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Surveillance of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases using administrative data

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Abstract

There is growing interest in developing tools and methods for the surveillance of chronic rheumatic diseases, using existing resources such as administrative health databases. To illustrate how this might work, we used population-based administrative data to estimate and compare the prevalence of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) across three Canadian provinces, assessing for regional differences and the effects of demographic factors. Cases of SARDs (systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, primary Sjogren’s, polymyositis/dermatomyositis) were ascertained from provincial physician billing and hospitalization data. We combined information from three case definitions, using hierarchical Bayesian latent class regression models that account for the imperfect nature of each case definition. Using methods that account for the imperfect nature of both billing and hospitalization databases, we estimated the over-all prevalence of SARDs to be approximately 2–3 cases per 1,000 residents. Stratified prevalence estimates suggested similar demographic trends across provinces (i.e. greater prevalence in females-versus-males, and in persons of older age). The prevalence in older females approached or exceeded 1 in 100, which may reflect the high burden of primary Sjogren’s syndrome in this group. Adjusting for demographics, there was a greater prevalence in urban-versus-rural settings. In our work, prevalence estimates had good face validity and provided useful information about potential regional and demographic variations. Our results suggest that surveillance of some rheumatic diseases using administrative data may indeed be feasible. Our work highlights the usefulness of using multiple data sources, adjusting for the error in each.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Dr. Sasha Bernatsky is a Canadian Arthritis Network Scholar and is supported by the CIHR, the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec (FRSQ) and the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Research Institute and Department of Medicine. Dr. Christian Pineau is supported by the MUHC Research Institute and Department of Medicine. Drs. Ann Clarke and Lawrence Joseph are FRSQ National Scholars. Dr. Marie Hudson holds a Junior Investigator CIHR career award. The authors are indebted to Manitoba Health and Healthy Living for the provision of data. The results and conclusions are those of the authors, and no official endorsement by Manitoba Health and Healthy Living is intended or should be inferred.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), 687 Pine Avenue West, V-Building, V2.09, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada

    S. Bernatsky, A. E. Clarke, P. Bélisle & L. Joseph

  2. Division of Rheumatology, MUHC, Montreal, PQ, Canada

    S. Bernatsky & C. A. Pineau

  3. School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

    L. Lix

  4. Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine and Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University and Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada

    J. G. Hanly

  5. Division of Rheumatology, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, PQ, Canada

    M. Hudson

  6. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    E. Badley

  7. Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    C. Peschken

  8. Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, MUHC, Montreal, PQ, Canada

    A. E. Clarke

  9. Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    P. R. Fortin

  10. Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    M. Smith

  11. Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    C. Lagace

  12. Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, Toronto, ON, Canada

    L. Bergeron

  13. Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, PQ, Canada

    L. Joseph

Authors
  1. S. Bernatsky
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  2. L. Lix
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  3. J. G. Hanly
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  4. M. Hudson
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  5. E. Badley
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  6. C. Peschken
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  7. C. A. Pineau
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  8. A. E. Clarke
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  9. P. R. Fortin
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  10. M. Smith
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  11. P. Bélisle
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  12. C. Lagace
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  13. L. Bergeron
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  14. L. Joseph
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Bernatsky.

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Bernatsky, S., Lix, L., Hanly, J.G. et al. Surveillance of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases using administrative data. Rheumatol Int 31, 549–554 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-010-1591-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-010-1591-2

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