A novel method to monitor rheumatoid arthritis prevalence using hospital and medication databases
Authors' conclusion
We provide an algorithm for identifying individuals with RA, which could be used for population studies and monitoring RA in Australia and, with adjustments, internationally.
Study context
- Population
- Respondents of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) with linked medication, hospital/emergency department (ED) and Medicare data
- Participants
- 25,467 survey respondents
- Exposure
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) case definitions: self-reported RA, self-reported RA medications, dispensed RA medications, hospital/ED RA presentations
- Outcome
- RA prevalence by case definition
Methodological detailslinked administrative data, algorithm development
- Linked administrative data
- Algorithm development
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
RA prevalence by definition
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- RA prevalence after excluding individuals with other rheumatic conditions — Self-reported RA
- 3.9%
- RA prevalence after excluding individuals with other rheumatic conditions: Medication database 1.9%
- RA prevalence after excluding individuals with other rheumatic conditions: Self-reported medication 0.5%
Original publication
A novel method to monitor rheumatoid arthritis prevalence using hospital and medication databases. Arthritis Res Ther. Published 16 July 2024. doi:10.
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