Low rate of total hip replacement as reflected by a low prevalence of hip osteoarthritis in South Korea

Summary Objective We attempted to estimate the rate of total hip replacement (THR) using a national database and the prevalence of hip osteoarthritis (OA) from the reading of intravenous pyelograms (IVPs) in a Korean population. Materials Reimbursement records from all hospitals in South Korea were extracted from the Health Insurance Review Agency (HIRA) database. Records with both the procedure code corresponding to THR and containing the diagnosis code for hip OA were selected. We estimated the age- and sex-specific rates of THR from 2002 to 2006. Hip joints from 580 subjects older than 70 years old who underwent an IVP were assessed for the presence of OA. Results The rate of THR increased with age, reaching a peak over the age of 65–69 years, with the age-standardized risk ratios in women vs men of approximately 1.5. Although the rate of THR increased over the 5-year study period, it was significantly lower than that of total knee replacement (TKR) in Korean population (THR vs TKR 1:15.9). The prevalence of hip OA in the IVP cohort was 1.2% (1.7% for men and 0.7% for women). Conclusion The rate of THR was significantly lower than that of TKR in Korean population. Hip OA prevalence among the IVP subjects was 1.2%. Further studies on factors that account for the low prevalence of hip OA among Asians need to be conducted.