Sloka J S, Pryse-Phillips W E M, Stefanelli M
Faculty of Medicine (Neurology), Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada.
Can J Neurol Sci. 2005 Feb;32(1):37-42. doi: 10.1017/s0317167100016851.
The incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) had been reported in 1984 and was considered to be relatively low at that time. This study revisits the incidence and prevalence of MS in NL for the year 2001.
Case searches through patient files of neurologists in NL were conducted. A complete list of patients billed for MS in NL between 1996 and 2003 was obtained and all cases were confirmed via chart review.
There were 493 living MS patients yielding a prevalence of 94.4/100,000 which is significantly higher than previously reported. Of the living patients, 330 had relapsing remitting (RRMS), 94 had secondary progressive, 66 had primary progressive (PPMS) and three had unspecified MS. The total female to male ratio was 2.7:1. There was no difference between the female to male ratios for RRMS vs PPMS. Patients with PPMS had a later onset compared to RRMS (p<0.00001). Yearly incidences were relatively constant from 1994 to 2001 (5.6/100,000). Significant delays between first symptoms and final diagnosis were common and the delay time has not changed over the past 15 years. A prevalence of 88.9/100,000 was estimated from survival and incidence trends and was not significantly different than the measured prevalence (p=0.38).
The increase in incidence and prevalence are accounted for through both better access to diagnostic facilities and more practicing neurologists. The revised prevalence and incidence are more in keeping with recently reported values throughout Canada.
1984年曾报道过纽芬兰与拉布拉多省（NL）多发性硬化症（MS）的发病率和患病率，当时认为该发病率和患病率相对较低。本研究再次探讨了2001年NL地区MS的发病率和患病率。
通过检索NL地区神经科医生的患者档案进行病例搜索。获取了1996年至2003年间NL地区所有因MS开具账单的患者完整名单，并通过病历审查确认了所有病例。
有493名存活的MS患者，患病率为94.4/10万，显著高于先前报道。在存活患者中，330例为复发缓解型（RRMS），94例为继发进展型，66例为原发进展型（PPMS），3例为未明确类型的MS。女性与男性的总比例为2.7:1。RRMS与PPMS的女性与男性比例无差异。与RRMS相比，PPMS患者发病较晚（p<0.00001）。1994年至2001年的年发病率相对稳定（5.6/10万）。首次出现症状与最终确诊之间存在显著延迟很常见，且在过去15年中延迟时间没有变化。根据生存和发病趋势估计患病率为88.9/10万，与实测患病率无显著差异（p=0.38）。
发病率和患病率的增加是由于诊断设施的可及性提高以及执业神经科医生增多。修订后的患病率和发病率更符合加拿大近期报道的数值。
