TOPLINE:
According to this meta-analysis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) affects 112 out of every 100,000 adults globally, with higher rates observed in Europe and North America than in Asia and South America, according to an analysis of 30 studies.
METHODOLOGY:
- Many previous epidemiological studies have estimated the global prevalence of PsA but have reported marked variations, which could be explained by differences in methodology and inclusion criteria.
- This meta-analysis used data from 30 studies conducted between 1982 and 2020 to estimate the worldwide prevalence of PsA in the general adult population, giving particular attention to methodological differences among the included studies.
- The included studies were either population-based (n = 13) or based on health administrative records (n = 17) and covered over 180 million adults across 24 countries.
- Overall, 15 studies were from Europe, seven from Asia, six from North America, and two from South America.
TAKEAWAY:
- The global prevalence of PsA was estimated at 113 (95% CI, 64-198) and 109 (75-158) cases per 100,000 based on population-based studies and health administrative data studies, respectively.
- The pooled global prevalence of PsA (combining the population-based and health administrative studies) was 112 cases per 100,000 (95% CI, 83-151).
- Combining both study designs, the global prevalence rates of PsA were 188 (95% CI, 128-289) cases per 100,000 for Europe, 48 (95% CI, 20-115) for Asia, 133 (95% CI, 93-191) for North America, and 17 (95% CI, 4-70) for South America.
IN PRACTICE:
“Robust estimates of prevalence are crucial for healthcare planning and resource allocation,” wrote the authors.
SOURCE:
The study was conducted by Stephanie Lembke, MSc, and colleagues from the Aberdeen Centre for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health, University of Aberdeen, Scotland. It was published online in Rheumatology (Oxford).
LIMITATIONS:
The meta-analysis had high levels of uncertainty and high heterogeneity between studies. In countries with unequal healthcare access, using data from statutory or private insurance databases to calculate PsA prevalence may systematically exclude uninsured individuals or those covered by private insurers. Moreover, the data were insufficient for a statistically meaningful subgroup analysis.
DISCLOSURES:
The study did not receive any specific funding from any public, commercial, or nonprofit sectors to carry out this work. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.