Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic inflammatory liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and ultimately, liver transplantation if left untreated. This disease occurs because the immune system fails to recognize the liver and begins to attack and destroy it. A few years ago, this disease was rare, but as discussed in another article on our blog, its incidence is now increasing.
In order to determine whether the incidence of autoimmune hepatitis is higher in the older population than in the younger population, a study was recently published in the journal Hepatology that included 1,129 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of autoimmune liver disease, based on clinical analysis or liver biopsy. The study found that 76% of patients treated with immunosuppressants (prednisone, budesonide, azathioprine, etc.) experienced normalization of their liver function tests. Comparing the incidence of autoimmune hepatitis between 2010 and 2019, it was found to have increased from 9.1 to 18.8 per 100,000 inhabitants during this period. However, in the same period, the prevalence of autoimmune hepatitis quadrupled among patients aged 55 to 75 (from 10.1 to 43.7 per 100,000 inhabitants).
In summary, this study demonstrated that the frequency of autoimmune hepatitis among people over 75 years of age quadrupled from 2010 to 2019, while the increase was lower among younger people. It was also found that the peak prevalence of autoimmune hepatitis was 68.6 per 100,000 inhabitants in the 75-79 age group. Another study conducted in Denmark found that the peak incidence of autoimmune hepatitis by age occurred at 70. We remind you that, in addition to age, other factors, already discussed in previous articles on our blog, can contribute to an increased frequency of autoimmune hepatitis, such as recurrent urinary tract infections, tobacco use, and environmental pollution.
Dr. Carreño and the physicians at the Foundation agree with the results of these studies. Furthermore, based on our extensive experience, people over the age of 70 respond better to treatment for this disease and tolerate it better. Finally, we should emphasize that autoimmune hepatitis tends to present with milder symptoms in older adults.
