The number of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, has been steadily rising for the past five years, and nearly eight out of 10 HCC patients were male, government data showed.

According to the National Health Insurance Service’s data on HCC care, the number of HCC patients increased to 64,525 last year, up by 5,485 compared to 2017. In addition, the number grew by 2.2 percent annually for five years from 2017 to 2021.

The growth rate was similar between men and women, but the number of male HCC patients was overwhelmingly larger than that of female counterparts.

During the last five years, the number of male HCC patients climbed 9.2 percent to 49,777, and that of female patients, 9.6 percent to 14,848.

Among the total 64,525 HCC patients, 77 percent were men.

HCC accounted for the largest proportion of liver cancer cases.

In 2021, 80,853 patients received medical care due to liver cancer, and 79.8 percent were HCC patients.

Other types of liver cancer include:

ㆍIntrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (12.9 percent).

ㆍUnspecified liver cancer (6.5 percent).

ㆍOther liver cancer (0.4 percent).

ㆍHepatoblastoma (0.3 percent).

ㆍHepatovascular sarcoma (0.1 percent).

ㆍOther hepatosarcoma (0.1 percent).

By age group, people in their 60s took up 36.7 percent of HCC patients, followed by 70s with 26.3 percent, and 50s with 19.9 percent.

The total cost for HCC care recorded 553.2 billion won ($421.8 million) in 2021, up 19.7 percent from 2017. The cost expanded at an annual growth rate of 4.3 percent.

The per-capita HCC treatment cost also went up 8.4 percent from 7.91 million won in 2017 to 8.57 million won in 2021.

HCC patients in their 20s had the highest medical expenses.

Medical expenses were the largest among HCC patients in their 20s, with per-capital cost hitting 11.37 million won in 2021.