Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-nwzlb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T09:24:08.535Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

ALS Incidence in Nova Scotia Over a 20- Year-Period: A Prospective Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

J.P. Bonaparte
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
I.A. Grant
Affiliation:
Division of Neurology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
T.J. Benstead
Affiliation:
Division of Neurology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
T.J. Murray
Affiliation:
MS Unit, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
M. Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Objective:

Previous studies have suggested that the incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Nova Scotia is relatively high and increasing over time. This study was performed to determine the current incidence of ALS in Nova Scotia and to compare this to data collected in 1984 and 1995.

Methods:

All physiatrists and neurologists were surveyed on a monthly basis over one year to record all new cases of ALS diagnosed in Nova Scotia. Data was compared to that collected using similar methods in 1984 and 1995. To validate our methods, we also performed a retrospective study using a provincial health care database.

Results:

There were 21 new ALS cases in Nova Scotia during the 2003 study period, yielding a crude incidence of 2.24/100,000. The age-adjusted incident rate for 2003 was 2.13 (95% CI = 0.11-4.15). The age-adjusted rate for 1995 was 2.3 (95% CI = 0.08-4.53) while the age-adjusted rate for 1984 was 2.22 (95% CI = 0.13-4.32). Analysis of provincial health records identified 24 cases of ALS and an age-adjusted incidence of 2.44/100,000.

Conclusion:

The age-adjusted incidence of ALS in Nova Scotia has remained stable over the period 1984-2003. The incidence is similar to that reported in several other parts of the world.

Résumé:

RÉSUMÉ:Objectif:

Selon certaines études antérieures, l'incidence de la SLA serait relativement élevée en Nouvelle-Écosse et elle serait à la hausse. Le but de cette étude était de déterminer l'incidence actuelle de la SLA en Nouvelle-Écosse et de la comparer à celles de 1984 et de 1995.

Méthodes:

Une enquête a été effectuée auprès de tous les physiatres et les neurologues sur une base mensuelle pendant un an pour recenser les nouveaux cas de SLA diagnostiqués en Nouvelle-Écosse. Ces données ont été comparées à celles obtenues au moyen de méthodes similaires en 1984 et en 1995. Nous avons également effectué une étude rétrospective dans une banque provinciale de données de soins de santé afin de valider nos méthodes.

Résultats:

Au cours de l'étude en 2003, il y a eu 21 nouveaux cas de SLA en Nouvelle-Écosse, soit une incidence brute de 2,24/100 000 habitants. Le taux d'incidence ajusté pour l'âge était de 2,13 (I.C. à 95% : de 0,11 à 4,15) en 2003, alors qu'il était de 2,3 (I.C. à 95% : de 0,08 à 4,53) en 1995 et de 2,22 (I.C. à 95% : de 0,13 à 4,32) en 1984. L'analyse du fichier provincial a identifié 24 cas de SLA pour une incidence ajustée pour l'âge de 2,44/100 000 habitants.

Conclusions:

L'incidence de la SLA ajustée pour l'âge en NouvelleÉcosse est demeurée stable entre 1984 et 2003. L'incidence est semblable à celle qui a été rapportée dans plusieurs autres parties du monde.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2007

References

1. Argyriou, AA, Polychronopoulos, P, Papapetropoulos, S, Ellul, J, Andriopoulos, I, Katsoulas, G, et al. Clinical and epidemiological features of motor neuron disease in south-western Greece. Acta Neurol Scand. 2005;111(2):10813.Google Scholar
2. Govoni, V, Granieri, E, Capone, J, Manconi, M, Casetta, I. Incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the local health district of Ferrara, Italy, 1964-1998. Neuroepidemiology. 2003;22(4): 22934.Google Scholar
3. Kihira, T, Yoshida, S, Hironishi, M, Miwa, H, Okamato, K, Kondo, T. Changes in the incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Wakayama, Japan. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Other Motor Neuron Disord. 2005;6(3):15563.Google Scholar
4. Mandrioli, J, Faglioni, P, Merelli, E, Sola, P. The epidemiology of ALS in Modena, Italy. Neurology. 2003;60(4):6839.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5. Sejvar, JJ, Holman, RC, Bresee, JS, Kochanek, KD, Schonberger, LB. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis mortality in the United States, 1979-2001. Neuroepidemiology. 2005;25(3):14452.Google Scholar
6. Seljeseth, YM, Vollset, SE, Tysnes, OB. Increasing mortality from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Norway? Neurology. 2000;55(9):12626.Google Scholar
7. Sorenson, EJ, Stalker, AP, Kurland, LT, Windebank, AJ. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1925 to 1998. Neurology. 2002;59(2):2802.Google Scholar
8. Stefanelli, M, Lim, C, Sloka, J, et al. Iron Horse Disease - Are we overrun? The incidence of ALS in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. In: XVIIIth Conference of the World Congress of Neurology; 2005; Sydney, Australia; 2005. p. S214.Google Scholar
9. The Scottish Motor Neuron Disease Register: a prospective study of adult onset motor neuron disease in Scotland. Methodology, demography and clinical features of incident cases in 1989. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1992;55(7):53641.Google Scholar
10. Logroscino, G, Beghi, E, Zoccolella, S, Palagano, R, Fraddosio, A, Simone, IL, et al. Incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in southern Italy: a population based study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2005;76:10948.Google Scholar
11. McGuire, V, Longstreth, WT Jr., Koepsell, TD, van Belle, G. Incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in three counties in western Washington state. Neurology. 1996;47(2):5713.Google Scholar
12. PARALS. Incidence of ALS in Italy: evidence for a uniform frequency in Western countries. Neurology. 2001;56(2):23944.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13. Traynor, BJ, Codd, MB, Corr, B, Forde, C, Frost, E, Hardiman, O. Incidence and prevalence of ALS in Ireland, 1995-1997: a population-based study. Neurology. 1999;52(3):5049.Google Scholar
14. Murray, TJ, Cameron, J, Heffernan, LP, MacDonald, HN, King, DB, Bedwell, SR, et al. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Nova Scotia. Adv Exp Med Biol. 1987;209:3459.Google Scholar
15. Hudson, AJ, Davenport, A, Hader, WJ. The incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Neurology. 1986;36(11):15248.Google Scholar
16. Murray, TJ, Traynor, BJ. Incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Nova Scotia 1986-1996. In: International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations 7th International Symposium; Chicago, USA; 1996.Google Scholar
17. Statistics Canada [online]. Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, 2001 and 1996 Censuses. Updated: July 16, 2002. Last accessed June 2006. Available from:http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/ standard/popdwell/Table-PR.cfm.Google Scholar
18. Statistics Canada CANSIM II [online]. Estimates of population, by age group and sex, Canada, provinces and territories, annual (Persons unless otherwise noted). Table 051-0001. Last accessed June 2006. Updated May 26, 2006. Available from: http://cansim2.statcan.ca/.Google Scholar
19. Brooks, BR. El Escorial World Federation of Neurology criteria for the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Subcommittee on Motor Neuron Diseases/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis of the World Federation of Neurology Research Group on Neuromuscular Diseases and the El Escorial “Clinical limits of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis” workshop contributors. J Neurol Sci. 1994; Jul 1 24 Suppl:96107.Google Scholar
20. Medicode, ed. ICD-9-CM: international classification of diseases, clinical modification. 5th ed., 9th rev ed. Salt Lake City, UT: Medicode Inc; 1999.Google Scholar