Global epidemiology of vasculitis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Immunology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Vasculitis encompasses diverse conditions characterized by blood vessel inflammation.
• Potential long-term sequelae include vision loss, aneurysm formation, and kidney failure.
• Accurate incidence and prevalence data are limited by diagnostic challenges and rarity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize current understanding of vasculitis epidemiology.
• To highlight variations in vasculitis types based on age, ancestry, and geography.
• To identify knowledge gaps in global vasculitis distribution.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing epidemiological data.
• Comparison of incidence and prevalence across different vasculitis subtypes.
• Analysis of demographic factors influencing vasculitis occurrence.

Main Results:

• Giant cell arteritis (GCA) affects individuals over 50, predominantly of Northern European ancestry.
• Takayasu arteritis (TA) primarily affects those under 40.
• Kawasaki disease (KD) is common in children under 5, especially of Asian ancestry; IgA vasculitis affects children and adolescents.
• Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is increasingly recognized across populations, with incidence rising with age.
• Behçet syndrome prevalence is highest along the ancient Silk Road.

Conclusions:

• Vasculitis exhibits significant heterogeneity in its epidemiology, influenced by age, ethnicity, and geographic factors.
• Further research is needed to understand the impact of ethnicity, environment, and social determinants on vasculitis development.
• Improved diagnostic criteria and global data collection are crucial for accurate epidemiological assessment.