Epidemiology

Epicondylitis has a worldwide distribution. Prevalence rates for both lateral and medial epicondylitis are similar.

One study, over a period of 1 year, reported epicondylitis prevalence ranging from 1.3% (definite) to 2.8% (definite or possible) laterally, and 0.4% (definite) to 1.9% (definite or possible) medially, in a population sample of people aged 30-64 years.[5] Concurrent medial and lateral epicondylitis occurred less frequently, with a prevalence (definite or possible) of 0.5% in males to 1.8% in females.[5]

Data derived from a US insurance-based database of patient records suggest an annual lateral epicondylitis incidence of 15.1 per 10,000 between 2007 and 2014.[6] During the same period (and querying the same database), a significant increase in the incidence of medial epicondylitis was noted (2.9 per 10,000 in 2007; 4.0 per 10,000 in 2014).[7]

Epidemiological studies on epicondylitis have failed to demonstrate incidence rate differences between ethnic groups.[5] One meta-analysis found that women had a higher risk of sustaining lateral epicondylitis (odds ratio males: females = 0.77).[8] Increasing age is a contributing factor in epicondylitis development.[5][6][7][9]

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