Epidemiology of mature T/NK-cell lymphomas in Germany - A representative cross-sectional study based on SHI claims data.

BACKGROUND: Primary cutaneous lymphomas (PCL) are rare skin tumors of lymphoproliferative neoplasms and belong to the heterogeneous group of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. PCL encompass a broad spectrum of clinical and histologic manifestations, with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) being the most common (73%). Due to the rarity of the diseases, population-based studies of care and epidemiology are limited. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Based on anonymized, age- and sex-adjusted SHI (statutory health insurance) claims data of approximately five million SHI-insured patients, a retrospective analysis was conducted over a six-year period (2012-2017) to determine the prevalence, incidence, and lethality in patients with mature-cell T/NK-cell lymphoma in Germany. RESULTS: A total of 1,336 patients with T-cell lymphoma were identified during the observation period. The six-year prevalence ranged from 27.35 to 43.58 per 100,000. Patients were 65% male with a mean age of 66 years (SD 15). There were 246 patients (approx. 20%) who died within the 6 years, up to 7% per year. The calculated incidence in 153 identified patients in 2017 is 3.65 to 3.92 per 100,000. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, valid epidemiologic findings of patients with mature T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas were obtained using SHI claims data in Germany. Further analyses are needed to gain a deeper insight into the healthcare reality of patients with this rare disease.

Care structure of patients with mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome in Germany - Care research based on SHI claims data.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are rare forms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of T-cell origin that occur mainly in the skin. The most common form is mycosis fungoides (MF), but Sézary syndrome (SS), a more aggressive form of CTCL, is another relevant subgroup. Due to the rare nature of the disease, population-based studies of the epidemiology and disease burden and insights into care delivery are limited. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Based on an anonymized, age and sex-adjusted routine dataset comprising approximately five million people with statutory health insurance, a retrospective, longitudinal healthcare research study was conducted over a six-year period (2012-2017). RESULTS: In 55 % of patients with MF and SS, the initial diagnosis was documented in an outpatient setting; in 59 % of cases by a dermatologist. Immunophenotyping by flow cytometry is considered an important investigative tool for the detection and follow-up surveillance of blood involvement of cutaneous lymphomas, as the disease stage is the most important prognostic factor in MF and SS; this was performed in only 10 % of patients. The first-line treatment was topical (76 %), in particular with corticosteroids (66 %). CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this healthcare research point to the need for increased guideline-based care.