Annals of hematology
Sickle cell disease in Germany - trends in epidemiology, healthcare utilization and disease burden from 2015 to 2024: a claims data analysis
Par Schulze N, Lehne M, Cengia A et 4 autres.
Contenu en anglais
Résumé
Background
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a rare inherited hemoglobinopathy associated with substantial morbidity and high healthcare needs. In Germany, population-based evidence on SCD epidemiology and real-world care patterns remains limited, despite increasing relevance in the context of migration and the introduction of nationwide newborn screening in 2021.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective, non-interventional study using anonymized German statutory health insurance claims data from the InGef database (2015-2024). Patients with SCD were identified using ICD-10-GM codes D57.0, D57.1, D57.2, and D57.8 based on inpatient and confirmed outpatient diagnoses. Administrative prevalence was estimated using a carry-forward cohort approach, whereby SCD patients diagnosed in the current year and alive/observable in subsequent years were counted as prevalent. Administrative incidence was assessed in children aged < 6 years using the first recorded SCD diagnosis in claims data as the date of incidence. Analyses of patient characteristics, clinical outcomes, treatments and healthcare resource use (HCRU) were conducted cross-sectionally by calendar year, stratified by age group and sex.