title: Incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus in Finland, 2000-2007, a nationwide study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the age- and sex-specific incidence rates of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  The incident cases were identified through diagnostic register searches for SLE on the nationwide database of the Social Insurance Institution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 8-year study period 599 incident cases occurred (518 females, 81 males). The mean annual incidence rate of SLE for adults was 1.69 per 100,000 (95% CI 1.56-1.84) and was highest among females aged 40-59 years. The gender incidence rate ratio was 6.43 (95% CI 5.06-8.26). The incidence for children was 0.39 (95% CI 0.27-0.55).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of SLE was lower compared to the countries at the same latitudes. SLE in children remained a rarity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland. pia.elfving@kuh.fi.
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elfving
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Puolakka
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kautiainen
authors.forename: Lauri J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Virta
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pohjolainen
authors.forename: Oili
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kaipiainen-Seppänen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult