Department of Neurology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
Eur J Neurol. 2010 Jun 1;17(6):830-3. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2009.02946.x. Epub 2010 Jan 20.
The purpose of the study is to investigate the epidemiology and medical expenses of Wilson's disease in Taiwan.
Cases of Wilson's disease were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database with corresponding International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 275.1 from January 2000 to December 2005. Age and sex-specific incidences were estimated by dividing the incidence number by population data obtained from the Department of Statistics, Ministry of the Interior.
During the study period, 495 cases of Wilson's disease were identified. The male to female ratio was 1.28. The average annual incidence rate was 0.27 per 100,000, and the incidence rate peaked in the age group of 15-19 years. Most cases were juvenile and young adults. The prevalence increased steadily during the study period. Cirrhosis of the liver was the most common co-existing condition.
This is the first population-based epidemiologic study of Wilson's disease in Taiwan. Because of the effective and affordable treatment, the prevalence of Wilson's disease in Taiwan is expected to increase continuously.
本研究旨在探讨台湾地区威尔逊氏病的流行病学和医疗费用。
从 2000 年 1 月至 2005 年 12 月，通过国家健康保险研究数据库和相应的国际疾病分类，第九版（ICD-9）代码 275.1 识别出威尔逊氏病的病例。通过内政部统计局获得的人口数据除以发病率数，估算出年龄和性别特异性的发病率。
在研究期间，共发现 495 例威尔逊氏病。男女比例为 1.28。平均年发病率为每 100,000 人 0.27，发病率在 15-19 岁年龄组达到高峰。大多数病例为青少年和青年。在研究期间，患病率稳步上升。肝硬化是最常见的共存病症。
这是台湾地区首次基于人群的威尔逊氏病流行病学研究。由于有效且负担得起的治疗方法，预计台湾地区威尔逊氏病的患病率将持续增加。
