Uveitis Etiology in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Define the etiologic profile of uveitis in China.

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-guided systematic review of studies from PubMed, Scopus, PubMed Central, Web of Science, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) (January 2005-January 2025). Eligible cross-sectional and cohort studies reporting etiologies were included. Proportions with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled, and heterogeneity was assessed with I².

Of 2,273 records, 10 studies met criteria (2005-2025; sample sizes 144-15373). Pooled proportions: idiopathic uveitis 41.75% (95% CI 36.88-46.78%); Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome 14.12% (95% CI 10.56-18.63%); Behçet's disease 7.7% (95% CI 5.2-11.27%); and Ankylosing spondylitis 5.75% (95% CI 3.65-8.96%). Infectious causes were less frequent: herpetic uveitis 2.22% (95% CI 1.47-3.34%), acute retinal necrosis (ARN) 0.94% (95% CI 0.39-2.25%), and syphilis 1.03% (95% CI 0.59-1.79%), although rates varied significantly across centers.

Uveitis in China is largely idiopathic (~41.75%), with a predominance of autoimmune etiologies, specifically Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome and Behçet's disease. These findings reflect a distinct epidemiological profile.