Epidemiology of scleritis in the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2018: population-based analysis of 11 million patients and association between scleritis and infectious and immune-mediated inflammatory disease

Tasanee Braithwaite, Nicola Adderley, Anuradhaa Subramanian, James Galloway, John H. Kempen, Krishna Gokhale, Andrew P Cope, Andrew D. Dick, Krishnarajah Nirantharakumar, Alastair Denniston

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective

To estimate 22‐year trends in scleritis prevalence and incidence and associations with infectious/immune‐mediated inflammatory diseases (I‐IMIDs) in the United Kingdom (UK).

 

Methods

Retrospective cross‐sectional and population cohort study (1997‐2018) included 10,939,823 patients (n=2946 incident scleritis cases) in The Health Improvement Network (THIN), a nationally‐representative primary care records database. Case‐control and cohort study (1995‐2019) included 3005 incident scleritis cases and 12,020 control patients matched by age, sex, region and Townsend Deprivation Index (TDI). We adjusted Poisson, Logistic and Cox proportional hazard multivariable models by age, sex, TDI, race/ethnicity, smoking, nation and body mass index category. Estimates include 95% confidence intervals.

 

Results

Scleritis incidence rates declined from 4·23(2·16‐6·31) to 2·79(2·19‐3·39) per 100,000 person‐years between 1997 and 2018. Prevalence was 93·62(90·17‐97·07)/100,000 people in 2018 (61,650 UK patients). Amongst 2946 incident scleritis patients, 62·2%(n=1831) were female, mean age was 44·9(SD17·6, range 1‐93) years and 88·8%(n=1257) were White. Higher risk of incident scleritis was associated with female sex (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR]=1·54, 1·43‐1·66,p<0.001), Black (aIRR=1·52, 1·14‐2·01,p=0.004) or South Asian race/ethnicity (aIRR=1·50, 1·19‐1·90,p<0.001) versus White, and older age (peak aIRR=4·95, 3·99‐6·14,p<0.001 for ages 51‐60 years versus ≤10 years). Compared to controls, scleritis patients had 2‐fold increased risk of prior I‐IMID diagnosis (p<0.001, 17 I‐IMIDs) and significantly increased risk of subsequent diagnosis of 13 I‐IMIDs. Strongest associations included granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Behçet’s disease, and Sjögren’s syndrome.

 

Conclusion

Over 1997‐2018 the UK incidence of scleritis declined from 4·23 to 2·79/100,000 persons/year. Incident scleritis was associated with 19 I‐IMIDs, providing data for rational investigation and cross‐specialty engagement.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1267-1276
JournalArthritis and Rheumatology
Volume73
Issue number7
Early online date16 Mar 2021
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 16 Mar 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Rheumatology
  • Immunology

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