Objectives
Microscopic colitis is an inflammatory disease of the colon with chronic watery diarrhea but normal colonoscopy findings. The aim of the analysis was to map epidemiology and treatments and costs of this disease in the Czech Republic as there were no data available for the Czech Republic. The analysis was based on real world evidence of patient-level data of General Insurance Company, the healthcare payer insuring the most patients in the Czech Republic.
Methods
Real world data were retrieved for years 2009-2016 for patients who were diagnosed with other specified noninfective gastroenteritis and colitis (K52.8 according to ICD). Data included information on prescriptions of medicines and medical examinations. The analyses were performed in Microsoft SQL and Excel. Total, newly diagnosed, and cumulative number of patients diagnosed with K52.8 were calculated on yearly basis. Diagnosed patients were further split by demographic characteristics and medicines used.
Results
Based on the data there are approximately 12 000 patients with diagnosed K52.8 among VZP clients indicating prevalence 204 per 100 000. 4 000 patients are newly diagnosed every year resulting in incidence of 71 per 100 000 per year. In 2015, K52.8 was more common among women (55% of diagnosed patients were female), the average age of diagnosed patients was 39, and share of adults was 82%. The most common treatments included methylprednisolone (39%), mesalazine (35%) and prednisone (28%).
Conclusion
Our findings about prevalence/incidence of K52.8 are in line with results of epidemiological studies on microscopic colitis conducted in other European countries. As the ICD classification is wide, it is difficult to evaluate microscopic colitis and eosinophilic gastritis/gastroenteritis separately.