Nationwide incidence and prevalence of uveitis in South Korea using National Health Insurance Service Database from 2010 to 2021

Abstract

Purpose : In this retrospective study, we investigated the population-based incidence and prevalence of uveitis and the differences between the anterior and non-anterior subgroups. We utilized the Korean National Health Insurance Service (KNHIS) database, which contained information on the Korean population.

Methods : We extracted data from selected patients who visited the ophthalmology clinic and were diagnosed with uveitis (based on the Korean Classification of Disease) from 2010 to 2021. Subsequently, the incidence and prevalence of uveitis were calculated. We also compared demographics and underlying systemic diseases between anterior and non-anterior subgroups.

Results : We identified 1,514,978 cases of uveitis (anterior uveitis (AU), n=1,258,898; non-anterior uveitis (NAU), n=256,080)). Average incidence (per 10,000 persons) of AU and NAU was 20.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 20.4–20.4) and 4.2 (95% CI, 4.1–4.2), respectively. Incidence tended to increase over time (21.0 in 2010 to 27.5 in 2019) but decreased slightly during the COVID-19 pandemic period (25.2 in 2020 and 26.7 in 2021). Prevalence rate of AU and NAU, 35.7(95% CI, 29.4-29.5) and 7.1(95% CI, 7-7.1) per 10,000 persons, respectively, showed a similar decremental trend of incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic. In comparison to the AU, the NAU subgroup showed statistically higher associations with gender (female), specific age range (50-69), high Charlson comorbidity index*, low household income, and various immunologic diseases such as Behçet’s disease (odds ratio [OR], 1.09; p<0.001), systemic lupus erythematous (OR, 1.42; p<0.001), ulcerative colitis (OR, 1.14;p<0.001), tuberculosis(OR, 1.14;p<0.001), sarcoidosis (OR, 1.14; p<0.001), multiple sclerosis (OR, 1.27; p=0.005), and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (OR, 2.12; p<0.001).

*Weighted index to predict the risk of death within one year of hospitalization for patients with specific comorbid conditions.

Conclusions : By employing the KNHIS database, we have conducted the largest population-based epidemiologic study for uveitis in South Korea, including the events during the COVID-19 pandemic, to estimate the incidence and prevalence as well as the anatomic distribution of uveitis. The incidence and prevalence of uveitis in South Korea have increased during the past decade. Our results may be beneficial in estimating the national burden of uveitis.

This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.