Recent Trends in Pediatric Rehabilitation Utilization and Availability in South Korea: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

Objective: To analyze recent trends in the supply and demand of pediatric rehabilitation in South Korea.Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study using National Health Insurance Service claims data from 2019 to 2023. Pediatric patients with conditions potentially requiring rehabilitation were identified across 28 disease categories, including those in the pediatric rehabilitation medical institution pilot project. Yearly numbers of prevalent cases, therapy participation, and hospital availability were examined. Pediatric rehabilitation hospitals (PRHs) were operationally defined as hospitals providing more than 50 rehabilitation claims annually for children aged six years or younger.Results: The number of pediatric patients with conditions potentially requiring rehabilitation increased steadily over the study period, while hospitals providing pediatric rehabilitation services and PRHs both decreased. Delayed development (R62) claims nearly doubled, consistent with trends reported globally, and may indicate more effective utilization of healthcare resources for the early detection of developmental concerns. Cerebral palsy maintained high therapy participation rates despite declining prevalence. In contrast, intellectual disability and psychological developmental disorders showed rising prevalence but consistently low therapy participation.Conclusion: This study highlights a discrepancy between the increasing number of pediatric patients with conditions potentially requiring rehabilitation and the limited expansion of rehabilitation services in South Korea. The increase in delayed development cases and persistently low rehabilitation therapy rates among children with intellectual disabilities and psychological developmental disorders, together with regional disparities in access, suggest a need to further strengthen institutional capacity and promote equitable access to pediatric rehabilitation services.