National estimate of multiple sclerosis incidence in France (2001-2007).
BACKGROUND
In France, the incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) is not well known, and MS is one of the 30 long-term illnesses for which patients are covered for 100% of their health care costs.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the incidence of MS in France and its geographic variations.


METHODS
We estimated the national rate for notification of MS to the main French health insurance system, and its confidence interval (CI), between November 2000 and October 2007, which covers 87% of the population. We analysed geographic variations using a Bayesian approach.


RESULTS
Between November 2000 and October 2007, among a covered population of 52,449,871, some 28,682 individuals were registered as having MS. After age standardization according to the European population, the notification rate for MS was 6.8 per 100,000 (6.7-6.9), 9.8 (9.7-10.0) in women and 3.7 (3.6-3.8) in men. When the under-notification rate (11.5% and 29%) was taken into account, the notification rate per 100,000 inhabitants was estimated between 7.6 and 8.8. The notification rate was higher in north-eastern France, and lower on the Atlantic coast and in the Alps as well as on both sides of the Rhône River.


CONCLUSIONS
This study, conducted on a representative French population, provides for the first time national estimates of MS incidence between November 2000 and October 2007.
Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Dijon, France.
A
A
Fromont
C
C
Binquet
Ea
E
Sauleau
I
I
Fournel
R
R
Despalins
F
F
Rollot
A
A
Weill
L
L
Clerc
C
C
Bonithon-Kopp
T
T
Moreau
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012042:Registries; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult