Mortality Statistics Studies of Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Sweden

• Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are chronic neurologic diseases where distinct explanations of the pathogenesis are lacking. Two large Swedish register studies have rather unexpectedly detected a correlation between MS and ALS.The aim of this study was to investigate if an association between ALS and MS could be demonstrated as has been shown earlier.Material and methods: Data on mortality from ALS and MS, 1990-2010 were collected from the Swedish national statistics office. In all there were 5,696 deaths due to ALS and 3,941 deaths due to MS. Age- and sex-adjusted mortality rates were calculated.Results: There was no correlation between the mortality rates of ALS and MS in the 21 counties of Sweden for the period 1990 to 2010 (Spearman’s rho = - 0.052; p = 0.822; n = 21).The national mean mortality rate for ALS throughout the period of 1990 to 2010 was 2.98 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI 2.87 – 3.08). For MS the national mean mortality rate was 2.04 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI 1.95 – 2.12). Both ALS and MS mortality showed significant variation between the counties. Conclusion: This study did not confirm the previously shown association between MS and ALS in Sweden.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Neurologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Neurology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; multiple sclerosis; mortality; correlation

epidemiology

genetics

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