Background:The epidemiology and clinical features of thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) in Japan have not been updated extensively.

Methods and Results:This retrospective study used the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (JMHLW) medical support system database and associated health insurance data. The number of medical financial support recipients registered as TAO patients and estimated prevalence of TAO decreased from fiscal year (FY) 2000 (10,089 and 7.95 [95% confidence interval, CI: 7.79–8.10] per 100,000 population) to FY 2010 (7,147 and 5.58 [95% Cl: 5.45–5.71] per 100,000) and leveled off until 2014. The prevalence of TAO among patients with peripheral arterial occlusive diseases declined from 7.15% (95% Cl: 7.00–7.31) in FY 2008 to 6.12% (95% Cl: 5.98–6.26) in FY 2014. Clinicodemographic features were obtained from 89 new recipients in FY 2013 and 2014: 12 (13%) women, 36 (40%) aged ≥50 years, 26 (29%) had probable onset age ≥50 years, 7 (8%) were non-smokers, and 12 (13%) had arteriosclerosis-related comorbidities. The symptoms were similar regardless of registration age, smoking history, or sex. Although 40 (45%) had digit ulcers, only 12 (13%) fulfilled Shionoya’s criteria. They rarely had infrapopliteal lesions combined with upper extremity involvement or phlebitis.

Conclusions:The prevalence of TAO has decreased in Japan. In the current diagnosis of TAO, various clinical characteristics including late onset, arteriosclerotic factors, non-smoking, or mild symptoms should be considered.

背景：日本血栓闭塞性血管炎（TAO）的流行病学和临床特征尚未得到广泛更新。

方法和结果：这项回顾性研究使用了日本厚生劳动省（JMHLW）的医疗支持系统数据库和相关的健康保险数据。注册为TAO患者的医疗财务支持接受者的数量和估计的TAO患病率从2000财政年度（每100,000人口10,089和7.95 [95％置信区间，CI：7.79-8.10]）下降到2010财政年度（7,147和5.58 [95％Cl：5.45–5.71]每100,000）并稳定至2014年。外周动脉闭塞性疾病患者中TAO的患病率从2008财年的7.15％（95％Cl：7.00–7.31）下降至6.12％（ 2014财年95％的儿童：5.98–6.26）。2013和2014财年从89名新接受者中获得了临床指纹图谱特征：12名女性（13％），36岁（40％）≥50岁，26名（29％）可能发病年龄≥50岁，非吸烟者占7（8％），12例（13％）患有与动脉硬化相关的合并症。无论登记年龄，吸烟史或性别，其症状均相似。尽管40例（45％）有手指溃疡，但只有12例（13％）符合Shionoya的标准。他们很少有in下病变合并上肢受累或静脉炎。

结论：日本的TAO患病率有所下降。在目前对TAO的诊断中，应考虑各种临床特征，包括迟发，动脉硬化因素，禁烟或轻度症状。