Rising autoimmune diseases worldwide
The number of people who get an autoimmune disease (AD) in the United States is increasing dramatically every year. But not just in the US. This is also happening around the world.
The increase is most dramatic in westernized, more developed nations. But, as the so-called “developing nations” around the world develop, their rates of autoimmune disease are rising faster and faster.
Scientific Evidence Behind the Trend
Let’s review the highlights of the article “The World Incidence and Prevalence of Autoimmune Disease is Increasing.” This was published in the International Journal of Celiac Disease in 2015. Volume 3, No. 4, pages 151–155.
- Authors: Aaron Lerner, Patricia Jeremias and Torsten Matthias
- Article available at: https://pubs.sciepub.com/ijcd/3/4/8
“Among many others, three major environmental factors strongly related to socioeconomic status are suspected to drive these phenomena: infections, ecology and nutrition.”
Which Autoimmune Diseases Are Rising the Fastest?
1. Rheumatologic autoimmune diseases
These are the fastest-growing AD categories around the world. They include:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Other subsets of lupus
- Sjogren’s syndrome
The number of people in the world who have these is increasing by over 7% a year.
2. Endocrine autoimmune diseases
These are the next fastest-growing AD categories. They include:
- Type 1 diabetes
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
They are growing at 6.3% per year
3. Gastrointestinal autoimmune diseases
These follow closely at 6.2% per year. They include:
- Celiac disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn’s disease
- Autoimmune hepatitis
4. Neurologic autoimmune diseases
These are increasing at almost 4% per year. They include:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Myasthenia gravis
Countries with the Steepest Increases
The increase in the frequency of ADs is growing faster in some countries than in others. From the highest % increase per year to the lowest:
- Israel – 12.9%
- Netherlands – 10.0%
- USA – 8.8%
- Sweden – 8.4%
- United Kingdom – 7.8%
- Finland – 7.6%
- Canada – 7.3%
- Denmark – 6.3%
Children are getting more and more ADs each year at the same rate as adults around the world
How Different Diseases Dominate in Different Nations
There is a considerable difference in what ADs are increasing in which countries.
- In Canada, celiac disease rates are increasing by almost 35% per year compared with less than 10% in other westernized nations.
- Type 1 diabetes is increasing by about 17% per year in Israel, while in Europe and Canada, this increase is only 5–6% per year.
Modern Lifestyle, Environment, and Autoimmunity
Quoting from this very nicely done article:
“The recent outbreak of autoimmune diseases in industrialized countries has brought into question the factors contributing to this increased incidence.”
“…growing attention has focused on environmental factors and, in particular, the western lifestyle. Indeed, over the last few decades, significant changes in western dietary habits, environmental surroundings and pollution exposure, infectious habitat, and stress load have led to a parallel rise in autoimmune diseases.”
Early Detection, Testing, and Turning the Tide
Knowing this information. Knowing, from our previous blog posts, what factors drive the development of the ADs. Knowing what advanced testing needs to be done to see the ADs coming long before they are full-blown. Everyone would do well to have some simple testing done and then make a few changes based on the results. This would go a long way in preventing these diseases before they even start.
Now is the time to turn these trends of increasing numbers of people with AD around. Now is the time to reverse and potentially get rid of the 1st AD someone gets so they don’t get a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th AD.
