REVIEW - The epidemiology of autoimmune diseases

[Guest guest]

Autoimmun Rev. 2003 May;2(3):119-25.

The epidemiology of autoimmune diseases.

GS, Stroehla BC.

Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health

Sciences, Durham, NC, USA.

Autoimmune diseases are among the leading causes of death among young

and middle-aged women in the United States. Incidence rates vary among

the autoimmune diseases, with estimates ranging from less than one

newly-diagnosed case of systemic sclerosis to more than 20 cases of

adult-onset rheumatoid arthritis per 100,000 person-years. Prevalence

rates range from less than 5 per 100,000 (e.g. chronic active

hepatitis, uveitis) to more than 500 per 100,000 (Grave disease,

rheumatoid arthritis, thyroiditis). At least 85% of thyroiditis,

systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Sjögren disease

patients are female. Although most diseases can occur at any age, some

diseases primarily occur in childhood and adolescence (e.g. type 1

diabetes), in the mid-adult years (e.g. myasthenia gravis, multiple

sclerosis), or among older adults (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, primary

systemic vasculitis). Ethnic and geographic differences in incidence

of specific autoimmune diseases have been documented, but specific

groups may be at higher risk for some diseases and lower risk for

other diseases. The incidence of type 1 diabetes increased but the

rates of rheumatoid arthritis declined over the past 40 years. Thus

although there are commonalities, there are also important demographic

differences between diseases. Disease-specific research, as well as

studies that focus on potentially related diseases, needs to be

conducted.

PMID: 12848952

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12848952

Not an MD