title: The incidence of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura among adults: a population-based study and literature review.
abstract: Published data on the epidemiology of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) among adults are very limited. We conducted a study of ITP incidence using the General Practice Research Database in the United Kingdom. From 1992 to 2005, there were 840 cases of ITP among adults considering 21 749 623 person-years (PYs) of follow-up, for a crude incidence of 3.9 per 100 000 PYs [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.6, 4.1]. The incidence was higher among women [4.5 per 100 000 PYs (95% CI: 4.2, 4.9)] than men [3.2 per 100 000 PYs (95% CI: 2.8, 3.5)]. Among both women and men, incidence was higher at older ages and in later study years. In a systematic review of previously published literature, incidence of ITP among adults ranged from 1.6 to 2.68 per 100 000 persons per year; prevalence ranged from 9.5 to 23.6 per 100 000 persons. In order to improve the understanding of the disease burden of ITP, future studies should include a clearly defined definition of ITP and focus on well-described source populations that are geographically and ethnically diverse.
authors.affiliation: Worldwide Epidemiology, GlaxoSmithKline Research & Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA. SalmonBayEpid@gmail.com
authors.forename: Page E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Abrahamson
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Maurille
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feudjo-Tepie
authors.forename: Fanny S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Mitrani-Gold
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Logie
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology