Epidemiology of Uveitis in a Spanish Region: Prevalence and Etiology

ABSTRACT

Objective

To estimate the prevalence of uveitis and to describe its etiologic and anatomical patterns based on a population study carried out in a Spanish region.

Material and methods

A cross-sectional, descriptive, population-based multicenter study was conducted. The selection criteria consisted of having a diagnosis of uveitis. All data were collected from existing information in medical records.

Clinical information was collected in all cases that had a diagnosis of uveitis, regardless of its etiology, in participating centers from the date of the study to the end of the following year. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, which included assessment of their visual acuity, biomicroscopy, applanation tonometry, and indirect ophthalmoscopy.

Results

During the study, 389 cases of uveitis were registered. The prevalence was 58.7 (95% confidence interval [CI] 53.0–64.9). The mean age was 47.0 ± 20.6 years and 57.8% were women. The most prevalent anatomical pattern was anterior uveitis (54.2; 95% CI 48.1–60.8). For adults, the idiopathic group constituted the highest prevalence (31.7; 95% CI: 27.1–36.9), while autoimmune etiology was most frequent for children (10.6; 95% CI: 5.8–17.7).

Conclusion

The results of this population-based study offer a representative estimate of the magnitude of uveitis in this area of Spain.

KEYWORDS:

• Uveitis
• prevalence
• etiology
• anatomical pattern
• epidemiology

Acknowledgments

We would like to thanks Maria Jesús García de Yébenes, who provided relevant statistical assistance concerning data analysis.

Declaration of interest

All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Contributorship statement

AGA and SMF were responsible for the conception, design, analysis, and data interpretation. LAM, RLL, RQZ, LDOP, SSF, RJE, and FGV were responsible for data acquisition and interpretation. TO was responsible for data analysis and interpretation. All the authors have made substantial contributions to the final manuscript content and provided their approval of it.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for the study was partially provided by UveCAM Project, which is sponsored by the Rheumatology Society of Castilla La Mancha (Spain);Rheumatology Society of Castilla La Mancha (Spain).