By Bahk Eun-ji
Nearly 1 million Koreans were treated for cervical degenerative disc disease in 2018, according to data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). Cervical disc disease occurs when one or more of the cushioning discs in the cervical spine begins to deteriorate.
Cervical discs work as “cushions” between the vertebrae of the neck. When discs are damaged it can result in significant discomfort, with many experiencing neck and radiating arm pains.
Although many cases of neck pain are mild and resolve themselves on their own within a few days, sometimes it can be so painful that it affects a person’s daily life, interfering with the ability to sleep, work or drive.
According the NHIS data, 959,000 patients were provided with medical expenses for the disease (disease code: M50) in 2018. In 2014, 871,000 were beneficiaries of the insurance, an average annual increase of 2.4 percent.
About 269 billion won was spent to treat the problem in 2018, climbing from the 223 billion won spent in 2014.
By age, patients in their 50s accounted for the largest group, with 284,097 or 29.6 percent. Among them, 162,532 were women, while 121,565 were men in 2018.
People in their 80s who have cervical disc disease increased to 31,760 in 2018, compared to 2014 when 19,862 suffered from the problem. Women in this age group appeared to be particularly vulnerable with 2,067 per 100,000 people in 2018, up 16.3 percent from 2014’s 1,778 per 100,000.
However, men were generally more vulnerable overall in age groups ― increasing 12.2 percent annually, while the average annual increase rate was 8.5 percent.
Over the past five years, the cost of medical treatment per person increased to 280,000 won in 2018, up 9.8 percent from 256,000 won in 2014.
In regard to the reason for the steady increase in the neck disease in people in their 50s and older, experts said it is mainly because cervical disc disease is a degenerative condition, worsening as time progresses.
“Spinal discs weaken over time and become more vulnerable to injury, meaning that aging increases the risk of a bulging or herniated disc. Bad posture or being overweight for a long time can contribute to the disc bulging,” said Park Yoong, a professor of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) Ilsan Hospital.
