The findings and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Spondylarthritis
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The prevalence of HLA–B27 in the US: Data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009†
Article first published online: 26 APR 2012
DOI: 10.1002/art.33503
Copyright © 2012 by the American College of Rheumatology
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How to Cite
Reveille, J. D., Hirsch, R., Dillon, C. F., Carroll, M. D. and Weisman, M. H. (2012), The prevalence of HLA–B27 in the US: Data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 64: 1407–1411. doi: 10.1002/art.33503
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Publication History
- Issue published online: 26 APR 2012
- Article first published online: 26 APR 2012
- Accepted manuscript online: 2 DEC 2011 09:22AM EST
- Manuscript Accepted: 22 NOV 2011
- Manuscript Received: 4 AUG 2011
Funded by
- CDC
- CDC Foundation (through an unrestricted grant from the Spondyloarthritis Association of America)
- Spondyloarthritis Research and Treatment Network
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Abstract
Objective
To carry out the first large-scale population study of the prevalence of HLA–B27 in the US, which is needed for public health planning purposes because of recent improvements in medical therapy and diagnostic testing for ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
Methods
The national prevalence of HLA–B27 was determined as part of the 2009 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a cross-sectional survey monitoring the health and nutritional status of the US civilian, noninstitutionalized population. DNA polymerase chain reaction analysis was conducted in samples from 2,320 adults ages 20–69 years from this nationally representative sample.
Results
The age-adjusted US prevalence of B27 was 6.1% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 4.6–8.2). By race/ethnicity, the prevalence of B27 was 7.5% (95% CI 5.3–10.4) among non-Hispanic whites and 3.5% (95% CI 2.5–4.8) among all other US races/ethnicities combined. In Mexican Americans, the prevalence was 4.6% (95% CI 3.4–6.1). The prevalence of B27 could not be reliably estimated for other US racial/ethnic groups because of the low number of B27-positive individuals in those groups. For adults 50–69 years of age, the prevalence of B27 was 3.6% (95% CI 2.2–5.8), which suggested a decrease in B27 with age. These prevalence estimates took into account the NHANES survey design and are reviewed with respect to data from the medical literature.
Conclusion
Our findings provide the first US national prevalence estimates for HLA–B27. A decline in the prevalence of HLA–B27 with age is suggested by these data but must be confirmed by additional studies.