BackgroundIn France, two studies analysed multiple sclerosis prevalence nationwide: one was carried out in farmers, and the other one in employees. A south-north gradient of prevalence was found solely in farmers.ObjectiveIn order to better describe the latitude gradient in France, which is not uniform depending on the studied population, we assessed whether a gradient exists in another population than farmers and employees: independent workers. The same methods of case ascertainment have been used.MethodsAltogether 4,165,903 persons insured by the French health insurance scheme for independent workers were included. We searched the database for (a) long term disease status ‘multiple sclerosis’, (b) domicile, (c) gender and (d) age.ResultsA total of 4182 cases of multiple sclerosis were registered giving a prevalence of 100.39/100,000. Adjustment by age and sex and spatial smoothing with a Bayesian analysis showed a gradual increase of prevalence from the southwest to the northeast of France. Standardised morbidity ratio was correlated with latitude and longitude (p<0.0001; p = 0.0031; adjusted R2 = 0.3038).ConclusionA discrepancy of geographic distribution between farmers and independent workers on the one hand and employees on the other cannot be attributable to environment. Assuming that socioeconomic status by itself is not associated with multiple sclerosis risk, employees’ geographic mobility at adulthood for professional reasons could have interfered with the gradient effect.

The gap between guidelines and practice is illustrated by the case of Lucentis®, which is increasingly used for indications other than those reimbursed by health insurance. The findings indicate that the current price does not reflect sales volume estimates based on current guidelines, a problem that may be compounded by the recent extension of indications covered by health insurance.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract