Research on risk factors and impacts of infectious diseases

• Emerging infectious diseases, such as SARS, swine flu, MERS, SARS, and COVID-19, can impact not only the health and lives of the population but also the overall social and economic sectors.
• The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is conducting research to analyze the health impacts and key risk factors of infectious diseases in order to minimize damages during future epidemics and to utilize these findings for the establishment of scientific policies.

• Analysis of the direct and indirect health impacts of COVID-19 on the population during the COVID-19 pandemic period
• In-depth analysis of the health impacts on vulnerable groups, such as individuals with underlying diseases, children and adolescents, and the disabled

• Understanding the scale of direct health impacts, such as the characteristics of severe cases and deaths during the COVID-19 surveillance period
• Providing evidence for management priorities through in-depth analysis of health impacts and risk factors for vulnerable populations during public health crises
• The analysis of excess deaths during the COVID-19 period confirmed an increase in excess deaths among those aged 65 and older, providing justification for prioritizing resource allocation and ensuring access to medical services for the elderly

This image shows the results of an evaluation of the mortality risk and healthcare cost changes experienced by individuals with underlying conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. ■ Evaluation Method - Excess mortality was evaluated through logistic/negative binomial regression analysis. - Costs were evaluated based on insurance-covered items from direct medical expenses. ■ Target Underlying Conditions - Chronic lung disease, heart disease, chronic liver disease, chronic kidney disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, dementia/Parkinson's, cancer. ■ Evaluation Results 1. a. Increased (maintained) mortality risk and increased (maintained) costs - Chronic lung disease, heart disease, chronic liver disease, autoimmune diseases. - Both mortality and medical costs (including policy support) increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. 2. b. Increased mortality risk and decreased costs - Stroke, chronic kidney disease, dementia, Parkinson's disease. - Mortality increased, but healthcare expenditures decreased, suggesting the need for additional policy support. 3. c. Decreased mortality risk and increased costs - Diabetes, hypertension, cancer. - Despite minimal disruption to healthcare access during the COVID-19 pandemic, mortality risk did not increase, but healthcare costs did rise. ■ Overall Interpretation COVID-19 had different impacts on mortality risk and healthcare expenditures depending on the type of underlying condition. Particularly in the chronic disease group (e.g., lung disease, heart disease), the increased risk was notable, highlighting the need for tailored policy support.

※ Source: Jang MJ et al., J Korean Med Science, 2024

• Analysis of patients with underlying conditions confirmed that mortality risk and changes in medical expenses vary by disease type, and follow-up research is underway

※ Source: In-depth Analysis Report on Health Impacts and Socioeconomic Burdens of COVID-19 on Vulnerable Groups (Individuals with Underlying Conditions), 2024

• The analysis of risk by disability status showed significant differences in the risk of severe progression based on the type of disability and age, highlighting the need for tailored public health approaches.

• Conducting research to assess health impacts and protect high-risk vulnerable groups that may be disproportionately affected in preparation for future public health crises
• Conducting research to generate scientific evidence for prioritizing resource allocation and responses during infectious disease outbreaks