title: Prevalence, incidence, and factor concentrate usage trends of hemophiliacs in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hemophilia A and B (HA, HB) are the most common X-linked inherited bleeding disorders. The introduction of factor concentrates has allowed for control of the lifelong chronic disease. However, no studies have been published regarding the epidemiology of hemophilia in Taiwan. Our aim was to determine the prevalence, incidence, and mortality rate, as well as trends in the use of factor concentrates, in individuals with hemophilia in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was conducted using the National Health Insurance Research Database between 1997 and 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 988 males with hemophilia (HA : HB ratio=5.4 : 1). The mean prevalence per 100000 males was 6.7 ± 0.1 for HA and 1.2 ± 0.1 for HB. The estimated mean annual incidence per live male birth was 1 in 10752 for HA and 1 in 47619 for HB. Standardized mortality ratios for males with hemophilia (all severities) or severe hemophilia were 1.3- and 2.1-fold higher than that of the general male population, respectively. Mean factor VIII (FVIII) and factor IX (FIX) usage was 1.5003 ± 0.4029 and 0.3126 ± 0.0904 international units (IUs) per capita, respectively. Mean FVIII and FIX usage per patient with hemophilia (all severities) or severe hemophilia was 44027 ± 11532 and 72341 ± 17298, respectively, and 49407 ± 13015 and 74369 ± 18411 IUs per person with HA or HB, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data revealed epidemiologic and factor concentrate usage trends in males with hemophilia in Taiwan, highlighting a need for improvements in the mandatory National Health Insurance registry. A better- designed, patient-centered registry system would enable more detailed patient information collection and analysis, improving subsequent care.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsu-Chiang
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Wen-Shyong
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: Tsui-Yun
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Tsung-Kun
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chuan-Fang
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jye-Daa
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Thau-Ming
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Cham
authors.forename: Mei-Ing
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005164:Factor IX / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D002836:Hemophilia B / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005169:Factor VIII; D005164:Factor IX