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Original Article
- Age- and disability-based trends in potentially preventable hospitalizations: evidence from nationwide claims data in Korea
- Hyejung Yoon, Boyoung Jeon, Seyune Lee, Daesung Choi, Se-Youn Jung, Dong-Min Son, Yong Joo Rhee, Juhyeon Moon, So Youn Park, In-Hwan Oh, Young-il Jung
- Epidemiol Health. 2026;48:e2026012. Published online February 27, 2026
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2026012
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AbstractOBJECTIVES
Individuals with disabilities are at greater risk of hospitalization than the general population. We examined 10-year trends in potentially preventable hospitalizations (PPH) in Korea, comparing individuals with and without disabilities and assessing age-specific patterns.METHODSUsing National Health Information Database claims data (2010–2019), we established a fixed cohort of newly registered individuals with disabilities and control subjects statistically matched (1:1.5) at baseline. Annual PPH rates among patients with each condition were calculated and age- and sex-standardized according to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Health Care Quality Indicators definitions. Trends and annual percent changes (APCs) were analyzed by disability status and age group (non-older: 30–64; older adults: ≥65 years).RESULTSBetween 2010 and 2019, PPH rates declined significantly in both groups. Among individuals with disabilities, the steepest decline was observed for hypertension (APC, −15.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI], −17.7 to −13.7), whereas congestive heart failure showed the largest reduction among individuals without disabilities (APC, −7.8%; 95% CI, −10.8 to −4.7). Declines were generally greater among non-older adults aged 30–64 years, regardless of disability status. The disparity between disability and non-disability groups narrowed over the decade, primarily due to larger improvements among non-older adults. Older adults with disabilities consistently exhibited the highest PPH rates for most conditions, whereas younger individuals with disabilities had the highest rates for diabetes.CONCLUSIONSPPH rates declined over the decade among both individuals with and without disabilities, particularly for hypertension and among non-older adults. However, older adults with disabilities remain at elevated risk, underscoring the need for targeted strategies to improve access to community-based primary care. -
SummaryKorean summary
2010–2019년 한국의 예방가능입원(PPH)은 장애인·비장애인 모두에서 감소했으며, 특히 고혈압과 65세 미만에서 가장 두드러졌다. 장애인-비장애인 간 격차는 감소하고 있으나 여전히 존재했고, 특히 당뇨와 고령 장애인에서 두드러졌다. 이러한 격차의 감소에도 불구하고 고령 장애인이 직면한 높은 PPH 위험은 지속되고 있으며, 이는 지역사회 중심의 일차의료 접근성을 강화하기 위한 맞춤형 전략 수립이 시급함을 시사한다.Key Message
This study examined trends in potentially preventable hospitalizations (PPH) in Korea from 2010 to 2019,comparing individuals with and without disabilities. Overall, PPH rates declined in both groups, with the largest reductions observed for hypertension and among adults aged 30–64 years. Disability-related disparities also narrowed over time; however, they persisted, particularly for diabetes and among older adults with disabilities. Despite narrowing disparities, the persistently high PPH risk among older adults with disabilities underscores the urgent need for targeted strategies to enhance access to community-based primary care.
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