For years the accepted estimate of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients living in the United States was 400,000. A recent study, funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) has confirmed that number is closer to 900,000 individuals. Results from this study will be published in Neurology on March 5, 2019.
About the Study
This study has been ongoing for five years and it has cost the NMSS 1 million dollars. However, this investment was clearly important, as it has provided critical information concerning the impact of MS.
It utilized data from one regional database and five national databases. Collectively, researchers believe this data includes “nearly all” MS patients, excluding the uninsured. However there were two downfalls with the data used in this study. First, it did not include information from undocumented immigrants, prisoners, or children. Second, it did not distinguish between types of multiple sclerosis (such as primary-progressive or relapsing-remitting).
The final numbers from this study show that 362 individuals out of every 100,000 are affected by MS. This number was just 58 in 1976. Additionally, it found that 74% of MS patients are women. This number has also risen since 1976 when it was documented at 63%.
This study also found some interesting geographic data.
Geographic Findings
Researchers in this study uncovered that there is correlation between MS prevalence and physical distance from the Equator. States in the Northeast had 377 individuals diagnosed with MS per 100,000 while states in the South and in the West had just 277 individuals diagnosed.
Taking into account all factors, the highest prevalence of MS was found in women living in the Northeast who were between the ages of 45 and 54 (762.3 per every 100,000). The lowest prevalence was among men living in the south who were between the ages of 18 and 24 (19.2 per every 100,000).
While there are theories which aim to explain this geographic phenomenon, no reason has yet to be found definitive. One of the theories is that Vitamin D, provided by sun exposure, can decrease risk. Therefore, limited sun exposure could increase risk. Globally, this theory is supported as Canada has the highest MS prevalence in the world and tropical regions within South America and Africa have almost no documentation of MS.
However, other examinations have shown prevalence is more complex as people who have migrated from different geographic areas at a young age maintain the risk from the area they were born.
Looking Forward
Ultimately, this research is important because with greater confidence in the number of people living with this condition, researchers can discuss with greater conviction the burden of this disease with legislators, policymakers, drug companies, and others.
Primarily, this study indicates that there is a greater unmet need regarding this condition than we realized and this discussion is of the utmost importance.
Likewise, it shows the importance of dedicated MS research.
In addition to the positive impacts this study could have on future MS research, it also has the potential of improving outcomes for other rare patient communities. Researchers believe the algorithms used in this study could be adapted for use in other diseases. This type of investigation could be especially beneficial for diseases which don’t currently have a national registry such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
You can read more about this MS study and its findings here.
