急性阑尾炎是最常见的外科急腹症之一。[4]Koepsell TD. In search of the cause of appendicitis. Epidemiology. 1991;2:319-321.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1742378?tool=bestpractice.com 在英国的医院,2006 年至 2007 年有超过 34,600 个病例得到治疗。绝大部分病例为男性 (30,120) 且主要发生于 15 岁至 59 岁的年龄段。大多数病例(29,576 例)为急诊收治。[5]Health and Social Care Information Centre. Hospital episode statistics; England. http://www.hesonline.nhs.uk (last accessed 1 March 2017).http://www.hesonline.nhs.uk 在美国每年实施超过 250,000 例的阑尾切除术;[6]Owings MF, Kozak LJ. Ambulatory and inpatient procedures in the United States, 1996. Vital Health Stat 13. 1998;139:1-119.http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_13/sr13_139.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9866429?tool=bestpractice.com 然而,在高纤维素饮食人群中发病率较低。[7]Arnbjornsson E. Acute appendicitis and dietary fiber. Arch Surg. 1983;118:868-870.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6305309?tool=bestpractice.com 男性发生急性阑尾炎的总体终生风险为 8.6%,而女性为 6.7%;男性接受阑尾切除术的终生风险约为 12%,而女性约为 23%。[8]Korner H, Sondenaa K, Soreide JA, et al. Incidence of nonperforated and perforated appendicitis: age-specific and sex-specific analysis. World J Surg. 1997;21:313-317.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9015177?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Addiss DG, Shaffer N, Fowler BS, et al. The epidemiology of appendicitis and appendectomy in the United States. Am J Epidemol. 1990;132:910-925.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2239906?tool=bestpractice.com 每年美国每 10,000 人大约有 10 人接受了阑尾切除术。[10]Flum DR, Koepsell TD. The clinical and economic correlates of misdiagnosed appendicitis: nationwide analysis. Arch Surg. 2002;137:799-804.http://archsurg.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/137/7/799http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12093335?tool=bestpractice.com 这种情况在少年早期至 40 多岁临近 50 岁年龄段的患者中最常见。男性患病率比女性的稍高 (1.3:1)。