Sick Throat and Back from Staying Home... 1 in 5 People Suffer from 'VDT Syndrome'

Over 51.34 Million Patients in 5 Years... Medical Expenses Exceed 9 Trillion Won

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), with the increase in remote work and online classes, it has been found that one in five people in the nation suffers from 'VDT (visual display terminal syndrome) syndrome.' VDT syndrome refers to symptoms caused by prolonged use of smartphones or computers, with common examples including dry eyes, turtle neck syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, and myofascial pain syndrome.

According to data submitted by the National Health Insurance Service to Kim Won-i, a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee (Democratic Party), from 2015 to June of this year, the number of patients treated for VDT syndrome reached 51,343,060 (including duplicates). The number increased annually from 8,652,632 in 2015 to 9,199,860 in 2017, and last year, 9,557,866 patients received treatment for related symptoms.

This year, due to the impact of COVID-19, with the rise in remote work and online classes, over 5.44 million people have already received treatment in the first half of the year. Accordingly, the annual number of patients is expected to exceed 10 million for the first time ever. Representative Kim explained, "One in five people in the nation receives treatment for VDT syndrome."

Along with the increase in patients, medical expenses have also surged. Last year's total medical expenses amounted to 1.9262 trillion won, about 1.5 times that of 2015 (1.3408 trillion won). The cumulative medical expenses over the past five years have exceeded 9 trillion won.

Most notably, the increase in middle-aged and elderly patients stands out. Among last year's patients, those aged 50 to 70 and above accounted for more than half (56.9%). Representative Kim stated, "The age group with the highest increase among all age groups was those in their 60s," adding, "Over the past five years, the number of patients in their 60s increased by 26%, while those in their 20s, who are expected to use smart devices frequently, increased by about 17%."

The steady annual increase in the proportion of elderly patients is also noteworthy. The proportion of patients in their 60s rose from 16.3% in 2015 to 20.8% in the first half of this year, while those aged 70 and above increased from 14.0% to 16.7% during the same period.

Kim Won-i, member of the Democratic Party of Korea

Representative Kim said, "This year, due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for contactless culture and media content has increased, and with the rise in online classes, more patients with VDT syndrome are expected to emerge," adding, "If mistaken for simple fatigue and left untreated, it can progress to complications, so the health authorities need to promote prevention and establish early diagnosis and treatment systems."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.