Factors Associated with Combination Therapy Involving Traditional Korean Medicine in Pediatric Allergic Rhinitis Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using National Health Insurance Data

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Allergic rhinitis (AR) significantly affects patients' quality of life and poses a substantial burden on healthcare systems worldwide, with its prevalence rising among pediatric populations. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with the use of combination therapy involving traditional Korean medicine (KM) and conventional medicine in pediatric AR patients using large-scale health insurance data from South Korea. <b>Methods</b>: Data from 696,182 pediatric patients diagnosed with AR between 2018 and 2021 were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify factors influencing KM therapy utilization. <b>Results</b>: Among these, 61,745 patients received KM combination therapy. The key predictors of KM combination therapy utilization included school-age children, the winter season, and comorbidities such as rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. Patients receiving KM combination therapy had longer treatment durations and incurred higher healthcare costs compared to those on conventional therapy alone. Additionally, seasonal variations and demographic factors, including a decline in KM use during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, were observed. Conclusions: The findings suggest that integrating KM into pediatric AR treatment may offer potential benefits, especially for children with comorbidities or during the winter months. These insights could guide the development of targeted healthcare policies and strategies to optimize treatment outcomes for pediatric AR patients.