Hemochromatosis-associated morbidity in the United States: An analysis of the National Hospital Discharge Survey, 1979-1997

Purpose: The recent discovery of the HFE gene and its association with hereditary hemochromatosis has renewed the attention directed to iron-overload diseases. Population screening for hereditary hemochromatosis is under debate, and population-based estimates of morbidity associated with hereditary hemochromatosis are needed. The purpose of this study is to estimate the number of hemochromatosis-associated hospitalizations in the United States using a population-based dataset. Methods: National Hospital Discharge Survey and census data were used to estimate hemochromatosis-associated hospitalization rates for persons 18 years of age and over. Results: From 1979 through 1997, the rate of hemochromatosis-associated hospitalizations was 2.3 per 100,000 persons in the United States. The rate among persons 60 years of age and over increased more than 60% during this time period. Conclusion: The increase in the rate of hereditary hemochromatosis-associated hospitalizations among older persons is consistent with recent trends in mortality data and may reflect the rising awareness of iron-overload disorders in the United States.