Multiple sclerosis how many people

In the absence of government-reported data, the National MS Society relies on scientifically-sound estimates of prevalence while we advocate for better and more systematic reporting and tracking at a nationwide level. The Centers for Disease Control CDC received federal funding to implement a neurological disease surveillance system and will be able to update prevalence estimates on a regular basis. The National MS Society is working with the CDC to help with the development of the surveillance system — a culmination of more than a decade of work by MS activists and others across the neurologic community.

Frequently Asked Questions Inside the Studies. Here are a few related topics that may interest you. We use cookies to provide an enhanced experience, to keep our site safe and to deliver specific messaging. By accepting, you consent to the use of all cookies and by declining, only essential cookies will be used to make our website work. More details can be found in our Privacy Policy. The United States validated a case-ascertainment algorithm and reported an almost doubling of prevalent cases to , in Across studies, the consensus is that earlier diagnosis, improved ascertainment and longer survival have all contributed to these trends.

Experts responding to the Atlas survey supported these views. The Atlas survey observed high variability in the age of diagnosis between countries but comparing the mean range across time points does not suggest any trend towards an earlier diagnosis at a global level 30 20—44 32 20—50 years. Regional variation in incidence per , persons per year generally follows the prevalence pattern, with Europe having the highest reported incidence at 6.

South East Asia and Africa have the lowest reported incidence rates of 0. The number of countries with data in and is too low to support comparisons. A necessary limitation of the Atlas methodology is relying on country representatives to report data but several steps were taken to improve data quality.

All sources of data are accepted in the Atlas, including expert opinion in countries where there is no published data or scientific study. This inclusive approach enables the most comprehensive global data set but makes detailed comparisons across countries and time points difficult due to differing data collection methods.

A further challenge to examining trends in the data is the varying participation of countries with each Atlas edition. This has been addressed by restricting analysis to countries reporting data at multiple time points but limits the number of countries included and biases towards higher income countries that have more consistent data collection methods.

As with previous editions of the Atlas, gaps in data from Africa and low-income countries persist which introduces some uncertainty with respect to the global prevalence estimate. In addition, data regarding incidence and paediatric-onset MS are limited, although this has improved. Despite these limitations, the Atlas of MS remains the most comprehensive, open-source data resource for the MS community. The third edition has improved coverage and data quality and thus is likely to provide a more accurate global prevalence estimate.

We report here the epidemiology survey results. Data on the clinical management of MS including access to MS therapies will follow. Important gaps in our epidemiologic understanding of MS persist and must be filled to enable equitable access to disease-modifying and rehabilitative therapies, resources and support that can improve the lives of people with MS.

We call on policy makers, health professionals and MS organisations to:. Use Atlas of MS data to stimulate additional research, raise awareness of MS and support evidence-based advocacy efforts. All Atlas data are open-source and available to download from www. User-friendly data visualisation tools and country factsheets are available to enhance use of the data for local advocacy. MSIF is introducing mechanisms to enable regular data updates for countries with national surveillance systems or new peer-reviewed publications.

We urge stakeholders to report data annually where possible, according to specified data standards. Implement systematic, validated data collection regarding MS, particularly in low- and lower-middle income countries. For countries with national, publicly funded health systems use of administrative health data may provide a stable, low-cost mechanism for disease surveillance.

To optimise comparability of prevalence estimates across regions, crude estimates as well as estimates which are age- and sex-standardised to the world population should be reported. Prioritise the collection of incidence data to better understand changes in disease risk.

Incidence data are important for assessing population-level interventions to reduce disease risk and for directing education and resources towards subgroups at greatest risk. Start reporting on cases of paediatric MS if not already doing so. This will increase awareness that children and youth live with MS and is a first step to ensuring they have access to prompt diagnosis, relevant treatments, specialist healthcare professionals and family support.

Data can be enriched by including variables relevant to the paediatric population such as educational attainment. Add the collection of information on race and ethnicity to the surveillance of MS. These data are essential for research to investigate differences in MS risk and outcomes and the disparities in care that exist for people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds.

Government data sources and MS registries should add this field to their standard data collection. MS research funders should require funded research to capture ethnicity data where possible.

We are grateful to the all the country coordinators listed in Supplementary Table S1 and all those who wish to remain anonymous for contributing data to the Atlas of MS. Supplemental material: Supplemental material for this article is available online.

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