Due to the increase in the elderly population, the number of osteoporosis patients, most of whom are women aged 60 and older, is also steadily rising. Annual medical expenses for osteoporosis treatment have exceeded 300 billion won ($237 million) in 2021.

The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) said Thursday that the number of osteoporosis patients jumped 24.6 percent, from 913,852 in 2017 to 1,138,840 in 2021, recording an annual increase of 5.8 percent on average.

Women accounted for 94 percent of osteoporosis patients in 2021. Compared to 2017, women in their 70s and 60s marked a growth rate of 91.9 percent and 96.0 percent.

Women in their 70s showed the highest growth rate of 20.6 percent, followed by the 60s (19.1 percent), 50s (12.4 percent), over-80s (13.9 percent), 40s (3.3 percent), and under-30s (0.3 percent).

"Women experience menopause in their late 40s or early 50s when there occurs a serious imbalance in which there is about 90 percent increase in bone absorption compared to only 45 percent growth in bone formation due to the fall in estrogen, resulting in bone loss and making them more vulnerable to osteoporosis,” said Professor Shin Seong-jae of the Endocrine Department at NHIS Ilsan Hospital.

The number of patients per 100,000 jumped from 1,794 in 2017 to 2,215 in 2021, with women accounting for most of the increase. Male patients increased from 219 to 255 over the period, while female patients soared from 3,381 to 4,181.

Over the five years, medical expenses for osteoporosis soared by more than 50 percent to exceed 300 billion won. Health insurance payments rose by a slightly faster rate of 51.9 percent, from 215.2 billion won to 326.8 billion won, recording an annual average growth rate of 11.0 percent.

Patients in their 60s paid the highest medical bills with 116.8 billion won, followed by 70s (103.1 billion won) and 80s (57.9 billion won).

Per capita medical bills grew by 21.9 percent, from 235,000 won to 287,000 won during the period. Patients over 80 paid the highest per capita medical expense of 347,551 won in 2021, according to the NHIS analysis.