Use of statistical data concerning hospital morbidity in epidemiological studies on rare rheumatic diseases

Abstract

Introduction. Data validity constitutes a fundamental problem in epidemiology. An accurate estimate of the occurrence of a rare disease may require a large population study. In the case of rare diseases, all available data resources are used to estimate the occurrence rate, including statistical data concerning hospital morbidity. For life-threatening systemic vasculitides an analysis of its epidemiology is of particular importance. Objective. The main aim of the study was to present the possibilities for the use of data from hospital databases in an analysis of the epidemiology of rare diseases, using the example of particular systemic vasculitides. Results. The study shows the results of analyses performed on a population-based administrative data set concerning systemic vasculitides taken from the national hospital morbidity database prepared by the Polish National Institute of Public Health in 2004-2013. The study also discusses the main advantages and limitations of the adapted methodology. Furthermore, it proves that data from hospital databases can be used for analyzing disease incidence and prevalence, gender and territorial distribution, analysis of hospital mortality (fatality) rates, and trends in long-term observations. Conclusion. An analysis of the epidemiology of rare rheumatic diseases can contribute to a better understanding of their specificity, which can be useful in everyday clinical practice.