The number of paralyzed patients has increased by more than 25 percent over the past five years, with 1 in 3 in their 70s or older, data showed Wednesday. (Image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, April 4 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of paralyzed patients has increased by more than 25 percent over the past five years, with 1 in 3 in their 70s or older, data showed Wednesday.
The data compiled by the National Health Insurance Service showed a total of 75,295 people visited hospitals to be treated for paralysis in 2016, up 25.4 percent from 60,012 in 2011.
Paralysis, most often caused by damage to the nervous system, can lead to the loss of function in a specific or widespread area of the body.
The data showed that in 2016, 83.8 percent of paralysis patients were 50 or older.
(Yonhap)
