The incidence and prevalence of reported multiple sclerosis.

A national survey, sponsored by the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke, to determine the incidence, prevalence, and economic impact of multiple sclerosis has just been completed. These data are the first report of the results. Based on the data gathered, it is estimated that on January 1, 1976, there were a reported 123,000 multiple sclerosis patients in the conterminous United States (a rate of 58 per 100,000). The annual incidence for the period 1970-1975 was estimated to be 8,800 (a rate of 4.2 per 100,000). The pattern of the disease being more common among females, whites, persons aged 30-50 years, and individuals living above the 37th parallel was also demonstrated. In addition to demographic characteristics, selected disease characteristics of the incidence and prevalence populations were also examined.