SEOUL, Dec. 27 — South Korea is facing a staggering healthcare crisis as spending on chronic diseases has skyrocketed to an eye-popping 90 trillion won annually.

According to a ground-breaking report by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) released on December 26, chronic conditions now account for an alarming 85% of the country's total medical expenses and are responsible for 8 out of 10 deaths.

The 2024 Chronic Disease Status and Issues Report

The newly unveiled "2024 Chronic Disease Status and Issues" report reveals that a shocking 275,183 lives were lost to chronic diseases in 2023, which represents a staggering 78.1% of overall mortality in the nation.

Leading the grim list of causes of death are cancers, which take 24.2% of lives, followed by heart disease (9.4%), cerebrovascular issues (6.9%), Alzheimer’s disease (3.2%), diabetes (3.1%), and hypertension (2.3%).

Explosive Growth in Healthcare Costs

Healthcare costs associated with chronic illnesses have seen explosive growth, leaping from 71 trillion won in 2020 to 90 trillion won in 2023. This represents an average annual jump of 8.4% over just three years!

Circulatory diseases top the list, consuming 14.9% (approximately 13.4 trillion won) of chronic disease expenditures, with musculoskeletal disorders and cancer following closely behind at 12.9% and 11.2%, respectively.

Cost of Individual Diseases

When looking at the cost of individual diseases, primary hypertension emerges as the most burdensome, costing 4.4 trillion won, while Type 2 diabetes trails with a hefty 3.1 trillion won.

Chronic Disease Prevalence Stability

Despite the increasing economic burden, chronic disease prevalence has remained relatively stable over the last decade among adults aged 19 and above, with hypertension rates hovering between 20% to 22% and diabetes rates consistently around 10%.

However, hypercholesterolemia has surged dramatically from 11.9% in 2012 to an alarming 22% in 2022.

Obesity, Smoking, and Alcohol Consumption Trends

In an unsettling twist, adult obesity rates peaked at 38.3% during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 before slightly dipping to 37.2% in 2022.

On a more positive note, the adult smoking rate decreased to 17.7% in 2022; however, high-risk drinking has become a growing concern, with 14.2% of adults engaging in risky alcohol consumption.

Improving Exercise Rates

Encouragingly, the percentage of adults meeting aerobic exercise guidelines has improved, reaching 53.1%.

Statement from KDCA Commissioner

“With South Korea entering a super-aged society, the burden of chronic diseases is expected to amplify further,” cautioned KDCA Commissioner Jee Youngmee.

“We are committed to developing innovative strategies to mitigate the impact of these diseases on our society.”

Concluding Thoughts

As the healthcare costs for chronic conditions rise at an alarming rate, South Korea finds itself at a crossroads, facing challenges that necessitate immediate attention. What measures will the country take to combat this impending crisis? Stay tuned for more updates!