OBJECTIVES: Given the challenges comparing epidemiology estimates across studies which often vary in disease definition, methodology, and time period, this analysis evaluates the extent to which the National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS) reflects patient characteristics and current epidemiology of several diseases in the general adult population in five European (5EU) countries.

METHODS: The NHWS samples included adults who self-reported diagnosis of migraine, psoriasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Patient characteristics from the 2017 and 2018 France, Italy, Spain, UK and Germany NHWS were compared with independent data sources and with the Epi Database®, a literature-based epidemiology tool. All data are reported using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: For adults with migraine, the unadjusted prevalence was 5.0% in the 5EU NHWS, compared with 3.5% in the literature, and the percent of women with episodic or chronic migraine (≥4 migraine days/month) was 77.0% (NHWS, country range: 73.0%-79.0%), compared to 75.0%. The unadjusted prevalence of COPD in the 5EU was 4.4% and 6.4%, with 1.1% and 28.3% estimated for NAFLD, as reported in NHWS and prior literature, respectively. In France, the prevalence of psoriasis was 6.2% in the NHWS compared to the published 4.3%. Previous literature suggested that patients are on average 51.6 years old, with an average body mass index (BMI) of 26.0 kg/m², and 45.2% are male. NHWS data showed similar results: mean 50.8 years old, BMI of 26.3 kg/m², 42.4% male.

CONCLUSIONS: Across most therapeutic areas examined, estimates of prevalence and patient characteristics were similar in both the NHWS and prior literature, supporting the representativeness of the NHWS. Observed differences might reflect differences in methodology, sample, or timing across data sources. Importantly, for some conditions, published data on patient characteristics are limited, highlighting the relevance of the NHWS as a data source across geographic regions.