Heterogeneity and continuum of multiple sclerosis phenotypes in Japanese according to the results of the fourth nationwide survey

The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry was established in 1948 in continuation with a nationwide survey of the prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in Denmark. The register has since collected information on MS patients from all Danish departments of neurology, practising neurologists, MS rehabilitation centres, the National Patient Registry, the Danish MS Society, and departments of neuropathology. The registry is linked with the Danish Central Population Registry. The completeness has been estimated at more than 90%. All cases are reclassified by two neurologists as to diagnosis and year of onset. 12 070 cases with a confirmed diagnosis of MS are kept in the databases. They were prevalent in 1949 or have had onset in the period 1948-1993. The registry is continuously updated with new information on registered cases and new cases. The crude average annual incidence rate 1980-89 was 4.99/105; the prevalence rate was 112/105 by 1 January 1990. Cross-linking with other registers have enabled analytical prospective epidemiological studies, and the registry has provided population based unbiassed samples of patients for a number of clinical studies.

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A nationwide survey of the prevalence of multiple sclerosis in immigrant populations of Sweden

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458511433062 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 18 (8) ◽

pp. 1099-1107 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Cecilia Ahlgren ◽

Anders Odén ◽

Jan Lycke

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

General Population ◽

Nationwide Survey ◽

Foreign Born ◽

Risk Area ◽

High Risk Area ◽

Immigrant Populations ◽

Gender And Age ◽

And Gender ◽

Prevalence Ratios

Background: In 2008, immigrants constituted 14% of the population of Sweden, a high-risk area for multiple sclerosis (MS). We investigated the largest Swedish immigrant populations for the prevalence of MS. Method: Data on foreign-born MS patients were retrieved from Swedish national health and population registers. We calculated observed versus expected numbers of MS patients and gender- and age-specific prevalence ratios (PR) between immigrant populations and the general population of Sweden and, where possible, of the countries of birth. Results: The 19 largest immigrant populations included 1327 MS patients. The global variation in MS prevalence was reflected in Sweden. The prevalence in immigrant populations who had moved to Sweden from countries with a lower MS risk was however higher than in their countries of birth. Notably, the MS prevalence in the population born in Iran was at least as high as in the general population of Sweden (men: PR = 1.10, 95% CI 0.81–1.46, p = 0.537, women: PR = 1.18, 95% CI 0.97–1.44, p = 0.855) and more than twice as high as in Isfahan, Iran (men: PR = 3.06 (95% CI 2.26–4.06), p <0.001, women: PR = 2.21 (95% CI 1.81–2.68), p <0.001). Conclusions: The MS prevalence increased in migrants who moved to Sweden from countries with a lower MS risk. In the Iranian immigrant population the prevalence exceeded that in the general population of Sweden. This indicates that Iranians carry genetic factors that contribute to a higher MS risk when environmental–lifestyle MS risk factors change.

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OPL090 The fourth nationwide survey of multiple sclerosis in Japan discloses anticipation of age at onset in multiple sclerosis

Journal of the Neurological Sciences ◽

10.1016/s0022-510x(05)80266-7 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 238 ◽

pp. S68-S69

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Age At Onset ◽

Nationwide Survey

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Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in the Republic of Moldova

Neuroepidemiology ◽

10.1159/000443931 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 46 (3) ◽

pp. 166-172 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Cristina Marcoci ◽

Vitalie Lisnic ◽

Mihail Gavriliuc ◽

Olesea Odainic ◽

Marina Sangheli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Disease Burden ◽

Nationwide Survey ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Age Group ◽

Disease Modifying Drugs ◽

Republic Of Moldova ◽

Mcdonald Criteria ◽

The Republic ◽

Crude Prevalence

Background: The occurrence of multiple sclerosis (MS) increases in populations featuring both high and low disease burden, and variations across regions at the same latitude are reported. MS epidemiological data in Eastern Europe are scarce and out of date. We report on sex- and age-specific prevalence of MS in the Republic of Moldova. Methods: Benefitting from a nationwide survey aimed to quantify the MS burden in Moldovans (3,559,541 population in 2012), multiple epidemiological sources were scrutinized. Results: On prevalence day, December 31, 2012, 747 MS patients (McDonald criteria) resided in the study area, yielding a crude prevalence of 20.9 per 100,000 (95% CI 14.7-27.1), 25.7 (95% CI 20.5-30.5) in women and 15.8 (95% CI 12.2-19.3) in men (F:M ratio of 1.63), and standardized estimates of 20.2, 24.3 and 15.5 per 100,000, respectively. Prevalence was highest in the age group 40-49 years (43.9 per 100,000) and higher in rural (72.6%) than in urban (27.4%) areas. Conclusions: This is the first report on sex- and age-specific prevalence of MS in the Republic of Moldova, which was lower than in Europe on average, but consistent with that of neighboring countries, Romania and Ukraine. Moldovans represent a population wherein MS natural history is not yet influenced by use of disease-modifying drugs.

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Immunomodulatory treatment of multiple sclerosis in Denmark: a prospective nationwide survey

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1191/135248506ms1323oa ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 253-264 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Per Soelberg Sorensen ◽

Nils Koch-Henriksen ◽

Mads Ravnborg ◽

Jette Lautrup Frederiksen ◽

K ai Jensen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Selection Bias ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Nationwide Survey ◽

Hazard Ratio ◽

Immunomodulatory Therapy ◽

Cox Regression Analysis ◽

Hazard Ratios ◽

Scale Scores ◽

Treatment Register

Objective: The aim of the present study was to provide data on the use of immunomodulatory therapies in a population comprising all treated patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in Denmark. Patients and methods: From the introduction of immunomodulatory therapy in Denmark in 1996 through 2003, all patients that started immunomodulatory therapy were followed prospectively with neurological examination and standard laboratory tests every six months, and clinical data were reported to the MS Treatment Register, including relapses, Expanded Disability Status Scale scores and side effects. Results: From 1996 through 2003 in all 2393 patients had started immunomodulatory therapy for RRMS, of whom 1252 (52.3%) were still on therapy with the same product at follow-up on 1 January 2005, whereas 1141 patients had discontinued or changed immunomodulatory therapy. Multiple Cox regression analysis of the risk of suffering a relapse showed a hazard ratio of 1.48 in patients with three or more relapses in the 24 months prior to onset compared with patients with two relapses or less; the hazard ratio was 0.84 in patients with age ≥ 38 years at treatment start compared with patients of age <38, and 1.17 for females compared with males. For disease progression the hazard ratio was 1.24 for age = 38 years compared with age ≥ 37 years. Significant differences were observed in the hazard ratios between the different preparations, probably due to selection bias. Conclusion: The response to immunomodulatory therapy can be predicted to some extent from demographic variables. Differences between preparations can mainly be ascribed to selection bias, and open studies are not suited for comparison of efficacy between different preparations.

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