Rheumatoid Arthritis Prevalence Is Lower Among Asians And Higher Among American Indians, Compared With Blacks And Whites In The U.S.

Main Category: Arthritis / Rheumatology
Article Date: 23 Sep 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that in the U.S. rheumatoid arthritis prevalence is lower among Asians and higher among American Indians, compared with the prevalence among Blacks and Whites. The new analytics tool entitled PatientFinder: Rheumatoid Arthritis also reveals that rheumatoid arthritis prevalence in the U.S. varies by how urban or rural the population is.

"By applying these risk factors against U.S. population demographics one might think that a state like Alaska, whose Native Alaskans have higher rates of rheumatoid arthritis prevalence, might have a higher than average percentage of patients," states Amanda Wilson, M.P.H., epidemiologist at Decision Resources. "However, Alaska's rural population is much larger than its Native Alaskan population, which actually drives overall prevalence of the disease in this state below the national average."

In contrast, the new tool reveals that the Eastern Seaboard has seven of the eight regions with the highest rheumatoid arthritis prevalence in the U.S. -- Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts -- due to high rates of urbanization and low Asian populations.

Why Pharmaceutical Companies Need this Information

With the type of information included in PatientFinder, pharmaceutical organizations can identify the local markets that offer the greatest opportunity for their branded drug. Companies can identify markets that are underserved and determine if they should increase direct-to-consumer advertising, work with the local managed care organizations to increase awareness of the disease and benefits of their drug or align sales representatives to maximize market potential.

About PatientFinder

PatientFinder is the only healthcare analytics tool that assesses local markets for expansion opportunity by determining the number of insured patients in each territory who have the disease but are untreated. PatientFinder covers each of the 50 U.S. states and 318 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and provides:

-- Disease-specific prevalence numbers for each U.S. state and MSA

-- Examination of treatment rates for the disease population to create percent treated and percent untreated estimates by state and MSA

-- Unique analysis of the untreated population examined through a filter of prescription (Rx) benefit coverage. The end result is an estimate of how many patients are untreated but can afford therapy within each territory -- the true local measure of opportunity for pharmaceutical companies

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources (http://www.DecisionResources.com) is a world leader in market research publications, advisory services and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources and master their chosen markets. Decision Resources is a Decision Resources, Inc. company.

About Decision Resources, Inc.

Decision Resources, Inc. is a cohesive portfolio of companies that offers best-in-class, high-value information and insights on important sectors of the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Please visit Decision Resources, Inc. at http://www.DecisionResourcesInc.com.

All company, brand or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Decision Resources
http://www.decisionresources.com