Epidemiology

Although traditionally common in children, with the advent of the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, paediatric incidence of epiglottitis has declined.[6][7][8]​​ In contrast, a steady increase in the incidence has been seen in adults, with men being more commonly affected.[7]

One retrospective study looking at the incidence of epiglottitis in Sweden from 1975 to 1987 estimated the mean annual incidence to be 4.9 per 100,000. There was a significant decrease in incidence in children from 1981 to 1987 compared with the earlier period of the study.[9]

One US study, which involved 33,549 adult patients from 2007 to 2014, found that the average patient age for adult epiglottitis increased significantly from 47 to 51 years (R2 >0.5) over the study period, with an overall mean age of 49 years.[6]

One retrospective review from two tertiary care facilities identified 60 adults and 1 child with epiglottitis. Eleven of these patients required intubation and 2 required tracheotomy.[10] One systematic review and meta-analysis, which included 30 studies and a total of 10,148 adult patients, identified a significant decrease in the need for airway intervention in the post-Hib vaccine era, and found that clinicians should expect to have to secure airways in 10.9% of adult patients with epiglottitis.[11]

The overall mortality rate in adults is around 1%.[6]​ One retrospective study reported that adults are more likely to die of acute epiglottitis than children, as 63% of deaths in the study were accounted for by adult patients with epiglottitis.[8]

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