Development of a Standardized Multicenter Knee Osteoarthritis Database in Japan: Insights From a New Real-World Database
Author(s)
Junichi Oyama, BA1, Akie Seno, BSc, MBA, RN2, Motohiro Yamano, BSc3, Kohei Nishitani, PhD, MD4, Shuichi Matsuda, PhD, MD4.
1Smith & Nephew, Tokyo, Japan, 2Smith & Nephew, Singapore, Singapore, 3PRiME-R, Inc., Kyoto, Japan, 4Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
1Smith & Nephew, Tokyo, Japan, 2Smith & Nephew, Singapore, Singapore, 3PRiME-R, Inc., Kyoto, Japan, 4Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
OBJECTIVES: Approximately 25 million patients in Japan are diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (OA). This number is expected to increase with an aging society. While large-scale Knee arthroplasty (KA) databases exist nationally, the scope and measured outcomes are limited. Detailed captured data points required for further analysis are fragmented across hospital-specific systems and are not standardized. To address this gap, four hospitals in Japan have formed an initiative to build a standardized OA database. This study aims to elucidate the current status and challenges of KA in Japan using data from a newly constructed real-world database (RWD).
METHODS: The data were extracted from hospital medical records. Patients who underwent KA procedures between February 2012 - March 2024 were included.
RESULTS: 3,521 patients were identified, with a mean age of 74.6 (SD: ±7.9) years and 858 (24.3%) were male. The database includes 4,698 surgical cases, comprising 4,557 (97.0%) primary surgeries and 141 (3.0%) revision surgeries. The primary diagnosis included OA in 4,086 knees (89.8%), rheumatoid arthritis in 321 knees (7.1%), and osteonecrosis in 137 knees (3.0%). Among the procedures, total KA was performed in 4,109 knees (87.5%), while unicompartmental KA accounted for 581 knees (12.4%). Among primary procedures, computer-assisted surgery system was used for 1008 knees (22.1%), of which, 696 knees (69.0%) were navigation, and robot was used for 309 knees (30.7%). The mean operation time was 101.2 (SD: ±35.0) minutes, and the mean blood loss was 27.6 (SD: ±80.7) ml. Mean hospital stay was 20.3 (SD: ±9.8) days. Revision KA was performed in 133 knees (2.8%).
CONCLUSIONS: This study establishes a robust foundation for RWD research in the field of KA in Japan and highlights the potential of standardized databases to generate real-world evidence (RWE). Such evidence can support clinicians in implementing evidence-based decision-making and optimizing patient care within local practices.
METHODS: The data were extracted from hospital medical records. Patients who underwent KA procedures between February 2012 - March 2024 were included.
RESULTS: 3,521 patients were identified, with a mean age of 74.6 (SD: ±7.9) years and 858 (24.3%) were male. The database includes 4,698 surgical cases, comprising 4,557 (97.0%) primary surgeries and 141 (3.0%) revision surgeries. The primary diagnosis included OA in 4,086 knees (89.8%), rheumatoid arthritis in 321 knees (7.1%), and osteonecrosis in 137 knees (3.0%). Among the procedures, total KA was performed in 4,109 knees (87.5%), while unicompartmental KA accounted for 581 knees (12.4%). Among primary procedures, computer-assisted surgery system was used for 1008 knees (22.1%), of which, 696 knees (69.0%) were navigation, and robot was used for 309 knees (30.7%). The mean operation time was 101.2 (SD: ±35.0) minutes, and the mean blood loss was 27.6 (SD: ±80.7) ml. Mean hospital stay was 20.3 (SD: ±9.8) days. Revision KA was performed in 133 knees (2.8%).
CONCLUSIONS: This study establishes a robust foundation for RWD research in the field of KA in Japan and highlights the potential of standardized databases to generate real-world evidence (RWE). Such evidence can support clinicians in implementing evidence-based decision-making and optimizing patient care within local practices.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-09, ISPOR Real-World Evidence Summit 2025, Tokyo, Japan
Value in Health Regional, Volume 49S (September 2025)
Code
RWD36
Topic Subcategory
Distributed Data & Research Networks
Disease
SDC: Musculoskeletal Disorders (Arthritis, Bone Disorders, Osteoporosis, Other Musculoskeletal)