Epidemiology
Prevalence and incidence
Anaphylaxis is not always recognised, so certain UK studies may underestimate the incidence. UK data from 2005 suggest a diagnosis of anaphylaxis in 75.5 per 100,000 population, indicating that about 1 in 1,333 of the UK population have experienced anaphylaxis at some point in their lives.23 Other sources suggest that anaphylaxis affects 1 in 3,500 people in the UK.24
There has been a dramatic increase in hospital admissions for anaphylaxis between 1990 and 2004, rising from 0.5 to 3.6 per 100,000, an increase of 700%. 25
It is clear that anaphylaxis is not rare and that the incidence is increasing, especially in the first two decades of life, as the highest incidence rate has been reported in individuals aged 0 to 19 years. 2 Anaphylaxis is more common in males before the age of 15 years, while females predominate after that age.2
Food is the most common trigger in children, adolescents and young adults, whereas medications and stinging insect venom are more likely culprits in older patients. 2
Mortality
In England mortality rates for anaphylaxis have been reported as up to 0.05 per 100,000 population, or approximately 10–20 people per year.26 One UK study estimated that if 5% of the child population have food allergy, the risk of death for a food-allergic child is about 1 in 800,000 per year.27
- 2 - Simons FER. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2009;124:625-36.
- 23 - Sheikh A et al. J Roy Soc Med 2008;101:139-43.
- 24 - Royal College of Physicians Allergy: the unmet need A blueprint for better patient care. June 2003.
- 25 - Resuscitation Council (UK) Guidelines. January 2008. Available at: www.resus.org.uk/pages/reaction.pdf Accessed on 03 June 2011.
- 26 - Review of Services for Allergy. Department of Health 2006; Sections2.54-55, 2.60-63 and 2.86.
- 27 - Macdougall CF et al. Arch Dis Child 2002;86:236-9