Niklas Frahm1, Melanie Peters2, Jörg Bätzing3, David Ellenberger1, Manas K Akmatov3, Judith Haas4, Paulus S Rommer5,6, Alexander Stahmann1, Uwe K Zettl6, Jakob Holstiege3. 1. MS Research and Project Development, Hannover, Germany. 2. Society for Health Care Research, Hannover, Germany. 3. Department 5, Epidemiology & Health Care Atlas, Central Research Institute of Ambulatory Health Care in the Federal Republic of Germany, Berlin, Germany. 4. German Multiple Sclerosis Society, Hannover, Germany. 5. Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. 6. Neuroimmunological Section, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Prevalence data are needed to reveal trends regarding the pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) situation worldwide. The aim was to identify changes in MS diagnosis prevalence in pediatric patients over a 10-year period in Germany. METHODS: This analysis is based on nationwide outpatient claims data of children aged <18 years covered by the German statutory health insurance (n = 11,381,939 in 2018). People with MS (PwMS) had ≥1 documented MS diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, German modification code G35.x). The annual pediatric MS diagnosis prevalence was analyzed regarding age, sex, and place of residence during 2009-2018. RESULTS: The prevalence of pediatric MS developed from 5.3 (2009) to 5.4 (2018)/100,000 insured population aged <18 years. The MS prevalence in patients aged 15-17 years showed a moderate increase over 10 years (19.6-22.7/100,000), whereas patients ≤14 years old showed a slight decrease (1.9-1.7/100,000). The sex ratio (female:male) in 2018 was relatively balanced in PwMS aged ≤14 years (1.32) but female-dominated in those aged 15-17 years (2.47). The formerly different prevalence of pediatric MS between East and West Germany has converged since 2012. CONCLUSIONS: So far, this is the largest study of pediatric MS prevalence in terms of source population size (87% of German children <18 years of age, n = 11,381,939 in 2018) and study period (2009-2018) worldwide. The analyses revealed an increase in MS prevalence and a female-dominated sex ratio in "older" adolescents compared to younger patients.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Prevalence data are needed to reveal trends regarding the pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) situation worldwide. The aim was to identify changes in MS diagnosis prevalence in pediatric patients over a 10-year period in Germany. METHODS: This analysis is based on nationwide outpatient claims data of children aged <18 years covered by the German statutory health insurance (n = 11,381,939 in 2018). People with MS (PwMS) had ≥1 documented MS diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, German modification code G35.x). The annual pediatric MS diagnosis prevalence was analyzed regarding age, sex, and place of residence during 2009-2018. RESULTS: The prevalence of pediatric MS developed from 5.3 (2009) to 5.4 (2018)/100,000 insured population aged <18 years. The MS prevalence in patients aged 15-17 years showed a moderate increase over 10 years (19.6-22.7/100,000), whereas patients ≤14 years old showed a slight decrease (1.9-1.7/100,000). The sex ratio (female:male) in 2018 was relatively balanced in PwMS aged ≤14 years (1.32) but female-dominated in those aged 15-17 years (2.47). The formerly different prevalence of pediatric MS between East and West Germany has converged since 2012. CONCLUSIONS: So far, this is the largest study of pediatric MS prevalence in terms of source population size (87% of German children <18 years of age, n = 11,381,939 in 2018) and study period (2009-2018) worldwide. The analyses revealed an increase in MS prevalence and a female-dominated sex ratio in "older" adolescents compared to younger patients.
Authors: Michael Hecker; Brit Fitzner; Elena Putscher; Margit Schwartz; Alexander Winkelmann; Stefanie Meister; Ales Dudesek; Dirk Koczan; Peter Lorenz; Nina Boxberger; Uwe Klaus Zettl Journal: EBioMedicine Date: 2022-05-10 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Niklas Frahm; Melanie Peters; Jörg Bätzing; David Ellenberger; Manas K Akmatov; Judith Haas; Paulus S Rommer; Alexander Stahmann; Uwe K Zettl; Jakob Holstiege Journal: Ther Adv Neurol Disord Date: 2021-10-06 Impact factor: 6.570
Authors: Martin Vališ; Zbyšek Pavelek; Michal Novotný; Blanka Klímová; Jana Šarláková; Simona Halúsková; Marek Peterka; Ivana Štětkárová; Pavel Štourač; Jan Mareš; Pavel Hradílek; Radek Ampapa; Marta Vachová; Eva Recmanová; Eva Meluzínová Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2022-04-18 Impact factor: 4.086