By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter


The nation has seen a large increase in the number of cancer patients since 1995, with the number of colon cancer patients rising more than four times, according to the National Health Insurance Corporation Thursday.




The number of colon cancer patients was 4.2 times higher compared to 1995, and that of breast cancer rose 3.9 times, thyroid cancer 3.6 times, pancreas cancer 2.7 times and lung cancer 2.5 times.
The corporation attributes the soaring figure to the growing number of people with western-style eating habits, the increased population of elderly and patients more actively undertaking medical check-ups than before.

Among inpatients who visited the hospital last year, piles patients topped the list, followed by those with pneumonia, cataracts, appendicitis and cerebral infarction.

In 1995, appendicitis came in at number one, followed by pneumonia, gastroenteritis, schizophrenia, and diabetes.

During the 8 years, piles cases increased 4.4 times, cataract 4 times, spinal diseases 3.9 times, and heart attack 3.9 times.

Except for cold and dental cases, high blood pressure cases accounted for the largest number of outpatients, followed by diabetes, gastritis and duodenitis. In 1995, hospitals saw gastritis and duodenitis outpatients the most, followed by high blood pressure and cataract patients.

Prostatomegaly cases also increased 11.8 times, osteoporosis 10 times, mental depression 6.5 times, knee-joint pain 5.5 times, and high blood pressure 5 times since 1995.

``The change in kinds of diseases reflects the extended average lifespan and increase in the number of elderly,’’ an official of the corporation said.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr