Basic patient characteristics.

This cross-sectional, retrospective, observational study aimed to analyze the distribution and healthcare usage patterns of patients with atopic dermatitis using the 2010–2018 Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service data. Patients diagnosed with atopic dermatitis in Korea between January 2010 and December 2018 and registered in the Health Insurance Review and Assessment national database were identified, and 270,008 patients who used healthcare services at least once during this period were evaluated to ascertain the healthcare usage patterns and treatment methods for atopic dermatitis. The number of patients with atopic dermatitis plateaued during the study period, while the number of claims and total expenses increased by a small margin. Atopic dermatitis prevalence was the highest among patients aged <5 years (31.4%), followed by those aged 5–14 years (23.53%) and 15–24 years (15.33%). However, the prevalence in these age groups showed a decreasing trend over time. The most used Western medicine treatments were injections and oral medications involving topical corticosteroids, antihistamine agents, and oral steroids, while it was acupuncture therapy in Korean medicine. The frequency of the most frequently prescribed medication, topical corticosteroid, showed a decreasing trend over time. The findings in this study will inform healthcare policy makers and clinicians across different countries on the usage trends of Western medicine and Korean medicine treatment.

本项横断面回顾性观察性研究旨在利用2010-2018年健康保险审查评价院（Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service）的数据，分析特应性皮炎（atopic dermatitis）患者的分布特征与医疗服务使用模式。研究纳入2010年1月至2018年12月期间在韩国被诊断为特应性皮炎、且注册于该机构国家数据库的患者，最终对该时段内至少接受过1次医疗服务的270008例患者进行评估，以明确特应性皮炎的医疗服务使用模式与治疗方案。研究期间，特应性皮炎患者数量趋于平稳，而医保申报人次与总医疗费用仅小幅增长。特应性皮炎患病率在<5岁年龄组最高（31.4%），其次为5~14岁组（23.53%）与15~24岁组（15.33%）；但上述年龄组的患病率随时间均呈下降趋势。最常用的西医治疗方式为注射治疗与口服药物，涉及外用糖皮质激素、抗组胺剂及口服类固醇；而韩医学治疗中最常用的方式为针灸疗法。最常开具的药物——外用糖皮质激素的使用频次随时间呈下降趋势。本研究结果可为全球各国的医疗政策制定者与临床医师提供特应性皮炎西医及韩医学治疗的使用趋势参考。