OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of systemic sclerosis (SSc) using population-based administrative data, and to assess the sensitivity of case ascertainment approaches. METHODS: We ascertained SSc cases from Quebec physician billing and hospitalization databases (covering approximately 7.5 million individuals). Three case definition algorithms were compared, and statistical methods accounting for imperfect case ascertainment were used to estimate SSc prevalence and case ascertainment sensitivity. A hierarchical Bayesian latent class regression model that accounted for possible between-test dependence conditional on disease status estimated the effect of patient characteristics on SSc prevalence and the sensitivity of the 3 ascertainment algorithms. RESULTS: Accounting for error inherent in both the billing and the hospitalization data, we estimated SSc prevalence in 2003 at 74.4 cases per 100,000 women (95% credible interval [95% CrI] 69.3-79.7) and 13.3 cases per 100,000 men (95% CrI 11.1-16.1). Prevalence was higher for older individuals, particularly in urban women (161.2 cases per 100,000, 95% CrI 148.6-175.0). Prevalence was lowest in young men (in rural areas, as low as 2.8 cases per 100,000, 95% CrI 1.4-4.8). In general, no single algorithm was very sensitive, with point estimates for sensitivity ranging from 20-73%. CONCLUSION: We found marked differences in SSc prevalence according to age, sex, and region. In general, no single case ascertainment approach was very sensitive for SSc. Therefore, using data from multiple sources, with adjustment for the imperfect nature of each, is an important strategy in population-based studies of SSc and similar conditions.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of systemic sclerosis (SSc) using population-based administrative data, and to assess the sensitivity of case ascertainment approaches. METHODS: We ascertained SSc cases from Quebec physician billing and hospitalization databases (covering approximately 7.5 million individuals). Three case definition algorithms were compared, and statistical methods accounting for imperfect case ascertainment were used to estimate SSc prevalence and case ascertainment sensitivity. A hierarchical Bayesian latent class regression model that accounted for possible between-test dependence conditional on disease status estimated the effect of patient characteristics on SSc prevalence and the sensitivity of the 3 ascertainment algorithms. RESULTS: Accounting for error inherent in both the billing and the hospitalization data, we estimated SSc prevalence in 2003 at 74.4 cases per 100,000 women (95% credible interval [95% CrI] 69.3-79.7) and 13.3 cases per 100,000 men (95% CrI 11.1-16.1). Prevalence was higher for older individuals, particularly in urban women (161.2 cases per 100,000, 95% CrI 148.6-175.0). Prevalence was lowest in young men (in rural areas, as low as 2.8 cases per 100,000, 95% CrI 1.4-4.8). In general, no single algorithm was very sensitive, with point estimates for sensitivity ranging from 20-73%. CONCLUSION: We found marked differences in SSc prevalence according to age, sex, and region. In general, no single case ascertainment approach was very sensitive for SSc. Therefore, using data from multiple sources, with adjustment for the imperfect nature of each, is an important strategy in population-based studies of SSc and similar conditions.
Authors: Brett D Thombs; Lisa R Jewett; Shervin Assassi; Murray Baron; Susan J Bartlett; Angela Costa Maia; Ghassan El-Baalbaki; Daniel E Furst; Karen Gottesman; Jennifer A Haythornthwaite; Marie Hudson; Ann Impens; Annett Korner; Catarina Leite; Maureen D Mayes; Vanessa L Malcarne; Sarosh J Motivala; Luc Mouthon; Warren R Nielson; Diane Plante; Serge Poiraudeau; Janet L Poole; Janet Pope; Maureen Sauve; Russell J Steele; Maria E Suarez-Almazor; Suzanne Taillefer; Cornelia H van den Ende; Erin Arthurs; Marielle Bassel; Vanessa Delisle; Katherine Milette; Allison Leavens; Ilya Razykov; Dinesh Khanna Journal: Clin Exp Rheumatol Date: 2012-05-29 Impact factor: 4.473
Authors: Pravitt Gourh; Sandeep K Agarwal; Dipal Divecha; Shervin Assassi; Gene Paz; Rajpreet K Arora-Singh; John D Reveille; Sanjay Shete; Maureen D Mayes; Frank C Arnett; Filemon K Tan Journal: Arthritis Rheum Date: 2009-12
Authors: Paul Bălănescu; Anca Lădaru; Eugenia Bălănescu; Theodor Voiosu; Cristian Băicuş; Gheorghe Andrei Dan Journal: J Clin Lab Anal Date: 2015-09-01 Impact factor: 2.352