"2024 Regional Medical Utilization Statistics Yearbook"
Ulsan Ranks Second Among Metropolitan Cities
in Annual Hypertension Treatment Over 360 Days
The National Health Insurance Service (President: Jung Ki-seok) published the "2024 Regional Medical Utilization Statistics Yearbook" on October 31, which contains data on the status of medical service utilization by city, county, and district for health insurance and medical aid beneficiaries.
Now in its 19th year of publication, the "Regional Medical Utilization Statistics Yearbook" covers nine topics, including the population covered by medical security, medical service utilization status, statistics on major cancers and diseases, and the prevalence of common diseases.
According to last year's statistics on major cancers, breast cancer had the highest number of cases at 277,215, followed by colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, and cervical cancer.
In the case of Ulsan, breast cancer was also the most common, with 5,850 cases, followed by colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, and cervical cancer, showing the same trend as the national statistics.
For major diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, periodontal disease, arthritis, mental disorders, infectious diseases, and liver diseases, excluding periodontal disease and infectious diseases, hypertension was the most common with 7,983,657 cases, closely followed by arthritis with 7,689,259 cases. Mental disorders and diabetes accounted for 4,676,699 and 4,250,560 cases, respectively. Liver diseases had the lowest number among the major diseases, with 1,587,720 cases.
In Ulsan, the most common diseases treated were periodontal disease and infectious diseases, similar to national statistics. However, arthritis accounted for 155,454 cases and hypertension for 152,986 cases, indicating that arthritis treatment exceeded hypertension treatment last year, which differs from the national trend. In addition, there were 415 cases of patients receiving hypertension treatment for more than 360 days, the second highest among metropolitan cities after Incheon.
In the ranking of frequent inpatient diseases, compared to the national ranking, Ulsan had higher proportions of other intestinal and peritoneal diseases, acute bronchitis and acute bronchiolitis, dementia, and people receiving health services for special procedures or health protection. For outpatients, acute pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, and gastritis/duodenitis had higher proportions compared to the national average. These trends appear to reflect the population structure and industrial characteristics of Ulsan.
This yearbook confirms that, compared to national statistics, Ulsan had more arthritis treatments, a higher number of patients receiving long-term hypertension treatment, and a greater prevalence of internal medicine cases such as respiratory diseases.
Arthritis is the most common joint disease we encounter, caused by inflammation in the joints due to various factors. The main symptom is joint pain. If pain is accompanied by swelling or heat in the joint area, arthritis should be suspected and an accurate diagnosis is recommended.
In particular, degenerative arthritis, which occurs when ligaments and bones that make up the joint are damaged due to aging, is increasing every year due to population aging, with people in their 60s and older accounting for 80% of cases. If degenerative arthritis worsens despite sufficient treatment, artificial joint surgery may be considered. Recently, with advances in medical technology such as robotic surgery, the number of elderly patients over 80 undergoing surgery is also increasing.
Choi Chibeom, Director of the Joint and Spine Center at Ulsan Eliya Hospital (Orthopedic Specialist), emphasized, "More than 15% of the total population suffers from degenerative arthritis, and 4 to 5 out of 10 people aged 65 or older experience symptoms of degenerative arthritis, making it a common joint disease. If degenerative arthritis is accurately diagnosed and treated in the early stages, patients can walk healthily, and if joint cartilage destruction or movement disorder becomes severe, artificial joint surgery can help restore daily life."
On the other hand, hypertension, known as a representative chronic disease along with diabetes, often presents no clear symptoms but can be the cause of several life-threatening conditions such as arteriosclerosis, myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction, arrhythmia, and angina, requiring special attention.
Blood pressure is the measurement of the force exerted by blood pumped from the heart on the walls of the arteries. The heart is the organ that supplies oxygen and nutrients to various parts of the body by pumping blood. Systolic blood pressure (the higher number) refers to the pressure when the heart contracts and pumps blood, while diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) refers to the pressure when the heart relaxes. According to Korean standards, hypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or higher, or a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or higher.
Most patients with hypertension require lifelong treatment and management. In particular, when hypertension develops, it is essential to improve daily habits. Managing body weight, eating less salty foods, quitting smoking and drinking, exercising regularly, and reducing stress all help control blood pressure. If lifestyle changes are not enough to control blood pressure, or if blood pressure is very high, medication is used, and sometimes multiple medications are needed to achieve control.
Jo Jongdae, Director of the Hypertension and Diabetes Center at Ulsan Eliya Hospital (Internal Medicine Specialist), advised, "Knowing your blood pressure accurately and undergoing early diagnosis and treatment is the key to preventing more serious complications. Even if you have no symptoms, you should measure your blood pressure regularly, and if your readings are high, you should actively seek treatment in consultation with an internal medicine specialist. Never stop treatment on your own."
Last year, the population of seniors aged 65 and older in Ulsan was 188,702, accounting for 17.19% of the total population, and this number is rapidly increasing each year. According to current population projections, the proportion of seniors is the lowest among metropolitan cities at 16.5%, but it is expected to reach 43.6% by 2052, making it the second highest after Busan.
Given the rapid aging of the population, Ulsan will need to establish a systematic health management system at the municipal level for the increasing prevalence of internal medicine diseases such as arthritis and hypertension, as well as mental disorders like dementia. Close cooperation with local medical institutions will also be essential for effective support.
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