Data from: Large regional differences in incidence of arthroscopic meniscal procedures in the public and private sector in Denmark

Objectives: A recent study reported a large increase in the number of meniscal procedures from 2000 to 2011 in Denmark. We examined the nation-wide distribution of meniscal procedures performed in the private and public sector in Denmark since different incentives may be present and the use of these procedures may differ from region to region. Setting: We included data on all patients who underwent an arthroscopic meniscal procedure performed in the public or private sector in Denmark. Participants: Data were retrieved from the Danish National Patient Register on patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscus surgery as a primary or secondary procedure in the years 2000 to 2011. Hospital identification codes enabled linkage of performed procedures to specific hospitals. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Yearly incidence of meniscal procedures per 100 000 inhabitants was calculated with 95% CIs for public and private procedures for each region. Results: Incidence of meniscal procedures increased at private and at public hospitals. The private sector accounted for the largest relative and absolute increase, rising from an incidence of 1 in 2000 to 98 in 2011. In 2011, the incidence of meniscal procedures was three times higher in the Capital Region than in Region Zealand. Conclusions: Our study identified a large increase in the use of meniscal procedures in the public and private sector in Denmark. The increase was particularly conspicuous in the private sector as its proportion of procedures performed increased from 1% to 32%. Substantial regional differences were present in the incidence and trend over time of meniscal procedures.

研究目的：既往一项研究显示，2000年至2011年丹麦的半月板手术（meniscal procedures）量大幅增长。本研究旨在探讨丹麦公立与私立医疗机构开展的半月板手术的全国分布情况，因不同医疗体系可能存在差异化激励机制，且各地区的手术开展模式或存在差异。
研究场景：本研究纳入丹麦所有在公立或私立医疗机构接受关节镜下半月板手术（arthroscopic meniscal procedure）的患者数据。
研究对象与数据来源：数据提取自丹麦国家患者登记库（Danish National Patient Register），纳入2000年至2011年间接受关节镜下半月板手术作为主要或次要手术的患者数据。医院识别编码可将所实施的手术与具体医疗机构进行关联。
主要与次要结局指标：计算各地区公立与私立手术的每10万居民年发病率，并给出95%置信区间（95% Confidence Interval, 95% CI）。
研究结果：公立与私立医院的半月板手术发病率均呈上升趋势。其中私立医疗机构的相对与绝对增长幅度均最为显著，手术发病率从2000年的每10万居民1例，升至2011年的98例。2011年，首都大区的半月板手术发病率是西兰大区的3倍。
研究结论：本研究证实，丹麦公立与私立医疗机构的半月板手术使用量均大幅增长。其中私立医疗机构的手术占比从1%升至32%，增长尤为突出。此外，各地区的半月板手术发病率及随时间变化的趋势均存在显著地域差异。