Prevalence and disease experience rates in Korean physicians

This study aimed to find out the morbid status of Korean physicians living in Korea, as one part of a feasibility study on the Korean physician cohort. It was performed by mail survey using a self-administered questionnaire from Jan. 1, 1995 through Dec. 31, 1995. Study subjects were 21,552 including 17,877 (81.1%) males and 3,384 (15.5%) females. Person based prevalence rate of disease was 17.7% (18.3% for males and 13.8% for females) with the rate increasing with age. The disease group showing the highest prevalence rate was circulatory diseases (5.16%) for males, and respiratory disease (3.13%) for females. The individual disease showing the highest prevalence rates was hypertension (3.77%) for males and allergic rhinitis (2.25%) for females. The person based disease experience rate was 36.2% (36.9% for males, 32.7% for females) with the rate increasing with age. The disease group showing the highest disease experience rate was digestive disease for both sexes (10.05% for males, 7.42% for females). Individual disease showing the highest disease experience rate was hypertension (5.00%) for males and allergic rhinitis (4.08%) for females. There were different ranks of both prevalence and disease experience rate depending on age in both sexes.