Cystic fibrosis patient characteristics and healthcare resource utilization in Finland using linked registries.

Background

Knowledge of prevalence and epidemiology of cystic fibrosis (CF) and healthcare resource use among Finnish people with CF is incomplete.

Methods

We conducted a population-based matched cohort study using retrospective real-world data from linked Finnish national registries. Electronic healthcare data and drug purchases of 102 people with CF were analyzed between January 2015 and December 2019 (follow-up). A 5-fold control population was matched by sex, age, and place of residence. Comorbidities and medication use that occurred at any time during follow-up were assessed; annual rates of hospital service use were adjusted for follow-up.

Results

The prevalence of CF in Finland was 1.85 per 100,000. Median age at diagnosis was 1 year, with 60 % diagnosed at age <2 years and 80 % at age <10 years. Median age at death in people with CF was 31.4 years (n < 5); no controls died. The most common comorbidities included chronic sinusitis (39.2 %), pneumonia (38.2 %), diabetes (20.6 %), and nasal polyps (18.6 %). The most purchased medications were antibiotics (99.0 %) and pancreatic enzymes (84.3 %). The annualized rate of hospital visits was higher in people with CF vs controls (outpatient: mean [SD], 17.4 [14.5] vs 0.9 [3.3]; median, 13.6 vs 0.4, respectively; inpatient: mean [SD], 1.0 [1.66] vs 0.03 [0.14]; median, 0.34 vs 0, respectively).

Conclusions

The prevalence of CF in Finland is remarkably low, likely reflecting unique population characteristics and, in part, delayed diagnosis. Antibiotic use is frequent among Finnish people with CF. Inpatient hospital visits are >30 times higher in people with CF than matched controls.

Informations de copyright

© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Kirsi Malmivaaraa reports administrative support, article publishing charges, and writing assistance were provided by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. Mari Polkki reports administrative support, article publishing charges, and writing assistance were provided by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. Tuire Prami reports administrative support, article publishing charges, and writing assistance were provided by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. Paavo Raittinen reports administrative support, article publishing charges, and writing assistance were provided by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. Eija Heikkila reports administrative support, article publishing charges, and writing assistance were provided by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. Antti Aalto reports administrative support, article publishing charges, and statistical analysis were provided by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. Teija Dunder reports administrative support, article publishing charges, and writing assistance were provided by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. Varpu Elenius reports administrative support, article publishing charges, and writing assistance were provided by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. Kristina Sandstrom reports administrative support, article publishing charges, and writing assistance were provided by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. Lisa J. McGarry reports administrative support, article publishing charges, and writing assistance were provided by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. Kirsi Malmivaaraa reports a relationship with Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated that includes: speaking and lecture fees. Varpu Elenius reports a relationship with Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated that includes: consulting or advisory and speaking and lecture fees. Kristina Sandstrom reports a relationship with Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated that includes: employment and equity or stocks. Lisa McGarry reports a relationship with Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated that includes: employment and equity or stocks. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.