Estimated burden of fungal infections in Sweden.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the annual burden of fungal infections in Sweden using data mainly from 2016. Data on specific populations were obtained from Swedish national data registries. Annual incidence and prevalence of fungal disease was calculated based on epidemiological studies. Data on infections due to Cryptococcus sp., Mucorales, Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides immitis and Pneumocystis jirovecii were retrieved from Karolinska University Laboratory and covers only 25% of Swedish population. In 2016, the population of Sweden was 9995153 (49.8% female). The overall burden of fungal infections was 1713385 (17142/100000). Superficial fungal infections affect 1429307 people (1429/100000) based on Global Burden of Disease 14.3% prevalence. Total serious fungal infection burden was 284 174 (2843/100000) in 2016. Recurrent Candida vulvovaginitis is common; assuming a 6% prevalence in women. Prevalence of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and severe asthma with fungal sensitisation were estimated to be 20095 and 26387, respectively. Similarly, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis was estimated to affect 490 patients after tuberculosis, sarcoidosis and other conditions. Candidemia incidence was estimated to be 500 in 2016 (4.7/100000) and invasive aspergillosis 295 (3.0/100000). In Stockholm area, Mucorales were reported in three patients in 2015, while Cryptococcus spp. were reported in two patients. In 2016, there were 297 patients PCR positive for Pjirovecii. The present study shows that the overall burden of fungal infections in Sweden is high and affects 17% of the population. The morbidity, mortality and the healthcare-related costs due to fungal infections warrant further studies.