世界衛生組織於1990年時預估,到達2020年時,慢性阻塞性肺病(i.e., Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease.簡稱COPD)將提升到排名全球第五位的疾病。世界上許多國家和組織將每年的11月20日訂為「慢性阻塞性肺疾病日」,不僅表示對此疾病的重視,也預測慢性阻塞性肺疾病將發展成為衝擊人類健康的一項主要疾病。本研究初步探討台灣地區慢性阻塞性肺病患者分佈、醫療利用型態與影響慢性阻塞性肺病醫療費用因素。 本研究使用國衛院健保資料庫1998~2002年承保抽樣歸人檔,分析慢性阻塞性肺病患者在年齡、性別、區域上的差異。接著分析不同年齡別慢性阻塞性肺病患者在不同診療型態(i.e.門診與住院)上的利用情況。並了解慢性阻塞性肺病患者住院醫療費用的影響因素。另外,中央健康保險局於2000年7月開始,執行呼吸器依賴患者整合性照護試辦計劃,由於慢性阻塞性肺病患者為呼吸照護病房的使用者之一,本研究試圖瞭解慢性阻塞性肺病患者使用呼吸照護病房的情形。統計部分採用SPSS 12.0版套裝軟體,進行描述性統計與複線性迴歸分析。 研究結果顯示國內慢性阻塞性肺病的盛行率不管是男性或女性,皆高於世界衛生組織所公佈的盛行率。單次的醫療費用上,狹義慢性阻塞性肺病定義下的醫療費用高於廣義定義下所產生的醫療費用;65歲以上的男性族群為此疾病醫療耗用最多的族群;慢性阻塞性肺病病患年齡愈高、醫療院所特約層級愈高、住院天數愈多、有加入「呼吸器依賴患者整合性照護系統」試辦計劃者,與住院醫療費用呈現顯著的正相關。而慢性阻塞性肺病在「呼吸器依賴患者整合性照護系統」的使用偏低,是否與病患或其家屬的意願有關,值得再深入探討。目前的呼吸照護病房(i.e., Respiratory Care Ward.簡稱RCW),常見家屬自費再聘僱看護,所造成的經濟負擔,是否也會影響病患選擇何種照護模式,其原因還有待探討。 最後,慢性阻塞性肺病雖已漸漸受到世界衛生組織的重視,本研究亦顯示台灣的盛行率及耗用的醫療資源都相當高,如:全民健保2000年資料顯示該年慢性阻塞性肺病申報件數排名第五位,達五萬餘件,但國內對於此種疾病的認識並不普遍,建議加強宣導吸菸對慢性阻塞性肺病的影響及如何預防等;另外,由於慢性阻塞性肺病患者需長期依賴呼吸器時,建議持續推動呼吸照護中心(RCC)與呼吸照護病房(RCW),俾使病況穩定的患者可減少佔用ICU的資源。
The World Health Organization predicts Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease (i.e. COPD) to be the top five diseases in Year 2020. Many countries and organizations have named annual November 20th as “COPD day” to emphasize its serious health impacts to human beings. This study primarily intends to analyze the epidemiological distribution, utilization pattern of COPD, and factors influencing COPD expenses. This study used Year 1998 to Year 2002 National Health Insurance Research Database as our data resource. We initially described the differences of age, gender, and geographical areas for COPD patients. Then, we analyzed the utilization patterns of COPD patients, and moreover, factors influencing COPD expenses. In addition, we tried to discuss the utilization of Respiratory Care Center (i.e. RCC) and Respiratory Care Ward (i.e. RCW) for COPD patients. The research outcome shown as follows: (1). The COPD prevalence rate of Taiwan is higher than that of World average, either for male or female. (2). For a single visit, the narrow definition of COPD patients costs more than that of the broad definition of COPD patients. (3). The male group with age 65 or above consumes more medical resources than any other groups. (4). Among factors influencing COPD expenses, aged COPD patients, higher hospital level, more hospital days, patients who participated in the “Integrated Care System of Long Term Mechanical Ventilation” trial projects, are positively co-related with higher COPD expenses. (5). The lower usage of “Integrated Care System of Long Term Mechanical Ventilation” is still unknown. Based on the higher COPD prevalence rate and medical consumption, we suggest the health authority promulgate the negative impacts of smoking on COPD from prevention perspectives, and continuously promote the use of RCC and RCW for COPD patients with steady conditions to avoid the unnecessary use of Intensive Care Unit (i.e. ICU).