Increasing incidence of multiple sclerosis among women in Lorraine, Eastern France

¹ Department of Neurology, Central Hospital, 54000 Nancy, France
² Centre of Clinical Epidemiology - INSERM-DHOS CIE 6, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Marin Hospital, 54000 Nancy, France
³ EA 4003, Nancy-Université, School of Public Health, Faculté de Médecine, Avenue de la Forêt de Haye, 54500 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

	Abstract

This study aims to describe the prevalence and incidence rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Lorraine, France, and its secular trend from 1990 to 2002. Cases were sourced from the regional network of MS healthcare workers in the Lorraine region and include all cases with definite or probable MS according to Poser's criteria. We identified 2718 patients with MS on 31 December 2004. The prevalence rate was 120/100000 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 119-121). Between 1990 and 2002, the average age- and sex-adjusted annual incidence rate was 5.5/100000 (95% CI: 4.4-6.6). During this same period, there was a significant increase in overall incidence in women but not in men. The mean age at MS onset, disability score five years after onset, number of relapses during the first five years, and proportion of first attack with sequelae or polysymptomatic symptoms were not significantly different between each annual cohort during the study period. The prevalence and incidence rates of MS we found in our study were higher than in previous studies in France. The increase in incidence of MS between 1990 and 2002, mostly in women, was not related to better ascertainment of patients with mild disability. Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 00: 000-000. http://msj.sagepub.com

Key Words: epidemiology; incidence; multiple sclerosis; prevalence

First published on July 10, 2007, doi:10.1177/1352458507077938

Multiple Sclerosis 2007;13:962.

A more recent version of this article appeared on September 1, 2007


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