Epidemiology of anaphylaxis

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Allergy and Immunology

Background:

• Anaphylaxis epidemiology relies on diverse data sources, including clinical practice, large databases, and population surveys.
• Robust findings suggest higher-than-expected incidence and prevalence rates for anaphylaxis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize current epidemiological data on anaphylaxis.
• To examine trends in incidence, prevalence, hospital admissions, mortality, and recurrence.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of publications from the last 5 years.
• Review of clinical, administrative, and survey data.
• Examination of mortality data from death declarations and national databases.

Main Results:

• Anaphylaxis incidence ranges from 50-112 episodes per 100,000 person-years; prevalence is 0.3-5.1%.
• Rates are higher in children (0-4 years). Hospital admissions increased 5-7 fold in 10-15 years.
• Mortality is low (0.35-1.06 deaths/million/year) with no increase; recurrence affects 26.5-54% of patients.

Conclusions:

• Anaphylaxis is more common than previously recognized, with significant implications for public health.
• While fatalities are infrequent, recurrence poses a considerable challenge, especially in specific patient groups.