Multiple Sclerosis - Prevalence

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly destroys the protective myelin covering around nerves. The myelin is then replaced by so-called plaques appearing throughout the nervous system. MS strikes people between ages of 20-40 when a tingling sensation or numbness in a hand, blurred vision, or chronic fatigue occurs. In its advanced stages MS robs people of their ability to walk or talk. Several different types of MS are distinguished:

• 'Relapsing remitting multiple sclerose' (RRMS), usually the start phase of MS at 80–90% of all patients. About 30–45% of MS-patients have RRMS. Periods of relapse and loss of functionality fluctuate with periods of (partly) remissions.
• 'Secundair progressieve multiple sclerose' (SPMS) is progressive form, and the resulting form of about 50% of all patients after 10 years of RRMS. About 30–45% of all MS-patients have SPMS, characterized by exacerbations and chronic progression of functional disabilities.
• ‘Primaire progressieve multiple sclerose' (PPMS). This progressive form of MS is evident at 10–30% of all patients.
  

Europe

For most Europeans diagnosed with MS, the condition involves an unpredictable, life long progression of complex symptoms. In the European Union over 500 000 people have Multiple Sclerosis (MS) MS affects people in the prime of life when families and careers are developing. It is the most common cause of disability affecting young adults.  People are usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40. MS is more common in women than men, with a ratio of  3 to 2. 

MS is the result of damage to the brain and spinal cord.  This interferes with messages between the brain and other parts of the body. The most common form of MS is one where symptoms come and go.  For some people MS means gradually increasing disability. Common MS symptoms include: blurred vision, extreme fatigue, pain, numbness in legs and hands, loss of movement and speech problems. Following diagnosis, many people with MS lose contact with health and social services for years. Increasing disability, compounded by lack of expertise in MS among professionals can mean that basic health problems such as depression, cognitive impairments, continence issues and sexual health all go unnoticed.

Palliative care skills are not always available to people whose MS is advanced and have complex physical and psychological needs. Despite all research efforts, MS is not curable so far. Therefore, much more research on the causes and potential cure of MS is vital. People with MS typically are keen to remain in employment for as long as possible, but have a progressive, degenerative, or fluctuating condition which means that they need to reduce or adapt their hoursm, in addition need to adapt their working environment to accommodate changing needs. It is vital, particularly if they are faced with increasing disability, that they can access co-ordinated care from all the professionals within a multi-disciplinary team, skilled and expert in MS. There are very significant countrywide and region wide discrepancies in the provision and quality of services and support for people affected by MS across the European Union. There is growing recognition that people affected by MS have a great deal to offer through their own experience and knowledge of their disease, to professionals working with them.

USA

Multiple sclerosis prevalence (total number of cases of the disease in the population at a given time) rises steadily each year, from ~ 200/100,000 individuals in 1990 to ~ 400/100,000 in 2008 (USA). Multiple sclerosis incidence (the risk of developing some new condition within a specified period of time) fluctuated with a slight increase from 1990 to 2008, at 21/100,000 and 25/100,000, respectively. Age-specific prevalence rates were higher between ages 30 and 60 in 2008 than in 1990. The pattern of age-specific incidence rates was similar in 1990 and 2008, with a slight shift toward diagnosis in younger years. Gender-specific prevalence rates were higher for females in both 1990 and 2008, with a greater increase in females (43%) than males (29%). It was additionally found that between 1940 and 2000, the ratio of MS in women compared with men increased by approximately 50% per decade. In 1940, the ratio of women to men with MS was 2 to 1. In 2000 it was 4 to 1 among individuals born during the 1930s, the ratio of women to men who developed MS in Canada was 2 to 1. However, among those born during the 1980s, this ratio increased to over 3 to 1. In addition, geographical variability exist.