上髁炎在全世界均有分布。外、内上髁炎的患病率相似。在一项为期 1 年多的研究中,报告的外侧患病率在 1.3% 至 3% 之间,内侧患病率在 0.4% 至 5% 之间,人群抽样年龄介于 30-64 岁之间。[8]Shiri R, Viikari-Juntura E, Varonen H, et al. Prevalence and determinants of lateral and medial epicondylitis: a population study. Am J Epidemiol. 2006;164:1065-1074.http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/164/11/1065.fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16968862?tool=bestpractice.com内、外上髁炎并发的情况不常出现,患病率为 0.5%-1.8%。[8]Shiri R, Viikari-Juntura E, Varonen H, et al. Prevalence and determinants of lateral and medial epicondylitis: a population study. Am J Epidemiol. 2006;164:1065-1074.http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/164/11/1065.fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16968862?tool=bestpractice.com这些报告的患病率在 30 多年间表现稳定,没有任何新证据表明患病率发生变化。[4]Jobe FW, Ciccotti MG. Lateral and medial epicondylitis of the elbow. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 1994;2:1-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10708988?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Calfee RP, Patel A, DaSilva MF, et al. Management of lateral epicondylitis: current concepts. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2008;16:19-29.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18180389?tool=bestpractice.com[10]De Smedt T, de Jong A, Van Leemput W, et al. Lateral epicondylitis in tennis: update on aetiology, biomechanics and treatment. Br J Sports Med. 2007;41:816-819.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17616547?tool=bestpractice.com 当前上髁炎的流行病学研究未能显示性别或种族之间的发病率差异。[8]Shiri R, Viikari-Juntura E, Varonen H, et al. Prevalence and determinants of lateral and medial epicondylitis: a population study. Am J Epidemiol. 2006;164:1065-1074.http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/164/11/1065.fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16968862?tool=bestpractice.com在上髁炎发育中,年龄一直被确定为上髁炎发展的促进因素。虽然在 12-80 岁的患者中均有上髁炎病例的报道,但四五十岁患者罹患内和外上髁炎的风险要高得多。[4]Jobe FW, Ciccotti MG. Lateral and medial epicondylitis of the elbow. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 1994;2:1-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10708988?tool=bestpractice.com