Ten-Year Trends of Intravitreal Injection in South Korea Using the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service Data.

PURPOSE: This study aims to analyze the annual trends of intravitreal injection (IVI) in South Korea. METHODS: This retrospective study examined data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA)'s Health and Medical Big Data Open Portal. We investigated the number of patients who underwent IVIs and the total number of IVIs in Korea using the procedure code from 2014 to 2023, categorized by age group and type of healthcare facility. Patients aged under 40 years were excluded from the analysis. Additionally, trends in healthcare expenditures were analyzed. RESULTS: The number of patients undergoing IVI and the total number of IVI increased steadily, resulting in 92,124 patients (178.1 patients per 100,000 persons) and 291,784 injections in 2023, which contributed to an increase in medical expenses. The analysis of 10-year age intervals revealed that patients in their 70s were the most frequent recipients of IVI. The prevalence of IVI at primary healthcare facilities has been steadily increasing, from 20% in 2014 to 33% in 2023. CONCLUSIONS: The patients receiving IVI and the total number of IVI have been steadily increasing, particularly in primary healthcare settings. Overall, medical expenses continue to rise. The findings of this study provide valuable evidence for the efficient allocation of medical resources in the future.