Prevalence and healthcare utilization of rare neurological diseases in Hong Kong: 2014–2018

Background There has been increasing attention focused on the epidemiology of rare diseases (RDs) in recent years. Rare neurological diseases (RNDs) constitute a significant proportion of RDs; however, relevant research is still lacking. Methods A list of ICD‐10 codes corresponding to RNDs was compi...

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Published in:European journal of neurology 2021-07, Vol.28 (7), p.2305-2312
Main Authors: Chiu, Annie Ting Gee, Li, Jingjing, Chang, Richard Shek Kwan, Chung, Claudia Ching Yan, Wong, Wilfred Hing Sang, Ip, Patrick, Chan, Sophelia Hoi Shan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation
Clinical trials
Data analysis
Emergency medical care
Emergency medical services
Epidemiology
Epilepsy
Health care
Health services utilization
healthcare utilization
Hong Kong - epidemiology
Humans
Nervous System Diseases - epidemiology
Nervous System Diseases - therapy
Neurological diseases
Patient Acceptance of Health Care
Patients
Pharmacology
Population studies
population study
Prevalence
Rare Diseases
rare neurological diseases
Utilization
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Summary:Background There has been increasing attention focused on the epidemiology of rare diseases (RDs) in recent years. Rare neurological diseases (RNDs) constitute a significant proportion of RDs; however, relevant research is still lacking. Methods A list of ICD‐10 codes corresponding to RNDs was compiled using adaptations from the Orphanet Classification of Rare Diseases, and classified into rare epilepsy, movement‐related, neurocutaneous, neuroimmune, neurometabolic and neurodegenerative, neuromuscular and other RNDs. Using the Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System, which holds public hospital healthcare records of Hong Kong anonymously, we calculated the prevalence and healthcare utilization of RND patients between 2014 and 2018. The list of RNDs was also used to review relevant pharmacological trials within the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform between 2009 and 2018. Results The prevalence of RNDs in Hong Kong is 3.6 in 1,000 individuals. Patients with RNDs had frequent emergency department, outpatient and inpatient healthcare utilization. The average annual cost per patient is estimated at HKD 182,075 (€ 19,688). Different categories of RNDs showed different patterns of healthcare utilization. Moreover, there were only 677 RND‐related pharmacological trials during the study period, and no trial was found for 78% of RNDs. Conclusions This is one of the first population studies on the prevalence and healthcare utilization patterns of RNDs, with comprehensive reviews of RND‐related pharmacological research. It shows high healthcare utilization rates among patients with RNDs, as well as a wide research gap in many RNDs. We call for better attention and tailored healthcare for these patients.
ISSN:1351-5101
1468-1331
DOI:10.1111/ene.14852