流行病学显示每年发病率为2-3例/10万。[8]Mesa RA, Silverstein MN, Jacobsen SJ, et al. Population-based incidence and survival figures in essential thrombocythemia and agnogenic myeloid metaplasia: an Olmsted County Study, 1976-1995. Am J Hematol. 1999;61:10-15.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10331505?tool=bestpractice.com因为大多数患者的预期寿命和正常人一样,所以该病的患病率是发病率的数倍。疾病好发于中老年人群,中位发病年龄为50-70岁,尽管也可累及青少年。部分研究显示女性比例更高(男女比例1:2)。[9]Bellucci S, Janvier M, Tobelem G, et al. Essential thrombocythemias: clinical evolutionary and biological data. Cancer. 1986;58:2440-2447.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3768838?tool=bestpractice.com诊断的平均年龄为60岁,但至少20%的患者发病<40岁。五年存活率为74-93%,10年为61%-84%。[10]Pardanani AD, Levine RL, Lasho T, et al. MPL515 mutations in myeloproliferative and other myeloid disorders: a study of 1182 patients. Blood. 2006;108:3472-3476.http://bloodjournal.org/content/108/10/3472.fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16868251?tool=bestpractice.com