# Medical Costs of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease, South Korea, 2015–2019

## TL;DR

This study examines the rising medical costs of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease in South Korea, highlighting financial burdens on patients and healthcare systems.

## Contribution

The study provides a detailed cost analysis of NTM-PD management in South Korea, identifying key cost drivers and implications for public health.

## Key findings

- Median cumulative medical cost for NTM-PD patients was $5,044 over nearly 4 years of follow-up.
- Diagnostic testing and medication accounted for nearly 60% of total costs.
- Patient co-payments made up 50.2% of costs due to limited insurance coverage.

## Abstract

Nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) prevalence is a rising public health concern. We assessed the long-term healthcare systems perspective of costs incurred by 147 NTM-PD patients at a tertiary hospital in South Korea. Median cumulative total medical cost in managing NTM-PD patients was US $5,044 (interquartile range US $3,586–$9,680) over 49.7 months (interquartile range 33.0–68.2 months) of follow-up. The major cost drivers were diagnostic testing and medication, accounting for 59.6% of total costs. Higher costs were associated with hospitalization for Mycobacterium abscessus infection and pulmonary comorbidities. Of the total medical care costs, 50.2% were patient co-payments resulting from limited national health insurance coverage. As South Korea faces significant problems of poverty during old age and increasing NTM-PD prevalence, the financial and socio-economic burden of NTM-PD may become a major public health concern that should be considered with regard to adequate strategies for NTM-PD patients.