Objectives: This study aimed to analyse the incidence and geographical distribution of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) in Turkey using the electronic medical records database (e-Pulse) of the Ministry of Health.
Methods: The study utilised nationwide health data from the e-Pulse, which has been operational since 2016. Patient selection was based on ICD-10 codes for FMF, with a minimum of two recorded codes entered at least 30 days apart. Patients aged ≥50 and those with gout-related ICD-10 codes were excluded. The prevalence and incidence of FMF in 2018 were calculated, taking into account gender, age demographics, and regional distribution.
Results: A total of 160,897 FMF patients were identified from a population of 82,003,882, yielding a prevalence of 139 per 10,000 individuals. The incidence was 2.78 per 10,000. The highest number of records was found among individuals aged 15-19. Geographically, the highest rate of prevalence was found in Ardahan, Bayburt, and Sivas, regions in the North-Eastern part of Turkey. Family records revealed that 11.7% of children under 18 with FMF had at least one parent diagnosed with FMF.
Conclusions: FMF is beyond the definition of a rare disease and a significant health issue in Turkey, with a non-uniform distribution influenced by both genetic and historical factors. The findings of this study highlight the utility of national electronic health records like e-Pulse in conducting large-scale epidemiological research, which could guide future public health strategies for FMF patients.