A cross-sectional study estimating the burden of illness related to genital warts in South Korea

• Published in: BMJ open 2017-06, Vol.7 (6), p.e014217-e014217
• Main Authors: Lee, Taek Sang, Kothari-Talwar, Smita, Singhal, Puneet K, Yee, Karen, Kulkarni, Amit, Lara, Nuria, Roset, Montserrat, Giuliano, Anna R, Garland, Suzanne M, Ju, Woong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Costs; Cross-sectional studies; Females; Health care policy; Hospitals; Human papillomavirus; Infections; Infectious Diseases; Patients; Physicians; Population; Vaccines; Viral infections; Warts
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014217

ObjectivesEstimate the prevalence of genital warts (GW) and GW-related healthcare resource use and costs among male and female patients seeking treatment in South Korea.DesignTo estimate GW prevalence, physicians in five major South Korean regions recorded daily logs of patients (n=71 655) seeking care between July 26 and September 27, 2011. Overall prevalence estimates (and 95% CIs) were weighted by the estimated number of physicians in each specialty and the estimated proportion of total patients visiting each specialist type. Healthcare resource use was compared among different specialties. Corresponding p values were calculated using Mann-Whitney U tests.SettingThe database covers 5098 clinics and hospitals for five major regions in South Korea: Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju and Daejeon.ParticipantsPrimary care physicians (general practice/family medicine), obstetricians/gynaecologists, urologists and dermatologists with 2–30 years’ experience.ResultsThe estimated overall GW prevalence was 0.7% (95% CI 0.7% to 0.8%). Among women, GW prevalence was 0.6% (95% CI 0.6% to 0.7%); among men prevalence was 1.0% (95% CI 0.9% to 1.0%), peaking among patients aged 18–24 years. Median costs for GW diagnosis and treatment for male patients were US$58.2 (South Korean Won (KRW) ₩66 857) and US$66.3 (KRW₩76 113) for female patients.ConclusionsThe estimated overall GW prevalence in South Korea was 0.7% and was higher for male patients. The overall median costs associated with a GW episode were higher for female patients than for male patients.