Background: Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is not rare disease and it is potentially fatal, particularly in patients with bleeding events which usually lead to hospitalization. Current data on the impact and disease burden of ITP in Thailand are lacking.
Objective: To determine admission rate, mortality rate, hospital cost, length of hospital stay, co morbidities, treatment and major bleeding events in patients with ITP.
Material and Method: The authors analyzed the data of inpatients with a diagnosis of ITP according to ICD 10 coded D69.3 which were retrieved from a nationwide health financing schemes in fiscal 2010. The data were analyzed by age groups, gender and health financing schemes.
Results: The overall admission rate and mortality rate were 7.68 and 0.29 per 100,000 populations, respectively and increased with age. Women were predominant. Average hospital costs and hospital stays were 27,133 Baht and 6.7 days per admission, respectively and slightly higher among men than women. The most common co-morbidity was hypertension. Gastrointestinal hemorrhage was the most common bleeding event which was 21.5 per 1,000 admissions. Patients in the civil servant medical benefit scheme had the highest percentage of high cost treatment accessibility.
Conclusion: The admission rate, mortality rate and major bleeding events increased with age and was higher among women than men. Average hospital cost and length of hospital stay are higher in men than women. Common co-morbidities may be related to the treatment of ITP. There are the differences in high-cost treatment accessibility between health insurance schemes.

Keywords: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Burden of disease, Population-based study