Prevalence and Incidence of Pernicious Anemia

Abstract

To evaluate the feasibility of gastroscopic screening for gastric malignancy in patients with pernicious anemia, all individuals treated with vitamin B₁₂ in a well-defined population were identified. Individuals treated for an uncertain diagnosis were submitted to supplementary examinations. Of all individuals treated with vitamin B₁₂ 41% had unequivocal pernicious anemia. 13% possible pernicious anemia, 26% vitamin B₁₂ malabsorption other than pernicious anemia, and 20% no verified vitamin B₁₂ deficiency. The maximum crude prevalence of pernicious anemia was 1.98 per mille and the crude maximum incidence 16.7 × 10^-5 × year^-1. The estimated annual cost of endoscopic gastric screening at 3-year intervals in patients with pernicious anemia younger than 75 years of age would be SEK 15,000/100,000 inhabitants, a cost that to a great extent could be financed by a more adequate prescription of vitamin B₁₂ treatment.

Key words:

• Age
• diagnosis
• gastric screening
• incidence
• pernicious anemia
• prevalence
• sex
• vitamin B₁₂ treatment