Autoimmune diseases encompass a wide range of medical conditions where the immune system erroneously targets its own cells, tissues, or organs. Misdirected immune responses can lead to inflammation and damage throughout the body, with common autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and type 1 diabetes.
A new comprehensive study reveals that autoimmune disorders, which cause the immune system to wrongly target healthy cells, now impact roughly one out of every ten people. This research is based on a population-wide study involving 22 million individuals.
This study utilized an expansive set of anonymized electronic health records from the UK to probe 19 of the most prevalent autoimmune diseases. The study’s results, published in The Lancet and presented at the 2023 EULAR congress in Milan, revealed that these diseases impact around 10% of the population – 13% of women and 7% of men. These figures surpass previous estimates which were typically based on smaller data sets and considered fewer autoimmune diseases.
From 2000 to 2019, new diagnoses for one or more autoimmune diseases were confirmed in 978,872 individuals. Importantly, age-standardized incidence rates for autoimmune diseases witnessed a 4% rise over the course of the study, with equal rates observed in both genders. Graves’ disease, coeliac disease, and Sjogren’s syndrome saw the most significant increases in their incidences, which have doubled in the last two decades. In contrast, incidences of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and pernicious anemia notably decreased over the same time period.
The research team uncovered evidence of socioeconomic, seasonal, and regional disparities in several autoimmune disorders. For example, type 1 diabetes and vitiligo had a higher occurrence in winter and summer respectively. These fluctuations may indicate the role of potentially modifiable risk factors such as smoking, obesity, or stress, in triggering certain autoimmune diseases.
Additionally, the study found that individuals with one autoimmune disease were at a higher risk of developing a second compared to those without an autoimmune condition.
“Autoimmune disorders often coexist, especially Sjogren’s, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic sclerosis,” said Nathalie Conrad from the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at KU Leuven in Belgium. “Patients with type 1 diabetes are also found to have significantly higher incidences of Addison’s, coeliac, and thyroid diseases. However, multiple sclerosis has lower rates of co-occurrence with other autoimmune diseases.”
Notably, not all autoimmune diseases exhibited this pattern of co-occurrence. Multiple sclerosis, for instance, had lower rates of coexistence with other autoimmune diseases, hinting at a unique pathophysiology.
The findings imply that the toll of autoimmune diseases is progressively increasing, although at a moderate pace. This could be partly due to a greater awareness of certain conditions over the study period, alongside enhanced coding practices and earlier recognition. Environmental factors may also play a role in disease development, as suggested by observed socioeconomic, seasonal, and regional disparities. The authors further argue that the interconnections among autoimmune diseases indicate the presence of common mechanisms or factors.
Reference: “Incidence, prevalence, and co-occurrence of autoimmune disorders over time and by age, sex, and socioeconomic status: a population-based cohort study of 22 million individuals in the UK” by Nathalie Conrad, Shivani Misra, Jan Y Verbakel, Geert Verbeke, Geert Molenberghs, Peter N Taylor, Justin Mason, Naveed Sattar, John J V McMurray, Iain B McInnes, Kamlesh Khunti and Geraldine Cambridge, 5 May 2023, The Lancet.
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00457-9
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Autoimmune Diseases Incidence
What percentage of the population is affected by autoimmune diseases according to the new study?
According to the new comprehensive study, about 10% of the population is affected by autoimmune diseases. This includes 13% of women and 7% of men.
What data source did the researchers use to investigate the prevalence of autoimmune diseases?
The researchers used a vast dataset of anonymized electronic health records from the UK. This enabled them to investigate 19 of the most common autoimmune diseases among 22 million individuals.
Which autoimmune diseases saw the most significant increase in incidences over the past two decades?
The most significant increases in incidences over the past two decades were observed in Graves’ disease, coeliac disease, and Sjogren’s syndrome. Their incidences have effectively doubled during this period.
What potential risk factors were suggested in the study for the development of some autoimmune diseases?
The study suggested that potentially modifiable risk factors such as smoking, obesity, or stress might contribute to the development of some autoimmune diseases.
Is there a tendency for people with one autoimmune disease to develop another?
Yes, the study revealed that people with one autoimmune disease were more likely to develop a second compared to those without an autoimmune disease. However, not all autoimmune diseases demonstrated this trend. Multiple sclerosis, for instance, stood out as having low rates of co-occurrence with other autoimmune diseases.
More about Autoimmune Diseases Incidence
- The Lancet Publication
- 2023 EULAR Congress
- Autoimmune Diseases Information by Mayo Clinic
- KU Leuven’s Department of Public Health and Primary Care
