Pericarditis epidemiology and demographics

The incidence of acute pericarditis is approximately 27.7 per 100,000 individuals annually. The recurrence of disease is seen in almost 30% of patients after first episode. The mortality rate of acute pericarditis is approximately 1.1% in developed countries. Patients of all age groups may develop acute pericarditis. Although it commonly affects men in 20 to 50 years of age. Pericarditis in developed countries is most commonly due to malignancy or viral infection. It usually follows respiratory infections, most commonly echovirus or coxsackie virus. In children, it is most commonly caused by adenovirus or coxsackie virus. In developing countries pericarditis is usually secondary to tuberculosis or HIV infection. Tuberculous pericarditis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is found in approximately 1% of all autopsied cases of TB and in 1% to 2% of instances of pulmonary TB.

• The incidence of acute pericarditis is approximately 27.7 per 100,000 individuals annually.^[1][2][3][4]
• The incidence of hospitalization for acute pericarditis was estimated to be 3.32 cases per 100,000 individuals annually.
• The recurrence of pericarditis is seen in almost 30% of patients after first episode of disease.

• The mortality rate of acute pericarditis is approximately 1.1% in developed countries.^[2]

• Patients of all age groups may develop acute pericarditis. Although it commonly affects people in 20 to 50 years of age.^[5]

• There is no racial predilection to acute pericarditis.

• Men are more commonly affected by acute pericarditis than women.

• Pericarditis in developed countries is most commonly due to malignancy or viral infection.^[6][7][8]
• It usually follows respiratory infections, most commonly echovirus or coxsackie virus.
• In children, it is most commonly caused by adenovirus or coxsackie virus.
• The incidence and prevalence of viral pericarditis vary with season and region.

• In developing countries pericarditis is usually secondary to tuberculosis or HIV infection.^{[9][10][11][12]}
• Tuberculous pericarditis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is found in approximately 1% of all autopsied cases of TB and in 1% to 2% of instances of pulmonary TB. It accounted for 69.5% (162 of 233) of cases referred for diagnostic pericardiocentesis in a study in Western Cape Province of South Africa, while the same accounts for 4% of cases in developed countries.

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