Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of limited and persistent uveitis cases: a population-based study

Objective — To compare the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of limited and persistent uveitis cases and temporal trends in incidence in Ontario.

Methods — A retrospective population-based study using Ontario health administrative data identifying individuals with limited or persistent uveitis. The analysis described demographics, comorbidities, aggregated diagnosis groups (ADGs), resource utilization, income quintiles, and systemic therapy use. Annual age/sex-standardized, and age-specific incidence rates of limited and persistent uveitis were determined.

Results — Between 2000 and 2023, 289 031 limited and 41 482 persistent uveitis cases were identified, with mean index ages of 56.8 (SD 21.0) and 58.3 (SD 20.3) years, respectively. A higher proportion of children and youth were identified with limited duration uveitis. Sex distribution was similar between groups, and 89%–91% of cases resided in urban areas. Persistent uveitis cases had significantly more moderate to high ADGs (86.0%) compared with limited cases (16.2%), with hypertension being the most prevalent comorbidity in both limited (43.8%) and persistent (46.4%) uveitis cases. Persistent cases also had substantially higher resource utilization than limited uveitis cases. Incidence rates were higher for limited uveitis overall and among older age groups. Annual age-specific incidence declined in older age groups but increased over time for children with limited duration uveitis.

Conclusions — This study highlights significant age-related trends in uveitis incidence, including an increase in pediatric cases and a high incidence of uveitis among the elderly. Age-specific health care strategies and resource planning are essential for adapting interventions and ensuring timely access to care.