Epidemiology of juvenile arthritis in the world / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To review epidemiological studies of juvenile arthritis (JA) published in nearly 20 years,and improve the understanding of JA among medical workers.Methods A review of 31 epidemiological studies of JA from 1992 to 2012,among 23 countries and 37 regions were undertaken.Results Annual incidence rate(AIR) (including JIA/JRA/JCA) was reported as 0.83 per 100 000 children to 25.0 per 100 000 children,the highest AIR was Scotland(25.0/100 000),the lowest was Japan (0.83/100 000).Prevalence of JA was reported as 3.8 per 100 000 children to 367.0 per 100 000 children.The highest one was Australia(367.0/100 000),the lowest was Taiwan(3.8/100 000).The prevalence and incidence had a wide fluctuation range.The major factors contributing to differences in estimates included(1) Different diagnostic criterias among different countries and regions ; (2) Physicians of different levels and experiences had vary awareness of JA,lead to vary errors about the clinical diagnosis ; (3) Vary in economic levels,knowledge,family factors and health care resources led to different attention to JA,and had attendance rates of JA ; (4) Different national,regional,ethnic,and other causes lead to the inherent difference about epidemiological characteristics of JA ; (5) It may exist statistical errors.Conclusions Many factors contribute to the diversity prevalence and incidence of JA among different countries and regions.The actual result need unified diagnosis and classification criteria,rheumatoid specialist physicians,larger samples,multi-center epidemiological survey research data.