Introduction: Republic of Korea is one of the fastest aging countries in the world. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a disease whose prevalence increases steeply with increasing age, and in this situation in Korea, the prevalence is bound
to increase significantly. To optimize quality of care and control of cost, there is an imperative need to examine the pattern of BPH management. We would like to find out about the trend of surgical management of BPH from 2019 to 2022.
Methods: We obtained medical statistical data using the Healthcare Big Data Opening System provided by the Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. From 2018 to 2022, the number of cases of transurethral resection of prostate (TURP), photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP), and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), which account for the most cases among recent BPH surgeries, were analyzed. They were analyzed by hospitalized/ outpatients, age groups, types of medical institutions, and the location of medical institutions, respectively.
Results: The number of patients with BPH has been steadily increasing, it increased from 1.2 million in 2018 to 1.4 million in 2022 despite the situation of COVID-19. In addition, the cost of medical care benefits also gradually increased, sharply increasing from about 190 billion won in 2018 to about 320 billion won in 2022. However, the increase in the total number of major 3 major operations for BPH was relatively mild for 5 years. The number TURP and PVP gradually decreased, while Holep increased. At the end of this trend, which has continued similarly since 10 years ago, Holep’s case eventually surpassed TURP’s case. This trend is spreading from metropolitan to provincial.
Conclusions: As Korea’s aging progresses, the number of patients with BPH is also increasing exponentially. From 2018 to 2022, in particular, the case of Holep surgery is the fastest growing trend, and TURP is decreasing, so Holep eventually
overtakes TURP at 2022. This trend seems to be the result of many conversions from TURP to Holep in tertiary referral hospitals and the exponential increase in Holep surgery in clinics. Continuing attention is needed to see what effect the
recently popular minimal invasive surgery will have.
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