Incidence of Severe Chronic Neutropenia in South Korea and Related Clinical Manifestations: A National Health Insurance Database Study

<i>Background and objectives</i>: Severe chronic neutropenia (SCN) is a condition in which absolute neutrophil counts remain at a low level (under 500/µL) over months or years. Because of the rare onset of SCN, its epidemiology, prognosis, and clinical manifestations have not yet been fu...

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Main Authors: Nuri Lee, Boung Chul Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-05-01
Series:Medicina
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1010-660X/56/6/262
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author Nuri Lee
Boung Chul Lee
author_facet Nuri Lee
Boung Chul Lee
author_sort Nuri Lee
collection DOAJ
description <i>Background and objectives</i>: Severe chronic neutropenia (SCN) is a condition in which absolute neutrophil counts remain at a low level (under 500/µL) over months or years. Because of the rare onset of SCN, its epidemiology, prognosis, and clinical manifestations have not yet been fully understood. In particular, large-cohort studies in Asian countries are still insufficient. Therefore, in this study, national health insurance data was used to investigate the epidemiologic features and prognosis of SCN in South Korea. Materials and Methods: The data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database recorded between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2015 were explored. SCN was defined based on the ICD-10 code, registry of benefit extension policy, and inclusion criteria of the study. After identifying patients with SCN, annual incidence and their co-morbidities were analyzed. Results: Among the initially identified patients with severe neutropenia (N = 2145), a total of 367 patients had SCN and were enrolled. The annual incidence rate of SCN ranged from 0.12 to 0.17 per 100,000 person-year (PY) during the study period. The highest incidence was observed in pediatric patients aged between 0 to 9 years (N = 156), followed by women in their fifties (N = 43). The total incidence rate was 0.17 in females and 0.12 in males (Relative risk (RR): 1.43, 95%, CI: 1.16–1.76). The most common accompanying condition was mild respiratory infection, but about 3.2% of patients progressed to hematologic malignancy after an average of 2.4 years. Conclusions: This nationwide population-based epidemiological study showed that incidence of SCN is higher in pediatrics and middle-aged women. As progression to hematologic malignancy was significantly higher in the age of in 45–49 year olds, careful follow-up is necessary in this group. However, since this study lacks the molecular information, these finding need to be interpreted with great caution.
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spelling doaj.art-d012058536c94f4fbce09285b2ef9a9c2023-09-03T00:35:30ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X2020-05-015626226210.3390/medicina56060262Incidence of Severe Chronic Neutropenia in South Korea and Related Clinical Manifestations: A National Health Insurance Database StudyNuri Lee0Boung Chul Lee1Department of Laboratory of Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, College of Medicine, Seoul 07441, KoreaDepartment of Psychiatry, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul 07247, Korea<i>Background and objectives</i>: Severe chronic neutropenia (SCN) is a condition in which absolute neutrophil counts remain at a low level (under 500/µL) over months or years. Because of the rare onset of SCN, its epidemiology, prognosis, and clinical manifestations have not yet been fully understood. In particular, large-cohort studies in Asian countries are still insufficient. Therefore, in this study, national health insurance data was used to investigate the epidemiologic features and prognosis of SCN in South Korea. Materials and Methods: The data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database recorded between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2015 were explored. SCN was defined based on the ICD-10 code, registry of benefit extension policy, and inclusion criteria of the study. After identifying patients with SCN, annual incidence and their co-morbidities were analyzed. Results: Among the initially identified patients with severe neutropenia (N = 2145), a total of 367 patients had SCN and were enrolled. The annual incidence rate of SCN ranged from 0.12 to 0.17 per 100,000 person-year (PY) during the study period. The highest incidence was observed in pediatric patients aged between 0 to 9 years (N = 156), followed by women in their fifties (N = 43). The total incidence rate was 0.17 in females and 0.12 in males (Relative risk (RR): 1.43, 95%, CI: 1.16–1.76). The most common accompanying condition was mild respiratory infection, but about 3.2% of patients progressed to hematologic malignancy after an average of 2.4 years. Conclusions: This nationwide population-based epidemiological study showed that incidence of SCN is higher in pediatrics and middle-aged women. As progression to hematologic malignancy was significantly higher in the age of in 45–49 year olds, careful follow-up is necessary in this group. However, since this study lacks the molecular information, these finding need to be interpreted with great caution.https://www.mdpi.com/1010-660X/56/6/262neutropeniasevere chronicepidemiologyincidencemyelodysplastic syndromesleukemia
spellingShingle Nuri Lee
Boung Chul Lee
Incidence of Severe Chronic Neutropenia in South Korea and Related Clinical Manifestations: A National Health Insurance Database Study
Medicina
neutropenia
severe chronic
epidemiology
incidence
myelodysplastic syndromes
leukemia
title Incidence of Severe Chronic Neutropenia in South Korea and Related Clinical Manifestations: A National Health Insurance Database Study
title_full Incidence of Severe Chronic Neutropenia in South Korea and Related Clinical Manifestations: A National Health Insurance Database Study
title_fullStr Incidence of Severe Chronic Neutropenia in South Korea and Related Clinical Manifestations: A National Health Insurance Database Study
title_full_unstemmed Incidence of Severe Chronic Neutropenia in South Korea and Related Clinical Manifestations: A National Health Insurance Database Study
title_short Incidence of Severe Chronic Neutropenia in South Korea and Related Clinical Manifestations: A National Health Insurance Database Study
title_sort incidence of severe chronic neutropenia in south korea and related clinical manifestations a national health insurance database study
topic neutropenia
severe chronic
epidemiology
incidence
myelodysplastic syndromes
leukemia
url https://www.mdpi.com/1010-660X/56/6/262
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