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Incidence and cost of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in mainland urban China: a nationwide retrospective study 2014–2016

  • Clinical Report
  • Published:
European Journal of Dermatology

Abstract

Background

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare cutaneous sarcoma. Limited population-based epidemiological studies on DFSP have been conducted.

Objectives

We aimed to estimate the incidence and disease burden of DFSP in China.

Materials & Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the national databases of the Urban Basic Medical Insurance scheme. Cases were identified by ICD code and Chinese language diagnostic terms. National incidence from 2014 to 2016 was estimated by gender and age, and associated medical costs were calculated.

Results

A total of 175 patients were confirmed with DFSP from 2014 to 2016. Crude incidence varied from 0.353 per 100,000 (95% CI: 0.203–0.503) in 2014 to 0.367 per 100,000 (95% CI: 0.279–0.455) in 2016. Incidence was higher in males than in females. The first incidence peak was observed between the ages of 20 and 39 years and the highest incidence rates were in those aged over 60 years. Average medical costs of DFSP were higher than the per capita disposable income of residents.

Conclusion

Incidence of DFSP in mainland urban China is lower than in most developed countries and has remained relatively stable from 2014 to 2016. Further research is expected to clarify the potential pathophysiological mechanisms of DFSP.

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Data Availability Statement: summarized health data on DFSP can be accessed by contacting the National Insurance Claims for Epidemiological Research (NICER) Group, School of Public Health, Peking University. Contact email: 0016163159@bjmu.edu.cn

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Funding

Financial support: this work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 81973146, 81502884). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China

    Jingnan Feng, Lu Xu, Lili Liu, Pei Gao, Siyan Zhan & Shengfeng Wang

  2. Department of Plastic Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China

    Yimou Sun, Xin Yang & Zhenmin Zhao

  3. Peking University Health Information Technology Co. Ltd, Beijing, China

    Guozhen Liu

  4. Shanghai Songsheng Business Consulting Co. Ltd, Beijing, China

    Jinxi Wang

  5. Research Center of Clinical Epidemiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China

    Siyan Zhan

Authors
  1. Jingnan Feng
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  2. Yimou Sun
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  3. Lu Xu
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  4. Lili Liu
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  5. Xin Yang
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  9. Zhenmin Zhao
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  10. Siyan Zhan
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  11. Shengfeng Wang
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Zhenmin Zhao, Siyan Zhan or Shengfeng Wang.

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Conflicts of interest: none.

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Feng, J., Sun, Y., Xu, L. et al. Incidence and cost of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in mainland urban China: a nationwide retrospective study 2014–2016. Eur J Dermatol 33, 260–264 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2023.4499

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2023.4499

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