title: Geographic variations of multiple sclerosis in France.
abstract: France is located in an area with a medium to high prevalence of multiple sclerosis, where its epidemiology is not well known. We estimated the national and regional prevalence of multiple sclerosis in France on 31 October 2004 and the incidence between 31 October 2003 and 31 October 2004 based on data from the main French health insurance system: the Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Maladie des Travailleurs Salariés. The Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Maladie des Travailleurs Salariés insures 87% of the French population. We analysed geographic variations in the prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in France using the Bayesian approach. On the 31 October 2004, 49 417 people were registered with multiple sclerosis out of the 52 359 912 insured with the Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Maladie des Travailleurs Salariés. Among these, 4497 were new multiple sclerosis cases declared between 31 October 2003 and 31 October 2004. After standardization for age, total multiple sclerosis prevalence in France was 94.7 per 100,000 (94.3-95.1); 130.5 (129.8-131.2) in females and 54.8 (54.4-55.3) in males. The national incidence of multiple sclerosis between 31 October 2003 and 31 October 2004 was 7.5 per 100,000 (7.3-7.6); 10.4 (10.2-10.6) in females and 4.2 (4.0-4.3) in males. The prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis were higher in North-Eastern France, but there was no obvious North-South gradient. This study is the first performed among a representative population of France (87%) using the same method throughout. The Bayesian approach, which takes into account spatial heterogeneity among geographical units and spatial autocorrelation, did not confirm the existence of a prevalence gradient but only a higher prevalence of multiple sclerosis in North-Eastern France and a lower prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the Paris area and on the Mediterranean coast.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Dijon, and Centre of Epidemiology of the Populations, Burgundy University, 3 rue du Faubourg Raines, 21000 Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fromont
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Binquet
authors.forename: Erik A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Sauleau
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fournel
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bellisario
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adnet
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weill
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vukusic
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Confavreux
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Debouverie
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Clerc
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonithon-Kopp
authors.forename: Thibault
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moreau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult