Incidence and Risk Factors for Serious Infections in Patients with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder: A Claims...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Immunology
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

• Serious infections represent a primary cause of mortality in patients diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).
• Understanding the incidence and risk factors for these infections is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence rate and cumulative incidence of serious infections in a large cohort of NMOSD patients in Japan.
• To identify and analyze potential risk factors associated with the development of serious infections in this population.

Main Methods:

• An observational, retrospective cohort study utilizing the Medical Data Vision database in Japan.
• Inclusion criteria: NMOSD diagnosis between January 2016 and August 2022.
• Serious infections defined as infections diagnosed during hospitalization; Cox proportional hazard models used for risk factor analysis.

Main Results:

• The incidence rate of serious infections was 5.77 per 100 person-years.
• Cumulative incidence reached 12.48% at 5-year follow-up.
• Significant risk factors included advanced age (≥75 years), cancer, diabetes mellitus, neurogenic bladder, urolithiasis, increased NMOSD relapses, and low-dose oral glucocorticoid use.

Conclusions:

• The incidence of serious infections in NMOSD patients treated with conventional therapies is comparable to findings from clinical trials.
• Several risk factors were identified, providing valuable information for clinical decision-making.
• These findings can help clinicians and patients better manage treatment options and mitigate infection risks.