Annual Patterns of Healthcare Resource Utilization and Costs in Patients With Multiple Myeloma in South Korea

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate healthcare resource utilization and costs associated with multiple myeloma (MM) in South Korea using population-based data. Specifically, we analyzed annual patterns of inpatient admissions, outpatient visits, and associated healthcare costs over up to 5 years from diagnosis.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted utilizing data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, covering the entire Korean population from 2014 to 2022. Patients newly diagnosed with MM were identified using the ICD-10 code (C90.0) between March 2014 and December 2022. The first diagnosis date was defined as the index date. We assessed the number of inpatient admissions, length of stay, outpatient visits, and medical costs per patient annually over a 5-year follow-up. Patients without a full year of follow-up were excluded.

RESULTS: A total of 10,244 MM patients were identified (1st year: 10,244, 5th year: 2,373), with a mean age of 67.6 years (SD 11.68) at baseline, and a sex ratio of 54.0% male and 46.0% female. Healthcare utilization changed from the 1st year to the 5th year: number of hospitalizations (1st year: 4.2, 5th year: 2.6), duration per hospitalization (1st year: 15.7 days, 5th year: 10.4 days), and number of outpatient visits (1st year: 48.2, 5th year: 22.1). Total medical cost per patient decreased (1st year: US$37,546, 5th year: US$11,239), with the share of hospitalization costs decreasing (1st year: 68.8%, 5th year: 57.9%).

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the changing healthcare resource utilization and costs for MM patients in South Korea over 5 years. Understanding these trends is crucial for effective healthcare planning and resource allocation, especially in managing the increasing burden of multiple myeloma.