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. 2009 Jun;16(6):745-51.
doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2009.02586.x.

Incidence and lifetime risk of motor neuron disease in the United Kingdom: a population-based study

A Alonso  1 , G Logroscino, S S Jick, M A Hernán
Affiliations

Incidence and lifetime risk of motor neuron disease in the United Kingdom: a population-based study

A Alonso et al. Eur J Neurol. 2009 Jun.

Abstract

Background and purpose: To estimate the incidence and lifetime risk of motor neuron disease (MND) in a population-based sample in the United Kingdom.

Methods: We identified new cases of MND during the period 1990-2005 in the General Practice Research Database, which includes clinical information from more than 3 million Britons enrolled with selected general practitioners. Individuals with a first medical diagnosis of MND recorded in the database were considered incident cases of the disease. The positive predictive value of the computer-based diagnosis was estimated through review of a sample of medical records from potential MND cases.

Results: In the period 1990-2005, 830 new cases of MND were identified. Age-standardized incidence of MND was 2.6 per 100 000 persons per year in women (95% CI: 2.3, 2.8) and 3.9 in men (95% CI: 3.6, 4.3). Incidence for both sexes peaked between 75 and 79 years. The rate of MND in men was 54% higher than in women (95% CI: 33%, 77%). The lifetime risk of MND, adjusting for competing causes of death, was 1 in 472 (2.1 per 1000) in women and 1 in 350 (2.9 per 1000) in men. No increase in MND incidence over time was apparent.

Conclusion: In this population-based database, we found that MND incidence is higher in men than women, peaking in both sexes between 75 and 79 years.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

We have no conflict of interest

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Incidence rate of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and of other motor neuron disease (progressive bulbar palsy, progressive muscular atrophy, and primary lateral sclerosis) in the General Practice Research Database (GPRD), by age and sex, 1990–2005 ALS: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; PBP: progressive bulbar palsy; PLS: primary lateral sclerosis; PMA: progressive muscular atrophy
Figure 2
Figure 2
Age-standardized incidence of all types of motor neuron disease by sex and study period, General Practice Research Database, 1990–2005
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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