Nationwide epidemiological survey of juvenile idiopathic arthritis during transition to young adulthood in Japan using the National Database of Designated Incurable Diseases of Japan.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to assess the unmet medical needs of young adult patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) by evaluating real-world treatment data.

METHODS

We analysed data on JIA in the age group of 20-29 years from the National Database of Designated Incurable Diseases of Japan, which records severe cases or those requiring high-cost medical care registered between April 2018 and March 2020.

RESULTS

Overall, 322 patients with JIA transitioning to adulthood were included. A high frequency of methotrexate use was observed among all JIA subtypes. The frequency of methotrexate use at registration was significantly higher in patients with rheumatoid factor-positive polyarthritis and those with oligoarthritis or polyarthritis than in those with systemic arthritis. The historical use percentage of any biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug was ≥85% for all JIA subtypes. The proportion of patients with ≥2 biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug prescriptions was significantly higher in patients with rheumatoid factor-positive polyarthritis than in those with systemic arthritis.

CONCLUSIONS

High-cost drugs were necessary for many patients with JIA transitioning to young adulthood and registered in the database. Further studies on the medical interventions and support for these patients are needed.