Prevalence, incidence and geographic distribution of familial Mediterranean fever in Turkey: a national cohort study
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: 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. METHODS: 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.
Authors: Hasan Satiş, Ahmet Gül, Gizem Ayan, Hakan Babaoğlu, Berkan Armağan, Abdulsamet Erden, Emre Bilgin, Erdem Karabulut, Levent Kiliç, Duygu Tecer, Alper Sari, Orhan Küçükşahin, Serdal Uğurlu, Özgür Kasapçopur, Seza Özen, Mustafa Okan Ayvali, Ali Aykut Fidanci, Mustafa Mahir Ülgü, Naim Ata, Şuayip Birinci, Umut Kalyoncu
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4414701242