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. 2023 May 19;38(1):135.
doi: 10.1007/s00384-023-04417-6.

Trends in the prevalence and incidence of ulcerative colitis in Japan and the US

Michiyo Yamazaki  1 , Hsingwen Chung  1 , Youran Xu  1 , Hong Qiu  2
Affiliations

Trends in the prevalence and incidence of ulcerative colitis in Japan and the US

Michiyo Yamazaki et al. Int J Colorectal Dis. .

Abstract

Purpose: To estimate and compare annual prevalence and incidence, and demographic characteristics of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) in Japan and the United States (US).

Methods: All patients with UC were identified from large employment-based healthcare claims databases (Japan Medical Data Center [JMDC] in Japan and IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database [CCAE] in the US), from 2010 to 2019. Cases were confirmed using International Classification of Disease-9/10 codes with/without Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical codes. Annual age-standardized prevalence and incidence rates were estimated for the JMDC by direct standardization using the CCAE as the standard population.

Results: Patients with UC were younger in Japan than in the US and men were affected more than women, whereas the reverse was true in the US. Annual prevalence per 100,000 population increased significantly from 5 in 2010 to 98 in 2019 in Japan and from 158 to 233 in the US. Prevalence increased in men more than in women and in all age groups in Japan, whereas increases were observed similarly in men and women, and in the 6 to < 65-year age groups in the US. Annual incidence per 100,000 person-years increased significantly over time in both sexes and in all age groups in Japan, with higher increases in women and in ≥ 18 year-olds. UC incidence rates did not change over time in the US.

Conclusion: Ten-year trends in epidemiology of UC differ between Japan and the US. The data point to a growing disease burden in both countries that warrants investigation of measures for prevention and treatment.

Keywords: Database; Epidemiology ulcerative colitis; Incidence prevalence; Japan; United States.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors are employees of Janssen Research and Development, LLC. HQ and MY hold stock in Johnson & Johnson Pty Ltd.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Patient entry into study cohorts in the JMDC (Japan) and CCAE (US) databases (January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2019). Abbreviations: CCAE, the IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters; Dx, diagnosis; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease; JMDC, Japan Medical Data Center; N, number of patients; UC, ulcerative colitis
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Annual period prevalence* (per 100,000 population) of UC in the JMDC (Japan) and CCAE (US) databases. A Overall. B By Sex. *Crude (unweighted) estimates in the CCAE and age-standardized estimates in the JMDC using direct standardization based on the CCAE’s age distribution
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Annual period prevalence* (per 100,000 population) of UC in the JMDC (Japan) and CCAE (US) databases by age group. *Crude (unweighted) estimates in the CCAE and age-standardized estimates in the JMDC using direct standardization based on the CCAE’s age distribution
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Annual incidence rates* (per 100,000 person-years) of UC in the JMDC (Japan) and CCAE (US) databases. A Overall. B By sex. *Crude (unweighted) rates in the CCAE and age-standardized rates in the JMDC using direct standardization based on the CCAE’s age distribution
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Annual incidence rates* (per 100,000 person-years) of UC in the JMDC (Japan) and CCAE (US) databases by age group. *Crude (unweighted) rates in the CCAE and age-standardized rates in the JMDC using direct standardization based on the CCAE’s age distribution
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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