%0 Journal Article %A Timm Greulich %A Christoph Nell %A David Hohmann %A Marco Grebe %A Sabina Janciauskiene %A Andreas Rembert Koczulla %A Claus Franz Vogelmeier %T The prevalence of diagnosed α1-antitrypsin deficiency and its comorbidities: results from a large population-based database %D 2017 %R 10.1183/13993003.00154-2016 %J European Respiratory Journal %P 1600154 %V 49 %N 1 %X α1-Antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetically determined disorder that is associated with different clinical manifestations. We aimed to assess the prevalence of diagnosed AATD and its comorbidities using a large healthcare database.In this retrospective longitudinal observational study, we analysed data from 4 million insurants. Using International Classification of Diseases revision 10 (ICD-10) codes, we assessed the prevalence, comorbidities and healthcare utilisation of AATD patients (E88.0 repeatedly coded) relative to non-AATD patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or asthma.In our study population, we identified 673 AATD patients (590 aged ≥30 years), corresponding to a prevalence of 23.73 per 100 000 in all age groups and 29.36 per 100 000 in those ≥30 years. Based on the number of AATD cases detected in the sample size (673 out of 2 836 585), we extrapolated that there were 19 162 AATD cases in Germany during the years studied. AATD patients had a higher prevalence of arterial hypertension, chronic kidney disease and diabetes relative to non-AATD asthma or emphysema patients. When compared to non-AATD COPD patients, AATD patients had significantly more consultations and more frequent and longer hospitalisations.Our data strengthen the assumption that AATD is associated with a variety of other diseases. Healthcare utilisation appears to be higher among AATD patients as compared to patients with non-AATD-related obstructive lung diseases.AATD patients have higher healthcare utilisation relative to non-AATD COPD, emphysema and asthma patients http://ow.ly/pHHh303m025 %U https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/erj/49/1/1600154.full.pdf