Journal article
Trends in the epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Greater Hobart, Tasmania: 1951 to 2009
S Simpson, F Pittas, I Van Der Mei, L Blizzard, AL Ponsonby, B Taylor
Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry | Published : 2011
Abstract
Background: Hobart, Tasmania has been the site of two major studies of multiple sclerosis (MS) frequency, in 1951-1961 and 1971-1981. Since then, there have been no studies of MS frequency in Hobart. Methods: Using a prevalent cohort of 226 cases in 2001 and 265 in 2009, the authors undertook a two-stage survey of MS frequency in Hobart. Combined with the published data from the two preceding studies, the authors conducted a time-trend analysis of MS epidemiology over 1951-2009. Results: The age-standardised prevalence in 2001 was 96.6/100 000, and 99.6/100 000 in 2009, a significant increase from the 1961 prevalence of 32.5/100 000 (p<0.001). Female prevalence increased over each time point..
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Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia
Funding Acknowledgements
The Multiple Sclerosis Longitudinal Study was funded by a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (Project 333105). The Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence and Genetics study was funded by a principle research fellowship from the Menzies Research Institute.