Ruth Ann Marrie1, Scott Patten2, Helen Tremlett3, Lawrence W Svenson4, Christina Wolfson5, B Nancy Yu6, Lawrence Elliott7, Joanne Profetto-McGrath8, Sharon Warren9, Stella Leung7, Nathalie Jette10, Virender Bhan11, John D Fisk12. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. Electronic address: rmarrie@hsc.mb.ca. 2. Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. 3. Department of Medicine (Neurology) and Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. 4. Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Surveillance and Assessment Branch, Alberta Ministry of Health, Edmonton, Canada; School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. 5. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. 6. Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; Public Health, Manitoba Health Healthy Living and Seniors, Winnipeg, Canada. 7. Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. 8. Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Canada. 9. Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Canada. 10. Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. 11. Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada; Nova Scotia Health Authority, Canada. 12. Nova Scotia Health Authority, Canada; Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, and Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We aimed to estimate the incidence and prevalence of chronic lung disease (CLD), including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, in the MS population versus a matched cohort from the general population. METHODS: We used population-based administrative data from four Canadian provinces to identify 44,452 persons with MS and 220,849 age-, sex- and geographically-matched controls aged 20 years and older. We employed a validated case definition to estimate the incidence and prevalence of CLD over the period 1995-2005, and used Poisson regression to assess temporal trends. RESULTS: In 2005, the crude incidence of CLD per 100,000 persons was 806 (95%CI: 701-911) in the MS population, and 757 in the matched population (95%CI: 712-803). In 2005, the crude prevalence of CLD was 13.5% (95%CI: 13.1-14.0%) in the MS population, and 12.4% (95%CI: 12.3-12.6%) in the matched population. Among persons aged 20-44 years, the average annual incidence of CLD was higher in the MS population than in the matched population (RR 1.15; 95%CI: 1.02-1.30), but did not differ between populations for those aged ≥45 years. The incidence of CLD was stable, but the prevalence of CLD increased 60% over the study period. CONCLUSION: CLD is relatively common in the MS population. The incidence of CLD has been stable over time, but the prevalence of CLD has increased. Among persons aged 20-44 years, CLD is more common in the MS population than in a matched population. Given the prevalence of CLD in the MS population, further attention to the effects of CLD on outcomes in MS and approaches to mitigating those effects are warranted.
OBJECTIVES: We aimed to estimate the incidence and prevalence of chronic lung disease (CLD), including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, in the MS population versus a matched cohort from the general population. METHODS: We used population-based administrative data from four Canadian provinces to identify 44,452 persons with MS and 220,849 age-, sex- and geographically-matched controls aged 20 years and older. We employed a validated case definition to estimate the incidence and prevalence of CLD over the period 1995-2005, and used Poisson regression to assess temporal trends. RESULTS: In 2005, the crude incidence of CLD per 100,000 persons was 806 (95%CI: 701-911) in the MS population, and 757 in the matched population (95%CI: 712-803). In 2005, the crude prevalence of CLD was 13.5% (95%CI: 13.1-14.0%) in the MS population, and 12.4% (95%CI: 12.3-12.6%) in the matched population. Among persons aged 20-44 years, the average annual incidence of CLD was higher in the MS population than in the matched population (RR 1.15; 95%CI: 1.02-1.30), but did not differ between populations for those aged ≥45 years. The incidence of CLD was stable, but the prevalence of CLD increased 60% over the study period. CONCLUSION: CLD is relatively common in the MS population. The incidence of CLD has been stable over time, but the prevalence of CLD has increased. Among persons aged 20-44 years, CLD is more common in the MS population than in a matched population. Given the prevalence of CLD in the MS population, further attention to the effects of CLD on outcomes in MS and approaches to mitigating those effects are warranted.