Multiple sclerosis
How common is multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is quite common.
- About 400,000 Americans have MS.
Source:
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Who gets MS?
October 2007. Available at www.nationalmssociety.org (accessed on 7 November 2007).
1 - Every week, about 200 people in the United States are told they have the disease.
Source:
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Who gets MS?
October 2007. Available at www.nationalmssociety.org (accessed on 7 November 2007).
1 - Around 1 in 800 people in Europe and North America have it. MS is the most common cause of disability due to nerve damage
in young adults.
Source:
Ford HL, Gerry E, Johnson M, et al.
A prospective study of the incidence, prevalence and mortality of multiple sclerosis in Leeds.
Journal of Neurology. 2002; 249: 260-265.
2Source:
Sloka JS, Pryse-Phillips WE, Stefanell M.
Incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. 2005; 32: 37-42.
3 - MS is usually diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 40 years.
Source:
Weinshenker BG, Bass B, Rice GP, et al.
The natural history of multiple sclerosis: a geographically based study. I. Clinical course and disability.
Brain. 1989; 112: 133-146.
4 - Women are almost twice as likely to get MS as men.
Source:
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Who gets MS?
October 2007. Available at www.nationalmssociety.org (accessed on 7 November 2007).
1 In the United States, MS is more common in the northern states than in the southern ones. And in Europe, it's more common in northern countries (such as Norway, Sweden and Finland) than in southern ones (such as Spain, Italy and Greece).Source:
Hernan MA, Olek MJ, Ascherio A.
Geographic variation of MS incidence in two prospective studies of US women.
Neurology. 1999; 53: 1711-1718.
5 No one knows why, but the disease gets more common the farther you go from the equator. - MS may have become more common over the last 20 years. But experts aren't sure if more people are getting MS or if doctors
have just gotten better at diagnosing it.
Source:
Hauser SL, Goodkin DE.
Multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases.
In: Braunwald E, Fauci AS, Kasper DL, et al (editors). Harrison's principles of internal medicine. 15th edition. McGraw Hill, New York, USA; 2001.
6
Sources for the information on this page:
- The National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Who gets MS?October 2007. Available at www.nationalmssociety.org (accessed on 7 November 2007).
- Ford HL, Gerry E, Johnson M, et al.A prospective study of the incidence, prevalence and mortality of multiple sclerosis in Leeds.Journal of Neurology. 2002; 249: 260-265.
- Sloka JS, Pryse-Phillips WE, Stefanell M.Incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Newfoundland and Labrador.The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. 2005; 32: 37-42.
- Weinshenker BG, Bass B, Rice GP, et al.The natural history of multiple sclerosis: a geographically based study. I. Clinical course and disability.Brain. 1989; 112: 133-146.
- Hernan MA, Olek MJ, Ascherio A.Geographic variation of MS incidence in two prospective studies of US women.Neurology. 1999; 53: 1711-1718.
- Hauser SL, Goodkin DE.Multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases.In: Braunwald E, Fauci AS, Kasper DL, et al (editors). Harrison's principles of internal medicine. 15th edition. McGraw Hill, New York, USA; 2001.
This information was last updated on Jul 25, 2008
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
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Source: ConsumerReportsHealth.org Copyright © 2005-2008 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
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