Among those who suffer from panic disorder, women accounted for 86,010 last year, which was 1.2 times higher number than the number of men, who accounted for 73,418. (image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of patients visiting the hospital due to panic disorder has surged in the past five years.
According to data analysis released Monday by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), the number of people who visited medical institutions for a panic disorder increased by 70.5 percent, or 65,903, from 93,525 in 2014 to 159,428 last year, up an average of 14.3 percent per year.
Among those who suffer from panic disorder, women accounted for 86,010 last year, which was 1.2 times higher number than the number of men, who accounted for 73,418.
By age group, patients in their 40s accounted for the largest share, at 24.4 percent of the total. Patients from their 30s to 50s accounted for about two-thirds of the total, with 20.7 percent of total attributed to those in their 50s and 18.5 percent to those in their 30s.
From 2014 to last year, the average annual growth rate was the highest among young people, coming in at 24.5 percent for those in their 20s and 18.1 percent for teens, the report showed.
“The risk factors of panic disorder include a lack of socioeconomic resources, smoking, alcohol problems, and stress inducing incidents such as recent divorce or separation,” said Park Sun-young, a professor at the NHIS Ilsan Hospital.
“We can imagine that the ups and downs of this life are rising in the highest age group.”
Health insurance treatment costs from panic disorder rose 30.4 billion won to 61.6 billion won (US$ 52.9 million) last year from 31.2 billion won in 2014, up 61.5 percent from five years ago and 18.6 percent annually.
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
