Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, 155, Sec.2 Li-Nong Street, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
Ann Nucl Med. 2011 Dec;25(10):818-24. doi: 10.1007/s12149-011-0527-6. Epub 2011 Aug 19.
To analyze the utilization of nuclear medicine scintigraphy in the Taiwanese population within the national health-care system between 1997 and 2009.
Based on the Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database of 1997-2009, a retrospective population-based analysis was conducted. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were employed to analyze the frequencies and longitudinal trends in the utilization of diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures during the period. In addition, correlation analysis was applied to determine the correlated factors in the utility of nuclear medicine scintigraphy.
The annual total nuclear medicine scintigraphy was estimated to be 256,389 on average in 1997-2009 and 11.7 per 1,000 population over the period. The frequency had increased by 67% over the years, from 8.2 per 1,000 population in 1997 to 13.7 per 1,000 population in 2009. The most frequently performed procedures were whole-body bone scans (33.4% of total) and myocardial perfusion scans (29.4% of total), with 4,615 and 5,620 increments per year, respectively. Most patients were in the age group of 41-65 years old when taking examinations. In addition, male subjects were slightly more than female patients (51.5 vs. 48.5%). Furthermore, the frequencies of whole-body bone scans and PET scans were proportional to the incidences of cancers (correlation coefficients were 0.96 and 0.94, respectively).
The utilization of nuclear medicine scintigraphy with the National Health Insurance system in Taiwan has been changed considerably in the past 13 years. Both whole-body bone scan and myocardial perfusion scan were performed most often with significantly increases. The trend of nuclear medicine scintigraphy may have potential impact on making health-care policy in Taiwan.
分析 1997 年至 2009 年间台湾全民健保体系下核医学闪烁扫描的利用情况。
基于 1997-2009 年台湾全民健保研究数据库，进行了一项回顾性人群分析。采用描述性统计和回归分析，分析了该期间诊断性核医学程序利用的频率和纵向趋势。此外，还应用相关性分析确定核医学闪烁扫描利用的相关因素。
1997-2009 年平均每年核医学闪烁扫描总量估计为 256389 次，期间每千人中有 11.7 次。多年来，频率增加了 67%，从 1997 年的每千人 8.2 次增加到 2009 年的每千人 13.7 次。最常进行的程序是全身骨扫描（占总数的 33.4%）和心肌灌注扫描（占总数的 29.4%），每年分别增加 4615 次和 5620 次。大多数接受检查的患者年龄在 41-65 岁之间。此外，男性略多于女性患者（51.5%比 48.5%）。此外，全身骨扫描和 PET 扫描的频率与癌症的发病率成正比（相关系数分别为 0.96 和 0.94）。
台湾全民健保体系下核医学闪烁扫描的利用在过去 13 年中发生了很大变化。全身骨扫描和心肌灌注扫描是最常进行的检查，且数量显著增加。核医学闪烁扫描的趋势可能对台湾制定医疗保健政策产生潜在影响。
