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Prevalence and incidence rates and treatment patterns of non-infectious uveitis in Japan: real-world data using a claims database

  • Clinical Investigation
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Abstract

Purpose

To estimate the nationwide, longitudinal prevalence and incidence rates and assess treatment patterns of non-infectious uveitis (NIU) in Japan.

Study design

A retrospective study.

Methods

Health insurance claims’ data of patients with NIU were extracted from the Japan Medical Data Center (JMDC) database and analyzed descriptively (data extraction period, January 2011 to May 2017). Behçet’s disease (BD), Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease, and sarcoidosis were selected as the primary diseases of NIU.

Results

From 2011 to 2016, the mean and median age of patients increased. Most (> 90%) patients were categorized as “undifferentiated NIU” (NIU without specific primary disease information after excluding BD-, VKH disease-, and sarcoidosis-associated NIU). Over 60% of patients with NIU were treated at non-hospital clinics, while the rest were treated at university, public, or other hospitals. The estimated prevalence rate of NIU was 386.5 per 100,000 persons (95% confidence interval [CI], 374.5–398.6) in 2011 and 439.3 per 100,000 persons (95% CI, 432.3–446.3) in 2016; the estimated incidence rate was 189.7 per 100,000 persons (95% CI, 181.2–198.5) in 2012 and 207.8 per 100,000 persons (95% CI, 202.2–213.5) in 2016. Most patients’ prescribed uveitis drugs were ophthalmic drops over the first 6 months after patient presentation and entry into the JMDC database, followed by systemic corticosteroids.

Conclusion

The estimated prevalence of NIU in Japan in recent years was approximately 400 with incidence of 200 per 100,000 persons.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by AbbVie GK. AbbVie GK participated in the study design; data analysis and interpretation; and writing, reviewing, and approval of the publication. We thank Prof. Ishikawa of the International University of Health and Welfare for his contribution as an advisor and database study expert, and Motohiro Okayasu, Yoko Yoshinaga, and Masahiko Nakayama, past or current AbbVie employees, for their contribution to the design of this study. Data extraction and statistical analyses were performed by JMDC Co. Ltd. and funded by AbbVie GK. Medical writing support was provided by Mami Hirano, MS, of Cactus Communications and funded by AbbVie GK.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan

    Akihiko Umazume & Hiroshi Goto

  2. Japan Community Healthcare Organization Osaka Hospital, Osaka, Japan

    Nobuyuki Ohguro

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Annabelle A. Okada

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

    Kenichi Namba

  5. Department of Clinical Medicine, Kyushu University Faculty of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan

    Koh-Hei Sonoda

  6. AbbVie GK, 3-1-21 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-0023, Japan

    Hidekazu Tsuruga & Kazuo Morita

Authors
  1. Akihiko Umazume
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  3. Annabelle A. Okada
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hidekazu Tsuruga.

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Conflict of interest

A. Umazume, None; N. Ohguro, None; A. A. Okada, Grants (Bayer, Novartis, Santen, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Alcon), Consulting fees (Bayer, AbbVie, Astellas, Biocon Biologics, Daiichi Sankyo, Allergan, Chugai), Lecture fees (Bayer, Kowa, Novartis, Santen, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Senju, Alcon, Otsuka); K. Namba, Grant (AbbVie, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Eisai, EP-CRSU), Lecture fee (Alcon, Pfizer, Novartis, Kowa, Senju, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Eisai, AbbVie, Santen, Celgene); K. Sonoda, None; H. Goto, None; H. Tsuruga and K. Morita are employees of AbbVie GK and may receive stock.

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Corresponding Author: Hidekazu Tsuruga

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Umazume, A., Ohguro, N., Okada, A.A. et al. Prevalence and incidence rates and treatment patterns of non-infectious uveitis in Japan: real-world data using a claims database. Jpn J Ophthalmol 65, 657–665 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-021-00850-8

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