Increasing incidence of infantile hemangiomas (IH) over the past 35 years: Correlation with decreasing gestational age at birth and birth weight

Background Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are the most common soft-tissue tumors of infancy, but little is known regarding their true incidence. Objectives We sought to determine the current incidence of IH and examine trends in incidence, demographics, and lesion characteristics over 3 decades. Methods The Rochester Epidemiology Project was used to identify infants residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota, who were given a diagnosis of IH between January 1, 1976, and December 31, 2010. Results In all, 999 infants were given a diagnosis of IH. Incidence increased over the 3-decade study period from 0.97 to 1.97 per 100 person-years (P < .001). Average gestational age at birth and birth weight for infants with IH decreased over the study period (39.2-38.3 weeks, P < .001 and 3383-3185 g, P = .003, respectively). The overall age- and sex-adjusted incidence of IH was 1.64 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 1.54-1.75). Limitations The population of Olmsted County, Minnesota, is predominantly non-Hispanic white, limiting our ability to report racial differences in incidence. This was a retrospective study. Conclusions This study provides a longitudinal, population-based incidence of IH. Incidence has increased steadily over the past 3 decades, correlating significantly with decreasing gestational age at birth and birth weight in affected infants.