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Prevalence of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and age‐stratified trends in clinical characteristics and treatment, based on the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan
Author(s) -
Nakajima Ayako,
Sakai Ryoko,
Inoue Eisuke,
Harigai Masayoshi
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of rheumatic diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1756-185X
pISSN - 1756-1841
DOI - 10.1111/1756-185x.13974
Subject(s) - medicine , rheumatoid arthritis , abatacept , rheumatology , disease , database , rituximab , computer science , lymphoma
Aim To estimate the prevalence and age‐stratified treatment trends and clinical characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Japan. Method Using 7 RA definitions, the prevalence of RA in those aged ≥16 years was estimated using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan in the fiscal year 2017. We analyzed age‐stratified trends in characteristics and treatments. Results Of 1 116 122 patients aged ≥16 years with at least 1 RA‐related International Classification of Diseases‐10 code, 825.7 thousand patients (women, 76.3%) were assessed as having RA with an estimated prevalence of 0.65%. The highest age‐stratified prevalence was 1.63% in patients aged 70‐79 years. Overall, 60.8% and 7.0% of patients with RA were aged ≥65 years and ≥85 years, respectively. Methotrexate use was most frequent in patients aged 50‐59 years (73.0%) and least frequent in patients aged ≥85 years (38.2%). Biologic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs use was 50.9% in patients aged 16‐19 years and decreased to 13.7% in those aged ≥85 years. Preference for the use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors versus abatacept decreased from 24.0:1 to 1.7:1 in patients aged 16‐19 years and ≥85 years, respectively. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease was 3.5% in patients aged 60‐69 years and 12.1% in those aged ≥85 years. Overall RA‐related orthopedic surgeries were most prevalent in patients aged 70‐79 years. Conclusion The estimated prevalence of patients with RA in Japan was 0.65%. Age‐stratified treatment trends and clinical characteristics have been described in a super‐aged society for the first time.