Oral health of high-cost patients and evaluation of oral health measures as predictors for high-cost patients in South Korea: a population-based cohort study.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:To examine the oral health conditions and oral health behaviour of high-cost patients and evaluate oral health measures as predictors of future high-cost patients. DESIGN:A retrospective, population-based cohort study using administrative healthcare records. SETTING:The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) medical check-up database (a.k.a. NHIS-national health screening cohort database) in South Korea. PARTICIPANTS:131 549 individuals who received biennial health check-ups including dental check-ups in 2011 or 2012, aged 49-88. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES:Current and subsequent year high-cost patient status. RESULTS:High-cost patients, on average, incur higher dental costs, suffer more from periodontal disease, brush their teeth less and use secondary oral hygiene products less. Some of the self-reported oral health behaviours and oral symptom variables show statistically significant associations with subsequent year high-cost patient indicators, even after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, medical conditions, and prior healthcare cost and utilisation. CONCLUSIONS:We demonstrate that oral health measures are associated with an increased risk of becoming a high-cost patient.

SUBMITTER: Kim YJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6747678 | biostudies-other | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other