Epidemiology

In the US, incidence of polycythemia vera (PV) is reported to be 1.57 per 100,000 person-years (data from 2002 to 2016).[11]​ In the UK, annual incidence of PV is 1.8 per 100,000, with an estimated 1140 people newly diagnosed each year (data from 2010 to 2019).[20]

PV occurs more commonly in males (male to female rate ratio approximately 1.6 in the US and 1.2 in the UK).[11][20]​ Incidence in the US is reported to be highest among white people.[11] Increased incidence and prevalence of PV has been reported in Ashkenazi Jewish communities.[21][22]​​​[23]

PV more commonly affects middle-aged and older people (approximately 63% of patients in the US are age ≥60 years at diagnosis), but it can occur at any age.[11] Median age at diagnosis is 65 years in the US and 71 years in the UK.[11][20]

Prevalence of PV has been reported to be between 22 and 57 per 100,000 in the US.[9][24][25]​​​​​[26]​ Global data, outside of the US and Western Europe, are scant.

PV is extremely rare in children.[10][27]

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