Comparisons of the Severity between the Kidney and Non-Kidney Disabled Persons by the Number of Chronic Diseases, Out-of-Pocket Expenditure, and Quality of Life: using Korea Health Panel

Abstract

Background: Due to End-Stage Renal Disease, patients who have received dialysis for more than three months or who have already received a kidney transplant are eligible for registration as the Kidney Disabled in Korea. This study aimed to identify the severity between the Kidney and Non-Kidney Disabled by the number of chronic diseases, out-of-pocket expenditure, and quality of life. Methods: This study used the Korean Health Panel from 2009 to 2013. We compared the number of chronic diseases, out-of-pocket expenditure, and quality of life between the Kidney and Non-Kidney Disabled. The Non-Kidney Disabled included heart, liver, respiratory organ, colostomy or urostomy, and epilepsy. Chi-Square, t-test, and ANCOVA were conducted, and then the trends for five years were explored through panel analysis. Results: Of the 308 subjects, 136 (44.2%) had Kidney Disability and 172 (55.8%) had Non-Kidney Disabilities. The number of chronic diseases was 4.7 in the Kidney Disabled and 3.3 in the Non-Kidney Disabled (P<0.001). The annual out-of-pocket expenditure for the Kidney Disabled was $1,310 and that for the Non-Kidney Disabled $812 (P<0.001). Today’s subjective health status for the quality of life (from the worst 0 points to the best 100 points ) was 48.9 for the Kidney Disabled and 60.4 for the Non-Kidney Disabled (P<0.001). In addition, the five years trends for the number of chronic diseases, annual out-of-pocket medical expenditure, and quality of life also differed between the Kidney and the Non-Kidney Disabled (P<0.01). Conclusion: The Kidney Disabled was more serious than the Non-Kidney Disabled in the aspect of the number of chronic diseases, the out-of-pocket medical expenditure, and quality of life. Therefore, it is necessary to consider greater interest in the health care of the Kidney-Disabled people in terms of equity.