Sex Differences in Characteristics and Treatment Patterns of Patients With Sleep Disorders in South Korea
Author(s)
Yuri Jeong, Master's student1, YiSook Jung, Ph.D2, Hankil Lee, BS, MS, RPh, PhD3, Hyunha Kang, MS3.
1Department of Biohealth Regulatory Science, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea, Republic of, 2College of Pharmacy, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea, Republic of, 3Ewha Womans University, College of Pharmacy, Seoul, Korea, Republic of.
1Department of Biohealth Regulatory Science, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea, Republic of, 2College of Pharmacy, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea, Republic of, 3Ewha Womans University, College of Pharmacy, Seoul, Korea, Republic of.
OBJECTIVES: Sleep disorders (SD) are associated with chronic disease risk, reduced quality of life, and high medical costs. Given the hypothesis that the prevalence and clinical patterns of SD may differ by sex, this study examined sex differences in demographics and healthcare utilization among SD patients in South Korea.
METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the 2018 Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service - National Patient Sample. Using a prevalence-based approach, patients with ≥2 visits with a primary diagnosis of SD (ICD-10: F51) were included. Variables included age group, treatments, healthcare service type, healthcare use per patient, comorbidities, and costs. Descriptive Analyses were performed by sex using SAS version 9.4.
RESULTS: Among 6,339 patients with SD, 59.0% were female. The most common age group was ≥70 years in both sexes, but women tended to be younger, with a noticeable peak in those aged 50-59, whereas in men, the number of patients increased with age. Both sexes primarily used Western medicine for SD, but women had a slightly higher rate of Korean medicine use than men (3.04% vs. 2.08%, p < 0.0001). In contrast, men had significantly more inpatient visits for SD than women (0.34% vs. 0.05%, p < 0.0001). Men also showed a greater Charlson Comorbidity Index (1.3 vs. 1.1, p < 0.001) and a higher prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities, such as myocardial infarction (1.3% vs. 0.4%) and hypertension (33.5% vs. 30.2%). In contrast, women had a higher prevalence of rheumatologic conditions (2.2% vs. 1.3%). The median annual SD-related medical expenditure per patient was 162.5 USD for men and 159.1 USD for women, with no statistically significant difference between the sexes (p = 0.9983).
CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies sex-based differences in the clinical and healthcare profiles of SD patients, suggesting the need for tailored care and health policy.
METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the 2018 Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service - National Patient Sample. Using a prevalence-based approach, patients with ≥2 visits with a primary diagnosis of SD (ICD-10: F51) were included. Variables included age group, treatments, healthcare service type, healthcare use per patient, comorbidities, and costs. Descriptive Analyses were performed by sex using SAS version 9.4.
RESULTS: Among 6,339 patients with SD, 59.0% were female. The most common age group was ≥70 years in both sexes, but women tended to be younger, with a noticeable peak in those aged 50-59, whereas in men, the number of patients increased with age. Both sexes primarily used Western medicine for SD, but women had a slightly higher rate of Korean medicine use than men (3.04% vs. 2.08%, p < 0.0001). In contrast, men had significantly more inpatient visits for SD than women (0.34% vs. 0.05%, p < 0.0001). Men also showed a greater Charlson Comorbidity Index (1.3 vs. 1.1, p < 0.001) and a higher prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities, such as myocardial infarction (1.3% vs. 0.4%) and hypertension (33.5% vs. 30.2%). In contrast, women had a higher prevalence of rheumatologic conditions (2.2% vs. 1.3%). The median annual SD-related medical expenditure per patient was 162.5 USD for men and 159.1 USD for women, with no statistically significant difference between the sexes (p = 0.9983).
CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies sex-based differences in the clinical and healthcare profiles of SD patients, suggesting the need for tailored care and health policy.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
RWD172
Topic
Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Health & Insurance Records Systems
Disease
Geriatrics, Mental Health (including addition)