Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T05:34:58.948Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Prevalence of Motor Neurone Disease in the Province of Alberta

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2019

Lawrence W. Svenson ,
Valerie A. Cwik  and
W.R. Wayne Martin
Lawrence W. Svenson*
Affiliation:
Departments of Health Surveillance, Alberta Health, Public Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
Valerie A. Cwik
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, U.S.A.
W.R. Wayne Martin
Affiliation:
Division of Neurology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
*
Reprint requests to: Larry Svenson, Health Surveillance, Alberta Health, PO Box 1360 Stn. Main, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5J 2N3
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract:

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Using data from the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, the prevalence of motor neurone disease (MND) was estimated for the Province of Alberta, Canada. Between January 1, 1994 and December 31, 1995, 208 cases of MND (125 males, 83 females) were identified from physician billing records giving a period prevalence of 7.38 (8.9 for males, 5.9 for females) per 100,000 population. On prevalence day, July 1, 1995, there were 171 cases (103 males, 68 females) of MND giving a point prevalence estimate of 6.07 (7.3 for males, 4.8 for females) per 100,000 population. Males were more likely to be diagnosed (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.1, 2.1) with MND and there was an increased risk of receiving a diagnosis with increasing age (χ2trend = 281, p < 0.001). The mean age of the cases was 59.2 years (58.5 for males, 60.3 for females) and did not differ significantly between the sexes. Geographically, there was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence across regions of the Province. During the study period, 28% of the cases had died (30% of males, 25% of females). The prevalence of MND in Alberta, is among the highest reported in the literature and requires additional investigation to verify these estimates and identify possible causative factors.

Résumé:

Résumé:

Nous avons estimé la prévalence de la sclérose latérale amyotrophique (SLA) dans la province d'Alberta au Canada, au moyen des données du plan albertain d'assurance santé. Entre le premier janvier 1994 et le 31 décembre 1995, 208 cas de SLA (125 hommes et 83 femmes) ont été identifiés à partir des réclamations d'honoraires des médecins, ce qui donne une prévalence de 7.38 (8.9 pour les hommes et 5.9 pour les femmes) par 100,000 de population. Les hommes étaient plus susceptibles de recevoir un diagnostic de SLA (RR = 1.52, IC 95% de 1.1 à 2.1) et le risque d'un tel diagnostic augmentait avec l'âge (χ2tendance = 281, p < 0.001). L'âge moyen des patients était de 59.2 ans (58.5 pour les hommes et 60.3 pour les femmes) et n'était pas significativement différent selon le sexe. Au point de vue géographique, il n'y avait pas de différence significative de la prévalence selon les régions de la province. 28% des patients (30% des hommes et 25% des femmes) sont morts pendant la période de l'étude. La prévalence de la SLA en Alberta est parmi les plus hautes rapportées dans la littérature. D'autres études seront nécessaires pour vérifier ces estimés et pour identifier les facteurs en cause.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 26 , Issue 2 , May 1999 , pp. 119 - 122
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 1999

References

1. Aminoff, MJ, Greenberg, DA, Simon, RP. Clinical Neurology, 3rd Edition. Stamford: Appleton and Lange, 1996.Google Scholar
2. Norris, F, Shepherd, R, Denys, E, et al. Onset, natural history and out come in idiopathic adult motor neuron disease. J Neurol Sci 1993; 118: 48–55.Google Scholar
3. Román, G. Amytotrophic lateral sclerosis. In: Martyn, CN, Hughes, RAC, eds. The Epidemiology of Neurological Disorders. London: BMJ Books, 1998: 168–186.Google Scholar
4. Chancellor, AM, Slattery, JM, Fraser, H, et al. The prognosis of adult onset motor neuron disease: a prospective study based on the Scottish Motor Neuron Disease Registry. J Neurol 1993; 240: 339–346.Google Scholar
5. Lee, JR, Annegers, JF, Appel, SH. Prognosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and the effect of referral selection. J Neurol Sci 1995; 132: 207–215.Google Scholar
6. Granieri, E, Carreras, M, Tola, R, et al. Motor neuron disease in the province of Ferrara, Italy, in 1964–1982. Neurology 1988; 38: 1604–1608.Google Scholar
7. Emery, AE. Population frequencies of neuromuscular diseases – II. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (motor neuron disease). Neuromuscular Disord 1991; 1: 323–325.Google Scholar
8. Fong, KY, Yu, YL, Chan, YW, et al. Motor neuron disease in Hong Kong Chinese: epidemiology and clinical picture. Neuro epidemiology 1996; 15: 239–245.Google Scholar
9. Gunnarson, LG, Palm, R. Motor neuron disease and heavy manual labor: an epidemiologic survey of Värmland county, Sweden, Neuroepidemiology 1984; 3: 195–206.Google Scholar
10. Bettoni, L, Bazzani, M, Bortone, E, et al. Steadiness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the province of Parma, Italy, 1960–1990. Acta Neurol Scand 1994; 90: 276–280.Google Scholar
11. Hudson, AJ, Davenport, A, Hader, WJ. The incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Neurology 1986: 36: 1524–1528.Google Scholar
12. Elian, M, Dean, G. The changing mortality from motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis in England and Wales and the Republic of Ireland, Neuroepidemiology 1992; 11: 236–243.Google Scholar
13. Jokelainen, M. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Finland. I. Epidemiologic study. Acta Neurol Scand 1977; 56: 185–193.Google Scholar
14. Kahana, E, Zilber, N. Changes in the incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Israel. Arch Neurol 1984; 41: 157–160.Google Scholar
15. Annegers, JF, Appel, S, Lee, JR, Perkins, P. Incidence and prevalence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Harris County, Texas, 1985–1988. Arch Neurol 1991; 48: 589–593.Google Scholar
16. Mitchell, JD, Davies, RB, Al-Hamad, A, Gatrell, AC, Batterby, G. MND risk factors: an epidemiological study in the north west of England. J Neurol Sci 1995; 129 (Suppl.): 61–64.Google Scholar
17. Saha, SP, Das, SK, Gangopadhyay, PK, Roy, TN, Maiti, B. Pattern of motor neurone disease in eastern India. Acta Neurol Scand 1997; 96: 14–21.Google Scholar
18. Murray, TJ, Pride, S, Haley, G. Motor neuron disease in Nova Scotia. Can Med Assoc J 1974; 110: 814–817.Google Scholar
19. World Health Organization. International classification of diseases, 9th revision. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1977.Google Scholar
20. Newcombe, HB. Handbook of record linkage: methods for health and statistical studies, administration, and business. New York: Oxford University Press, 1988.Google Scholar
21. Fleiss, JL. Statistical Methods for Rates and Proportions. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1981.Google Scholar
22. Roos, LL, Nicol, JP, Cagerge, SM. Using administrative data for longitudinal research: comparison with primary data collection. J Chron Dis 1987; 40: 41–49.Google Scholar
23. Højer-Pedersen, E, Christensen, PB, Jensen, NB. Incidence and prevalence of motor neuron disease in two Danish counties. Neuroepidemiology 1989; 8: 151–159.Google Scholar