Epidemiology

The prevalence in the US is 1 in 1200 children.[1][2] The incidence varies widely internationally; it may have declined over a 19-year period in the UK among low socioeconcomic populations.[3][4][5][6]It is unclear if this trend is apparent outside the UK.

The disease appears very uncommon in black people. The incidence per 100,000 in South Africa varied between 10.8 in white people, 1.7 in those of mixed ancestry, and 0.45 in black people. South Asians have 3 times the rate of East Asians, and white people have 9 times the rate of East Asians. More northerly latitudes, independent of race, appear to have greater disease incidence.[7]

Typically, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease presents in 4- to 8-year-olds with a mean age of 7 years, although it can affect children between 2 and 12 years of age. It is about 4 or 5 times more common in males than females. Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease is bilateral in about 10% to 12% of cases.[8]

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