Shift in Hospital Admissions: From Birth to Age-Related Cataracts

A recent report from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service reveals a significant shift in the leading causes of hospital admissions in South Korea, influenced by declining birth rates and an aging population. In 2024, the most common reason for hospitalization was 'age-related cataracts,' affecting 337,270 individuals, marking a 5.4% increase from the previous year’s 320,061 cases. Age-related cataracts, a condition where the lens of the eye becomes cloudy due to aging or damage, leads to blurred vision.

Following age-related cataracts, the next most common conditions were 'pneumonia due to unspecified pathogens' with 308,287 cases, 'other gastroenteritis and colitis of infectious and unspecified origin' with 244,125 cases, and 'other intervertebral disc disorders' with 220,212 cases.

Interestingly, the term 'survival birth based on place of delivery,' which is assigned to newborns, ranked fifth with 212,806 cases. This is a notable drop from 2014, when it was the leading cause with 373,597 cases, reflecting the impact of low birth rates. In 2014, age-related cataracts were the third most common reason for hospitalization, with 251,008 cases.

Additionally, the highest medical expenses covered by health insurance for inpatient treatment last year were for 'Alzheimer's disease,' totaling 1.8694 trillion won. Other significant costs included cerebral infarction (1.6855 trillion won), pneumonia due to unspecified pathogens (988 billion won), and knee osteoarthritis (899.9 billion won).

In outpatient care, patients seeking treatment for gingivitis and periodontal disease reached 19.59 million, maintaining the top spot for the second consecutive year.