What's the latest research on autoimmune disease incidence?

A new study has been published examining the incidence of autoimmune diseases in the UK from 2000 to 2019. This particular study reviewed electronic health records from over 22 million UK patients between the years 2000 and 2019. It examined the diagnoses of 19 common autoimmune diseases, including celiac disease, Sjogren's disease, Graves’ disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.

In this case, researchers found that 10% of the study cohort had at least one of the 19 autoimmune diseases. This figure was higher than previous estimates that autoimmune diseases impacted 5-9% of the population. Results from this study suggested that 13% of women and 7% of men are affected by autoimmune diseases.

In addition, this study found that between 2000 and 2019, celiac disease, Sjogren's disease, and Graves' disease experienced the most significant increases in incidence. Moreover, certain diseases were more likely to be associated with one another and present as co-morbid conditions in patients. For example, Sjogren's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) were commonly associated with one another, suggesting "that some autoimmune diseases share common risk factors, such as genetic predispositions or environmental triggers." Individuals with childhood-onset type I diabetes also experienced significantly higher rates of Addison's disease, celiac disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and Graves' disease.

The Autoimmune Registry is currently conducting our prevalence research, examining electronic medical records from several university hospital systems and looking at over 100 confirmed as well as suspected autoimmune diseases. We look forward to publishing our findings and sharing our results with our registrants.

To support our work, please join our registry or share it with a friend who has an autoimmune condition.  Donations are also greatly appreciated!