Incidence Trends of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Korea for 11 Years (2006–2017)

Background/Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by joint damage. However, no incidence analyses have been conducted on a Korean population since 2013. We aimed to calculate the incidence of RA and examine trends using complete Korean National Health...

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Main Authors: Hanna Lee, Sang-Il Lee, Hyunjin Lim, Hyun-Ok Kim, Rock Bum Kim, Yun-Hong Cheon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Clinics and Practice
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2039-7283/14/6/193
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author Hanna Lee
Sang-Il Lee
Hyunjin Lim
Hyun-Ok Kim
Rock Bum Kim
Yun-Hong Cheon
author_facet Hanna Lee
Sang-Il Lee
Hyunjin Lim
Hyun-Ok Kim
Rock Bum Kim
Yun-Hong Cheon
author_sort Hanna Lee
collection DOAJ
description Background/Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by joint damage. However, no incidence analyses have been conducted on a Korean population since 2013. We aimed to calculate the incidence of RA and examine trends using complete Korean National Health Insurance Service claims data from 2007. Methods: We used 16 years of Korean NHIS claims data from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2017. Patients were defined as having RA when diagnosed with ICD-10 codes M05 and M06. We set the 5-year period prior to 2006 as disease-free. Results: From 2007 to 2017, the incidence rate of RA was 35 to 43 per 100,000 individuals. The female-to-male ratio was approximately 3–3.5 to 1. The sex-standardized incidence rate was highest in the 60–69 age group but gradually declined, resulting in a reversal in 2017, with the highest incidence rate observed in the 50–59 age group. The incidence of elderly onset RA (EORA) in individuals aged >60 years exhibited a decreasing trend during the study period (age 60–69, −6.45, 95% CI = −8.27 to −4.62, <i>p</i> < 0.001; age ≥70, −6.09, 95% CI = −7.66 to −4.53, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Conclusions: This study is the first to analyze the incidence trend of RA over an 11-year period. In South Korea, the incidence of RA has shown a decreasing trend since 2011; the same trend was observed in the EORA group. Young-onset RA showed the opposite trend, suggesting that RA is diagnosed earlier, due to the new RA classification criteria.
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spelling doaj-art-e8a1e7b1ac8b45368546fa53a75560662025-08-20T02:55:40ZengMDPI AGClinics and Practice2039-72832024-11-011462475248310.3390/clinpract14060193Incidence Trends of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Korea for 11 Years (2006–2017)Hanna Lee0Sang-Il Lee1Hyunjin Lim2Hyun-Ok Kim3Rock Bum Kim4Yun-Hong Cheon5Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Changwon 51472, Republic of KoreaDivision of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju 52727, Republic of KoreaDivision of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju 52727, Republic of KoreaDivision of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Changwon 51472, Republic of KoreaRegional Cardiocerebrovascular Disease Center, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju 52727, Republic of KoreaDivision of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju 52727, Republic of KoreaBackground/Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by joint damage. However, no incidence analyses have been conducted on a Korean population since 2013. We aimed to calculate the incidence of RA and examine trends using complete Korean National Health Insurance Service claims data from 2007. Methods: We used 16 years of Korean NHIS claims data from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2017. Patients were defined as having RA when diagnosed with ICD-10 codes M05 and M06. We set the 5-year period prior to 2006 as disease-free. Results: From 2007 to 2017, the incidence rate of RA was 35 to 43 per 100,000 individuals. The female-to-male ratio was approximately 3–3.5 to 1. The sex-standardized incidence rate was highest in the 60–69 age group but gradually declined, resulting in a reversal in 2017, with the highest incidence rate observed in the 50–59 age group. The incidence of elderly onset RA (EORA) in individuals aged >60 years exhibited a decreasing trend during the study period (age 60–69, −6.45, 95% CI = −8.27 to −4.62, <i>p</i> < 0.001; age ≥70, −6.09, 95% CI = −7.66 to −4.53, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Conclusions: This study is the first to analyze the incidence trend of RA over an 11-year period. In South Korea, the incidence of RA has shown a decreasing trend since 2011; the same trend was observed in the EORA group. Young-onset RA showed the opposite trend, suggesting that RA is diagnosed earlier, due to the new RA classification criteria.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-7283/14/6/193rheumatoid arthritisincidenceautoimmune disease
spellingShingle Hanna Lee
Sang-Il Lee
Hyunjin Lim
Hyun-Ok Kim
Rock Bum Kim
Yun-Hong Cheon
Incidence Trends of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Korea for 11 Years (2006–2017)
Clinics and Practice
rheumatoid arthritis
incidence
autoimmune disease
title Incidence Trends of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Korea for 11 Years (2006–2017)
title_full Incidence Trends of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Korea for 11 Years (2006–2017)
title_fullStr Incidence Trends of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Korea for 11 Years (2006–2017)
title_full_unstemmed Incidence Trends of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Korea for 11 Years (2006–2017)
title_short Incidence Trends of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Korea for 11 Years (2006–2017)
title_sort incidence trends of rheumatoid arthritis in korea for 11 years 2006 2017
topic rheumatoid arthritis
incidence
autoimmune disease
url https://www.mdpi.com/2039-7283/14/6/193
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