Epidemiology

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder.[15]

According to one systematic review, the reported prevalence of VWD ranges from 108.9 to 2200 per 100,000 people in population-based studies, and from 0.3 to 16.5 per 100,000 people in referral-based studies.[8]

Type 1 VWD is most common (prevalence ranges from 2.7 to 7.2 per 100,000 people based on Italian, UK, and Australian registry data), followed by type 2 (0.8 to 2.5 per 100,000 people) and type 3 (0.1 to 0.3 per 100,000 people).[8] Type 3 VWD (the most severe type) is more common in countries or regions where consanguineous relationships are accepted.[16]

Men and women are affected equally due to the autosomal inheritance pattern of VWD, but adolescent and adult women are more often diagnosed because of the prominent symptom of heavy menstrual bleeding.

Von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels are on average 20% to 30% lower in people with blood group O than in those with a non-O blood group; therefore, people with blood group O are more likely to be diagnosed with VWD.[17][18]​​​​[19]

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