Population-based prevalence of rare diseases in Jeju, Korea: a 2021 analysis using NHIS data

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of rare diseases in Jeju using population-based data. We analyzed 2021 data from the customized research database of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). Rare diseases were defined based on the designation of the Ministry of Health and Welfare...

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Main Authors: Ki Soo Kang, Jung-Kook Song
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institute for Medical Science, Jeju National University 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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Online Access:http://e-jmls.org/upload/pdf/jmls-2025-22-2-69.pdf
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author Ki Soo Kang
Jung-Kook Song
author_facet Ki Soo Kang
Jung-Kook Song
author_sort Ki Soo Kang
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of rare diseases in Jeju using population-based data. We analyzed 2021 data from the customized research database of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). Rare diseases were defined based on the designation of the Ministry of Health and Welfare as of July 1, 2021. The number of patients and claims was calculated. The crude prevalence rate per 100,000 individuals was computed using mid-year population data. Diseases were also classified by hereditary status and by system based on the Korean Standard Classification of Diseases. A total of 4,669 patients with rare diseases were identified. The crude prevalence rate was 696 per 100,000 individuals (619 for males, 774 for females). Among the 30 most frequent diseases, the rates ranged from 51 to 4 per 100,000 individuals. Pediatric prevalence was higher in males, and hereditary diseases were more common in children than in adults (38.1% vs. 15.5%). Medical Aid coverage was observed in 6.0% of patients, indicating greater economic vulnerability. Of the 640 rare diseases identified in the NHIS data (among 1,201 nationally designated diseases), only 279 (44.0%) were observed in Jeju. Rare diseases were less likely to be detected due to the small population of the region. Additionally, 8.3% of patients with rare diseases (excluding ultra-rare diseases and chromosomal abnormalities) and 25.0% of patients with ultra-rare diseases had multiple rare disease diagnoses. This is the first population-based study of the prevalence of rare diseases in Jeju. The findings provide baseline data essential for regional surveillance and policy development.
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spelling doaj-art-ad76855b550d4c4ca7fd365d95130eaf2025-08-20T03:55:23ZengInstitute for Medical Science, Jeju National UniversityJournal of Medicine and Life Science2671-49222025-05-01222698010.22730/jmls.2025.22.2.69566Population-based prevalence of rare diseases in Jeju, Korea: a 2021 analysis using NHIS dataKi Soo Kang0Jung-Kook Song1 Department of Pediatrics, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju National University College of Medicine, Jeju, Republic of Korea Department of Preventive Medicine, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju National University College of Medicine, Jeju, Republic of KoreaThis study aimed to investigate the prevalence of rare diseases in Jeju using population-based data. We analyzed 2021 data from the customized research database of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). Rare diseases were defined based on the designation of the Ministry of Health and Welfare as of July 1, 2021. The number of patients and claims was calculated. The crude prevalence rate per 100,000 individuals was computed using mid-year population data. Diseases were also classified by hereditary status and by system based on the Korean Standard Classification of Diseases. A total of 4,669 patients with rare diseases were identified. The crude prevalence rate was 696 per 100,000 individuals (619 for males, 774 for females). Among the 30 most frequent diseases, the rates ranged from 51 to 4 per 100,000 individuals. Pediatric prevalence was higher in males, and hereditary diseases were more common in children than in adults (38.1% vs. 15.5%). Medical Aid coverage was observed in 6.0% of patients, indicating greater economic vulnerability. Of the 640 rare diseases identified in the NHIS data (among 1,201 nationally designated diseases), only 279 (44.0%) were observed in Jeju. Rare diseases were less likely to be detected due to the small population of the region. Additionally, 8.3% of patients with rare diseases (excluding ultra-rare diseases and chromosomal abnormalities) and 25.0% of patients with ultra-rare diseases had multiple rare disease diagnoses. This is the first population-based study of the prevalence of rare diseases in Jeju. The findings provide baseline data essential for regional surveillance and policy development.http://e-jmls.org/upload/pdf/jmls-2025-22-2-69.pdfrare diseasesepidemiologyincidenceprevalence
spellingShingle Ki Soo Kang
Jung-Kook Song
Population-based prevalence of rare diseases in Jeju, Korea: a 2021 analysis using NHIS data
Journal of Medicine and Life Science
rare diseases
epidemiology
incidence
prevalence
title Population-based prevalence of rare diseases in Jeju, Korea: a 2021 analysis using NHIS data
title_full Population-based prevalence of rare diseases in Jeju, Korea: a 2021 analysis using NHIS data
title_fullStr Population-based prevalence of rare diseases in Jeju, Korea: a 2021 analysis using NHIS data
title_full_unstemmed Population-based prevalence of rare diseases in Jeju, Korea: a 2021 analysis using NHIS data
title_short Population-based prevalence of rare diseases in Jeju, Korea: a 2021 analysis using NHIS data
title_sort population based prevalence of rare diseases in jeju korea a 2021 analysis using nhis data
topic rare diseases
epidemiology
incidence
prevalence
url http://e-jmls.org/upload/pdf/jmls-2025-22-2-69.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT kisookang populationbasedprevalenceofrarediseasesinjejukoreaa2021analysisusingnhisdata
AT jungkooksong populationbasedprevalenceofrarediseasesinjejukoreaa2021analysisusingnhisdata