title: Prevalence and incidence of pernicious anemia. An evaluation for gastric screening.
abstract: To evaluate the feasibility of gastroscopic screening for gastric malignancy in patients with pernicious anemia, all individuals treated with vitamin B12 in a well-defined population were identified. Individuals treated for an uncertain diagnosis were submitted to supplementary examinations. Of all individuals treated with vitamin B12 41% had unequivocal pernicious anemia, 13% possible pernicious anemia, 26% vitamin B12 malabsorption other than pernicious anemia, and 20% no verified vitamin B12 deficiency. The maximum crude prevalence of pernicious anemia was 1.98 per mile and the crude maximum incidence 16.7 x 10(-5) x year-1. The estimated annual cost of endoscopic gastric screening at 3-year intervals in patients with pernicious anemia younger than 75 years of age would be SEK 15,000/100,000 inhabitants, a cost that to a great extent could be financed by a more adequate prescription of vitamin B12 treatment.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000752:Anemia, Pernicious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005773:Gastroscopy / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D014805:Vitamin B 12