017 to 2023, the number of patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation therapy in Korea increased consistently. The therapy is approximately 2.6 times more common in males than that in females and is predominantly administered to individuals in their 60s, followed by those in their 70s, 50s, and 80s and above.

목적 : 본 연구는 상대가치점수를 기반으로 하는 국내 건강보험수가의 행위별 수가제가 국제 기능･장애 및 건강에 대한 분류(International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health; ICF)의 건강 개 념에 적합한 비용을 지출하고 있는지 알아보고자 하였다. 연구방법 : 2003년-2013년 건강보험 및 의료급여권자 중 인구전체를 대표하는 100만 명의 샘플인 국민 건강보험공단의 건강보험 표본코호트 자료를 이용하였다. 건강보험요양급여비용의 이학요법료 중 제3절 전문재활치료료에 해당하는 행위들을 건강보험심사평가원에서 제시한 행위정의에 따라 신체기능과 활동 및 참여로 분류한 후 청구 통계량을 비교분석하였다. 결과 : 국내 재활치료 수가체계는 독립적인 일상생활활동, 활동/참여 그리고 가정이나 사회로 복귀를 통한 삶의 질 향상이라는 ICF의 건강 및 재활의학의 개념을 반영하지 못하고 있다. 또한, 환자의 상병군, 중 증도에 따른 재활치료의 효율적 수행을 위한 급성기–아급성기(회복기)-만성기의 재활의료체계가 정립되어 있지 않음을 확인하였다. 결론 : 재활치료의 효율적 수행을 위해서는 급성기- 아급성기(회복기)- 만성기의 재활의료체계가 정립되어야 하고 재활의료체계 내에서 의료기관 종별 역할이 구분이 필요하다. 이와 함께 적절한 재활치료 보험수가 체계 그리고 심사기준의 신설 및 개선이 필요하다.

The purpose of this study was to assess the level of quality of life and related factors among the elderly in Korea. In particular, we focused on factors affecting the quality of life of the elderly in long term care. We used the third Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) from 2005. We sampled a total of 3,571 (10.5%) elderly from the national survey. We compared the mean of quality of life to socioeconomic status, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), health behavior, and disease variables. We used EuroQol-5D among KNHANES to assess the quality of life. In this study, the mean score of the quality of life among the elderly was 2.57. Logistic regression showed that the elderly who were male, with spouses, with health insurance, and with good ADL levels enjoyed higher quality of life scores and odds ratios than those who were female, divorced, uninsured, and with low ADL levels (p<.05). The quality of life of the elderly was affected by socioeconomic, ADL, health behavior and disease variables. To improve long term care and the quality of life among the elderly, we need detailed research to clarify the effects of these factors.