Incidence and prevalence of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis among Korean women of childbearing age: a nationwide population-based study

Abstract

Background/Aims: Women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are often diagnosed with the disease during their reproductive years; however, its incidence and prevalence among women of childbearing age have not been studied. The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence and prevalence of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (SPRA) among Korean women of childbearing age.Methods: Women aged 20 to 44 years with SPRA were identified from National Health Insurance Service-National Health Information Database (2009 to 2016). SPRA was defined by International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision code, M05. Incidence and prevalence were calculated per 100,000 person-years and stratified by year and age.Results: The average incidence and prevalence of SPRA from 2011 to 2016 among women of childbearing age was 24.1/100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 23.7 to 24.5) and 105.2/100,000 person-years (95% CI, 100.9 to 109.5), respectively. The incidence increased annually from 21.0/100,000 person-years (95% CI, 20.1 to 21.9) in 2009 to 28.4 person-years (95% CI, 27.3 to 29.5) in 2016. Similarly, the prevalence increased annually from 95.7/100,000 person-years (95% CI, 93.7 to 97.6) in 2009 to 111.0 person-years (95% CI, 108.9 to 113.2) in 2015, with a slight decrease in 2016 (110.4 person-years; 95% CI, 108.2 to 112.6). The incidence and prevalence of SPRA increased with advancing age. The peak age for both incidence and prevalence of SPRA among women of childbearing age was 40 to 44 years.Conclusions: The risk of SPRA is high in women during their childbearing years; this population bears a significant disease burden. This calls for special attention to this particular population group to reduce the risk and burden of this disease.

Global, regional and national temporal trends in prevalence for musculoskeletal disorders in women of childbearing age, 1990–2019: an age-period-cohort analysis based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

“…Previous nationwide population-based study in Korea revealed an annual increase in the incidence and prevalence of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in WCBA 6. Furthermore, WCBA with rheumatic diseases in Korea was found to have higher burden of comorbidities and medication use than those without rheumatic diseases at the same age 7.…”

“…The risk of prevalence for MSK disorders in WCBA is not only affected by physiological age but also altered by different periods. It has been reported that the prevalence of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in WCBA increased with advancing age 6. The distinctions in exposure to environmental risk factors,8 as well as advances in medical technology and public health policy relating to the precaution and management of MSK disorders in different periods impact the prevalence risk significantly.…”

“…Although a yearly increase in prevalence of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in WCBA was observed in Korea,6 the relative effects of age, period and birth cohort contributed to prevalence have not been investigated. Moreover, a variety of countries all over the word, including low-income, middle-income and high-income countries, lack information on prevalence trends for MSK disorders in WCBA, as well as their associations with age, period and birth cohort effects.…”

Expected impact of immunomodulatory agents during pregnancy: A newborn's perspective

“…Immune‐mediated inflammatory diseases are more frequent in women of childbearing age, some of whom may desire pregnancy 5 . For many of these patients, disease activity during pregnancy will require effective management.…”

“…Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases are more frequent in women of childbearing age, some of whom may desire pregnancy. 5 For many of these patients, disease activity during pregnancy will require effective management. Biological therapy and small molecule protein kinase inhibitors are immunomodulators that have led to a revolutionary change in medical therapy for multiple immunemediated inflammatory diseases (with high rates of success).…”