title: An epidemiological study of motor neuron disease in Hong Kong.
abstract: Worldwide, the incidence of motor neuron disease (MND) has been increasing steadily over recent decades. We reported a follow-up epidemiology study of MND in this locality. We identified the subjects from the computer database of the government hospital system between 1 January 1997 and 31 January 2002 by searching the ICD code starting from 335.xx. Every retrieved case or their records were reviewed and validated by neurologist(s) of the responsible regional hospitals which the patients attended. One hundred and twenty cases from seven regional hospitals (serving 48.05% of the HKSAR population) were identified, validated and confirmed to be MND or related diseases. Ninety-eight new cases were diagnosed during the study period. Average age of onset was 58.76 years; SD 14.12 (28-89) years. Male to female ratio was 1.72:1. Peak age of onset was 60-64 years without sex difference. The adjusted incidence rate was 0.60/100,000/year. The adjusted point prevalence at the prevalence date (31 January 2001) was 3.04/100,000. Despite the incidence and prevalence of MND among Hong Kong Chinese, it remained low compared to worldwide figures, and our data suggested a significant rise of MND or related disease in the last decade. A territory-wide prospective epidemiological study is indicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: G C Y
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Mok
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chim
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tsoi
authors.forename: R T F
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors