Karen Ribbons1, Rodney Lea2, Clare Tiedeman3, Laura Mackenzie4, Jeannette Lechner-Scott5. 1. Department of Neurology, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton, NSW, Australia. 2. Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. 3. Department of Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton, NSW, Australia. 4. School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia. 5. Department of Neurology, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton, NSW, Australia/Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia/School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Since 1959, multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence has been estimated for the east coast Australian city of Newcastle. Previous surveys, conducted in 1988 and 2003, have described an increase in the prevalence and incidence of MS. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we evaluated whether these trends continue and provide 50 years of MS epidemiological follow-up for this southern hemisphere city. METHODS: Expressed per 100,000 people, prevalence of MS in Newcastle was calculated for those with a confirmed diagnosis of MS on 9 August 2011 and incidence based on the number of cases with MS diagnosis made during the preceding decade. Data were age-standardised to the total Australian population. Statistical comparisons were undertaken using Poisson regression analysis. RESULTS: In 2011, the estimate of MS prevalence was 124.2, with female-to-male ratio reaching 3.1, a 53% increase in female predominance since 1996. MS incidence increased to 6.7, with a significantly higher proportion of new female cases since the previous survey. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of MS in Newcastle has risen linearly and is contributed to by a substantial increase in new cases over the preceding decade. Female predominance of MS cases continues to increase with a new diagnosis three times more likely in women.
BACKGROUND: Since 1959, multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence has been estimated for the east coast Australian city of Newcastle. Previous surveys, conducted in 1988 and 2003, have described an increase in the prevalence and incidence of MS. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we evaluated whether these trends continue and provide 50 years of MS epidemiological follow-up for this southern hemisphere city. METHODS: Expressed per 100,000 people, prevalence of MS in Newcastle was calculated for those with a confirmed diagnosis of MS on 9 August 2011 and incidence based on the number of cases with MS diagnosis made during the preceding decade. Data were age-standardised to the total Australian population. Statistical comparisons were undertaken using Poisson regression analysis. RESULTS: In 2011, the estimate of MS prevalence was 124.2, with female-to-male ratio reaching 3.1, a 53% increase in female predominance since 1996. MS incidence increased to 6.7, with a significantly higher proportion of new female cases since the previous survey. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of MS in Newcastle has risen linearly and is contributed to by a substantial increase in new cases over the preceding decade. Female predominance of MS cases continues to increase with a new diagnosis three times more likely in women.
Entities:
Keywords:
Incidence; epidemiology; prevalence; sex ratio
Authors: Vilija G Jokubaitis; Olga Skibina; Raed Alroughani; Ayse Altintas; Helmut Butzkueven; Sara Eichau; Yara Fragoso; Kerstin Hellwig; Stella E Hughes; Louise Rath; Anneke van der Walt; Orla Gray Journal: Ther Adv Neurol Disord Date: 2021-04-12 Impact factor: 6.570