Incidence of Multiple Sclerosis in the General Population in the Netherlands, 1996–2008

Abstract

Background: We estimated the multiple sclerosis (MS) incidence in the Netherlands for better active monitoring of potential vaccine safety signals. Methods: A retrospective cohort study (1996–2008) was conducted using a population-based general practice research database containing electronic medical records. Additional information was collected to validate incident probable cases. Results: In the source population (648,656 persons), 146 incident probable MS cases were identified. Overall incidence rate was 6.3/100,000 person years (py; 95% CI, 5.2–7.2). In the subgroup in which MS could be fully validated, the incidence increased from 4/100,000 py (95% CI, 3–5) in 1996–2004 to 9/100,000 py in 2007/8 (95% CI, 6–16). This increase was highest among women, but not statistically significantly different by gender. The median lag time between first recorded symptoms and MS diagnosis decreased from 32 months (<1998) to 2 months (>2005). Conclusions: MS is rare in the Netherlands. In recent years, there was a slight increase in the incidence especially among women during the fertile age. This increase coincided with a decrease in lag time between symptoms and diagnosis, both for men and women. This trend should be taken into account in the interpretation of MS cases occurring in a population where new vaccinations will be introduced shortly.

Epidemiology of Guillain‐Barré syndrome in Finland 2004–2014

“…The question about a gender ratio of GBS incidence therefore remains unsolved. Considering this, it is interesting to note that the incidence of multiple sclerosis, another autoimmune disorder, has increased particularly in women in Northern Finland (Krökki et al, ; Holmberg et al, ) and in the Netherlands (Kramer et al, ) .…”

Incidence of Multiple Sclerosis in Germany: A Cohort Study Applying Different Case Definitions Based on Claims Data

“…In France, the national incidence was estimated to be 7.5 per 100,000 persons based on the main French insurance system [11]. In a Dutch study, incidence calculations based on a medical records database showed an increase of the IR from 4 per 100,000 PYs from 1996 to 2004 to 9 per 100,000 PYs in 2007 and 2008 [12]. Ahlgren et al[13] investigated the IR of MS in Sweden from 2001 to 2008.…”

The co-occurrence of multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes: Shared aetiologic features and clinical implication for MS aetiology

“…In the Sassari Province of Sardinia, incidence has increased from 1.1 to 5.8 between 1965-1969 and 1995-1999 [24]. Increasing incidence rates have also been reported in France [25], Netherlands [26], Australia [27], Japan [28], Finland [29], Norway [30,31] and Italy [32]. Interestingly, an increase in female-to-male ratio of MS incidence has also been observed, with a systematic review and meta-analysis estimating a ratio increase from 1.4 in 1955 to 2.3 in 2000 in incident cases, when incidence studies were repeated after some years or decades in the same population [33].…”