关于患病率的大部分流行病学研究均采用放射影像学软骨钙质沉着症(又称软骨钙化)代替临床 CPPD。估计这仅可捕捉约 40% 的关节 CPPD。[4]Fisseler-Eckhoff A, Muller KM. Arthroscopy and chondrocalcinosis. Arthroscopy. 1992;8(1):98-104.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1550657?tool=bestpractice.com尽管如此,这些研究显示,CPPD 患病率随年龄增长而剧增,在美国,65-74 岁年龄组中为 15%,84 岁以上人群中增长到 44%。[5]Wilkins E, Dieppe P, Maddison P, et al. Osteoarthritis and articular chondrocalcinosis in the elderly. Ann Rheum Dis. 1983 Jun;42(3):280-4.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1001132/pdf/annrheumd00117-0048.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6859960?tool=bestpractice.com在英国,与膝部疼痛有关的软骨钙化患病率为 4.5%,与年龄关系密切。[6]Neame R, Carr A, Muir K, et al. UK community prevalence of knee chondrocalcinosis: evidence that correlation with osteoarthritis is through a shared association with osteophyte. Ann Rheum Dis. 2003 Jun;62(6):513-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1754579/pdf/v062p00513.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12759286?tool=bestpractice.com类似地,发现 60 岁以上的沙特阿拉伯人的软骨钙化患病率为 6.7%,并被报告为海湾地区阿拉伯人的常见疾病。[7]Al-Arfaj AS, Boukai AA. Articular chondrocalcinosis in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J. 2002 May;23(5):577-9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12070585?tool=bestpractice.com[8]Malaviya AN, Al-Shari I, Al-Shayeb A, et al. Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crytal deposition disease in a teaching hospital in Kuwait. Ann Rheum Dis. 2001 Apr;60(4):416-9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1753618/pdf/v060p00416.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11247877?tool=bestpractice.com然而,中国人的膝和腕软骨钙化患病率比美国白种人低很多,中国老年男女的膝和腕软骨钙化患病率极低。[9]Zhang Y, Terkeltaub R, Nevitt M, et al. Lower prevalence of chondrocalcinosis in Chinese subjects in Beijing than in white subjects in the United States: the Beijing Osteoarthritis Study. Arthritis Rheum. 2006 Nov;54(11):3508-12.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17075853?tool=bestpractice.com世界各地已对 CPP 关节炎家族聚集性进行了描述;一项研究表明,中国人群较少患上软骨钙质沉着病。[9]Zhang Y, Terkeltaub R, Nevitt M, et al. Lower prevalence of chondrocalcinosis in Chinese subjects in Beijing than in white subjects in the United States: the Beijing Osteoarthritis Study. Arthritis Rheum. 2006 Nov;54(11):3508-12.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17075853?tool=bestpractice.comCPPD 无明确的性别倾向。