Epidemiology of SLE in Italy: an observational study using a primary care database

Objectives To estimate the incidence and prevalence of SLE in Italy, and to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with newly diagnosed SLE.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using The Health Improvement Network general practice database in Italy, encompass...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pietro Ferrara, Giacomo Emmi, Lorenzo G Mantovani, Alessandra Bettiol, Giampiero Mazzaglia, Carla Fornari, Cristiana Borrelli, Irene Mattioli, Manuel Zamparini, Ippazio C Antonazzo, Silvia Boarino, Pasquale Palladino, Elena Zanzottera Ferrari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2024-05-01
Series:Lupus Science and Medicine
Online Access:https://lupus.bmj.com/content/11/1/e001162.full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850247730787516416
author Pietro Ferrara
Giacomo Emmi
Lorenzo G Mantovani
Alessandra Bettiol
Giampiero Mazzaglia
Carla Fornari
Cristiana Borrelli
Irene Mattioli
Manuel Zamparini
Ippazio C Antonazzo
Silvia Boarino
Pasquale Palladino
Elena Zanzottera Ferrari
author_facet Pietro Ferrara
Giacomo Emmi
Lorenzo G Mantovani
Alessandra Bettiol
Giampiero Mazzaglia
Carla Fornari
Cristiana Borrelli
Irene Mattioli
Manuel Zamparini
Ippazio C Antonazzo
Silvia Boarino
Pasquale Palladino
Elena Zanzottera Ferrari
author_sort Pietro Ferrara
collection DOAJ
description Objectives To estimate the incidence and prevalence of SLE in Italy, and to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with newly diagnosed SLE.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using The Health Improvement Network general practice database in Italy, encompassing data from 634 753 people. SLE cases were identified over the period 2017–2022, employing three alternative definitions to provide a more detailed understanding of SLE characteristics. Incidence rates were expressed as cases per 100 000 person-years and prevalence as cases per 100 000 people. Demographic and clinical characteristics of incident SLE cases were also studied.Results From 2017 to 2022, a total of 191 incident and 1385 prevalent cases were identified under our first definition. In 2022, the incidence rate was 6.51 cases (95% CI 6.29 to 6.74) per 100 000 person-years, and the prevalence 60.57 (95% CI 59.89 to 61.25) per 100 000 people, being the prevalence five times higher in women compared with men. Both estimates have trended upwards since 2017. A geographical variation across the country was also seen. The demographic and clinical characteristics of incident SLE cases were described, while the potential associations of SLE incidence with some pre-existing conditions were observed, such as chronic kidney disease, chronic hepatic disease, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren’s syndrome.Conclusions The results of this nationwide study, the first conducted in Italy, showed that the incidence of SLE has increased in Italy in recent years. Age, sex, and area of residence strongly correlate with the epidemiology of this condition.
format Article
id doaj-art-31596cd7b31742e08dc3cd315d7777b2
institution OA Journals
issn 2053-8790
language English
publishDate 2024-05-01
publisher BMJ Publishing Group
record_format Article
series Lupus Science and Medicine
spelling doaj-art-31596cd7b31742e08dc3cd315d7777b22025-08-20T01:58:51ZengBMJ Publishing GroupLupus Science and Medicine2053-87902024-05-0111110.1136/lupus-2024-001162Epidemiology of SLE in Italy: an observational study using a primary care databasePietro Ferrara0Giacomo Emmi1Lorenzo G Mantovani2Alessandra Bettiol3Giampiero Mazzaglia4Carla Fornari5Cristiana Borrelli6Irene Mattioli7Manuel Zamparini8Ippazio C Antonazzo9Silvia Boarino10Pasquale Palladino11Elena Zanzottera Ferrari12Laboratory of Public Health, Istituto Auxologico Italiano Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Milano, ItalyDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Firenze, ItalyCenter for Public Health Research, University of Milan-Bicocca, Monza, ItalyDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Firenze, ItalyCenter for Public Health Research, University of Milan-Bicocca, Monza, ItalyCenter for Public Health Research, University of Milan-Bicocca, Monza, ItalyMedical Affairs Department, AstraZeneca, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Firenze, ItalyCenter for Public Health Research, University of Milan-Bicocca, Monza, ItalyCenter for Public Health Research, University of Milan-Bicocca, Monza, ItalyMedical Affairs Department, AstraZeneca, Milan, ItalyCegedim Health Data, Milan, ItalyCegedim Health Data, Milan, ItalyObjectives To estimate the incidence and prevalence of SLE in Italy, and to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with newly diagnosed SLE.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using The Health Improvement Network general practice database in Italy, encompassing data from 634 753 people. SLE cases were identified over the period 2017–2022, employing three alternative definitions to provide a more detailed understanding of SLE characteristics. Incidence rates were expressed as cases per 100 000 person-years and prevalence as cases per 100 000 people. Demographic and clinical characteristics of incident SLE cases were also studied.Results From 2017 to 2022, a total of 191 incident and 1385 prevalent cases were identified under our first definition. In 2022, the incidence rate was 6.51 cases (95% CI 6.29 to 6.74) per 100 000 person-years, and the prevalence 60.57 (95% CI 59.89 to 61.25) per 100 000 people, being the prevalence five times higher in women compared with men. Both estimates have trended upwards since 2017. A geographical variation across the country was also seen. The demographic and clinical characteristics of incident SLE cases were described, while the potential associations of SLE incidence with some pre-existing conditions were observed, such as chronic kidney disease, chronic hepatic disease, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren’s syndrome.Conclusions The results of this nationwide study, the first conducted in Italy, showed that the incidence of SLE has increased in Italy in recent years. Age, sex, and area of residence strongly correlate with the epidemiology of this condition.https://lupus.bmj.com/content/11/1/e001162.full
spellingShingle Pietro Ferrara
Giacomo Emmi
Lorenzo G Mantovani
Alessandra Bettiol
Giampiero Mazzaglia
Carla Fornari
Cristiana Borrelli
Irene Mattioli
Manuel Zamparini
Ippazio C Antonazzo
Silvia Boarino
Pasquale Palladino
Elena Zanzottera Ferrari
Epidemiology of SLE in Italy: an observational study using a primary care database
Lupus Science and Medicine
title Epidemiology of SLE in Italy: an observational study using a primary care database
title_full Epidemiology of SLE in Italy: an observational study using a primary care database
title_fullStr Epidemiology of SLE in Italy: an observational study using a primary care database
title_full_unstemmed Epidemiology of SLE in Italy: an observational study using a primary care database
title_short Epidemiology of SLE in Italy: an observational study using a primary care database
title_sort epidemiology of sle in italy an observational study using a primary care database
url https://lupus.bmj.com/content/11/1/e001162.full
work_keys_str_mv AT pietroferrara epidemiologyofsleinitalyanobservationalstudyusingaprimarycaredatabase
AT giacomoemmi epidemiologyofsleinitalyanobservationalstudyusingaprimarycaredatabase
AT lorenzogmantovani epidemiologyofsleinitalyanobservationalstudyusingaprimarycaredatabase
AT alessandrabettiol epidemiologyofsleinitalyanobservationalstudyusingaprimarycaredatabase
AT giampieromazzaglia epidemiologyofsleinitalyanobservationalstudyusingaprimarycaredatabase
AT carlafornari epidemiologyofsleinitalyanobservationalstudyusingaprimarycaredatabase
AT cristianaborrelli epidemiologyofsleinitalyanobservationalstudyusingaprimarycaredatabase
AT irenemattioli epidemiologyofsleinitalyanobservationalstudyusingaprimarycaredatabase
AT manuelzamparini epidemiologyofsleinitalyanobservationalstudyusingaprimarycaredatabase
AT ippaziocantonazzo epidemiologyofsleinitalyanobservationalstudyusingaprimarycaredatabase
AT silviaboarino epidemiologyofsleinitalyanobservationalstudyusingaprimarycaredatabase
AT pasqualepalladino epidemiologyofsleinitalyanobservationalstudyusingaprimarycaredatabase
AT elenazanzotteraferrari epidemiologyofsleinitalyanobservationalstudyusingaprimarycaredatabase