| Title: |
Prevalence, incidence and geographic distribution of familial Mediterranean fever in Turkey: a national cohort study |
| Authors: |
Satis, H.; Gul, A.; Ayan, G.; Babaoglu, H.; Armagan, B.; Erden, A.; Bilgin, E. |
| Publisher Information: |
Clinical & Exper Rheumatology |
| Publication Year: |
2025 |
| Subject Terms: |
familial Mediterranean fever; prevalence; incidence; nationwide study; electronic health records |
| Description: |
Objective This study aimed to analyse the incidence and geographical distribution of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) in Turkey using the electronic medical records database (e-Pulse) of the Ministry of Health. Method The study utilised nationwide health data from the e-Pulse, which has been operational since 2016. Patient selection was based on ICD-10 codes for FMF, with a minimum of two recorded codes entered at least 30 days apart. Patients aged >= 50 and those with gout-related ICD-10 codes were excluded. The prevalence and incidence of FMF in 2018 were calculated, taking into account gender, age demographics, and regional distribution. Results A total of 160,897 FMF patients were identified from a population of 82,003,882, yielding a prevalence of 139 per 10,000 individuals. The incidence was 2.78 per 10,000. The highest number of records was found among individuals aged 15-19. Geographically, the highest rate of prevalence was found in Ardahan, Bayburt, and Sivas, regions in the North-Eastern part of Turkey. Family records revealed that 11.7% of children under 18 with FMF had at least one parent diagnosed with FMF. Conclusion FMF is beyond the definition of a rare disease and a significant health issue in Turkey, with a non-uniform distribution influenced by both genetic and historical factors. The findings of this study highlight the utility of national electronic health records like e-Pulse in conducting large-scale epidemiological research, which could guide future public health strategies for FMF patients. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology; Makale - Uluslararası Hakemli Dergi - Kurum Öğretim Elemanı; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12831/48455; 43; 10; 1709; 1714; Q2; WOS:001604438500002; Q1 |
| Availability: |
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12831/48455 |
| Rights: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.32BB239F |
| Database: |
BASE |