The Multi-Institutional Health Screening Records Database of South Korea: Description and Evaluation of Its Characteristics

Abstract

This study sought to describe and to evaluate the characteristics of the Health Screening Records Database (HSRD) of the Korea Association of Health Promotion as a data source for epidemiologic studies. The HSRD was compared to a National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort (NHIS-HEALS) database for 2015. Common variables between the databases were selected, and sex-based analyses were conducted. The HSRD showed statistical concordance when NHIS-HEALS estimates fell within the HSRD estimate's 95% confidence interval. The HSRD and NHIS-HEALS included 946461 and 111690 participants in health screening programs, respectively. Compared to the NHIS-HEALS, the HSRD had more female (55.2% vs. 42.6%) but fewer older adult participants (34.4% vs. 51.2%). Virtually all variables had clinical concordance, with some having statistical concordance as well, among both general and life-transition program participants. The HSRD comprised more clinical information over a wider age range in contrast to the NHIS-HEALS, while showing clinical concordance. Providing more comprehensive clinical data, the HSRD may serve as an alternative resource for epidemiologic studies.

Menopausal hormone therapy and risk of dementia: health insurance database in South Korea-based retrospective cohort study

“…We conducted a retrospective study based on the national population by investigating data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) in Korea from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2019. Korea’s health insurance system was integrated into a single system operated by the National Health Insurance Corporation in 2000 ( Seong et al, 2017 ; Noh et al, 2019 ). Since the National Health Insurance covers most people living in Korea (about 51 million people), most disease health insurance information (age, sex, diagnostic name, surgical name, and prescription) can be checked, except for procedures not covered by insurance, such as plastic surgery ( Kim et al, 2014 ; Noh et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Korea’s health insurance system was integrated into a single system operated by the National Health Insurance Corporation in 2000 ( Seong et al, 2017 ; Noh et al, 2019 ). Since the National Health Insurance covers most people living in Korea (about 51 million people), most disease health insurance information (age, sex, diagnostic name, surgical name, and prescription) can be checked, except for procedures not covered by insurance, such as plastic surgery ( Kim et al, 2014 ; Noh et al, 2019 ). In addition, the NHIS recommends that employees and insured people aged ≥40 years undergo free cardiovascular health checkups every other year and that physical labor workers should be examined every year ( Seong et al, 2017 ).…”