Epidemiology and direct costs of atopic dermatitis in Poland based on the National Health Fund register (2008-2017)

Filip Raciborski; Karina Jahnz-Rozyk; Anna Kłak; Adam J Sybilski; Aleksandra M Grąbczewska; Melania Brzozowska; Andrzej M Śliwczyñski

doi:10.5114/ada.2018.79099

Epidemiology and direct costs of atopic dermatitis in Poland based on the National Health Fund register (2008-2017)

Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2019 Dec;36(6):727-733. doi: 10.5114/ada.2018.79099. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Authors

Filip Raciborski¹, Karina Jahnz-Rozyk², Anna Kłak¹, Adam J Sybilski¹, Aleksandra M Grąbczewska¹, Melania Brzozowska³, Andrzej M Śliwczyñski^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of the Prevention of Environmental Hazards and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
² Department of Internal Diseases, Pneumonology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland.
³ Department of Drug Administration, National Health Fund, Warsaw, Poland.
⁴ Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
⁵ Department of Analyses and Strategies, National Health Fund, Warsaw, Poland.

Abstract

Introduction: Epidemiological data indicate significant differences in atopic dermatitis (AD) prevalence between countries.

Aim: The purpose of this study is to (i) analyse the recorded prevalence of atopic dermatitis (diagnoses of AD reported to the Polish National Health Fund (NHF)) and to (ii) estimate direct costs of medical care for AD incurred by the NHF.

Material and methods: The analysis was based on data reported to the database of the public payer (NHF). The prevalence rates were calculated using the NHF data and population estimates were obtained from the Central Statistical Office of Poland (GUS).

Results: In 2017, the annual prevalence rate of AD in the Polish population was 32.5 per 10,000 inhabitants (34.7/10,000 for women and 30.1/10,000 for men). The highest prevalence was observed in the youngest age groups (300/10,000 in children up to 4 years of age and 141/10,000 in 5-9-year-olds). The prevalence rate decreased with age and AD was the least prevalent in patients over 85 years of age (4/10,000). In 2008-2017, NHF expenditure on AD treatment varied between PLN 19.9 million (EUR 5.6 million) in 2008 and PLN 28.4 million (EUR 6.5 million) in 2016.

Conclusions: The prevalence rates of AD in Poland estimated on the basis of NHF data are significantly lower than those reported in previous epidemiological studies conducted in Poland and worldwide. This may indicate that the prevalence of AD in the Polish population is underestimated or that there are no adequate disease control measures in patients with a confirmed diagnosis.

Keywords: atopic dermatitis; atopic eczema; direct costs; epidemiology.