Cataracts Led Hospitalizations Last Year; Dementia Incurred Highest Medical Costs

Cataracts were the leading cause of hospital admissions in South Korea last year, according to data from the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA). The statistics for 2025 reveal that 352,705 patients were hospitalized for senile cataracts, making it the primary reason for inpatient care.

The healthcare costs associated with these cataract hospitalizations amounted to 613.96 billion won. The number of patients hospitalized for cataracts has shown a consistent annual increase of approximately 4-5%, rising from 320,061 in 2023 to 337,270 in 2024, and reaching 352,705 last year.

In contrast, Alzheimer's disease generated the highest healthcare expenditure, totaling over 1.93 trillion won in 2025. While the number of hospitalizations for Alzheimer's was 132,449, a slight increase from the previous year, it ranked ninth in terms of admission reasons, up from tenth.

Other significant causes for hospitalization included "infectious and unspecified gastroenteritis and colitis," which ranked second with 267,030 admissions, and conditions caused by "infectious agents of unspecified or unknown origin," which placed third. The data highlights the significant burden of age-related diseases and gastrointestinal issues on the nation's healthcare system.