The diagnosed prevalent cases of systemic sclerosis (SSc) in the seven major markets (*7MM) are projected to increase from 171,000 cases in 2020 to 187,000 in 2030, equating to an annual growth rate (AGR) of 0.97 per cent, according to GlobalData.

GlobalData’s latest report, ‘Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma) – Epidemiology Forecast to 2030’, reveals that in 2030, the US will have the highest number of diagnosed prevalent cases of systemic sclerosis in the 7MM at 114,000, whereas France with nearly 6,000 cases will have the lowest number of these cases.

Adults ages 50 years and older accounted for more than 75 per cent of the diagnosed prevalent cases of SSc in the 7MM, while those ages 18–39 years accounted for less than 10 per cent. SSc has consistently been described in studies to be more common in women compared to men. A women to men ratio of almost 5:1 was noticed in majority of the studies and is in line with the GlobalData estimates for sex-specific diagnosed prevalent cases.

Bharti Prabhakar, MPH, Associate Project Manager at GlobalData, comments, “Management of SSc is mostly symptomatic and patients require regular clinical follow-up with early pulmonary function tests and echocardiography. The highly morbid and debilitating nature of SSc poses substantial socioeconomic consequences and significant productivity losses for patients. Furthermore, with the increasing aging population worldwide, the number of prevalent cases of SSc is expected to rise in the near future, which will burden already strained healthcare systems. Therefore, it is imperative for researchers to gain a better understanding of the etiology of SSc, which will provide insight into disease prevention.”

*7MM: The US, 5EU (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK), and Japan