title: Multiple sclerosis in Germany: data analysis of administrative prevalence and healthcare delivery in the statutory health system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Healthcare-utilization data for multiple sclerosis (MS) are scarce in Germany. The Purpose of the study was to analyse administrative prevalence of MS, medication use and type of specialists involved in MS treatment in the outpatient setting in Bavaria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pseudonymized claims data from Bavarian Statutory Health Insurance (SHI)-accredited physicians were used. Administrative prevalence of MS was defined as having ≥1 MS diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition, code G35) documented by a neurologist or psychiatrist, or ≥1 prescription for disease-modifying drugs (DMDs)). The administrative prevalence calculated for Bavaria was projected to Germany. DMD prescription and involvement of different specialities in health care service for MS patients was analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Administrative prevalence of MS in Bavaria increased from 0.123% to 0.175% of insured persons between 2005 and 2009; when projected, this yielded ~102,000-143,000 patients with MS in the German population. The percentage of patients receiving ≥1 DMD prescription increased from 45.5% to 50.5%. Patients with MS were mainly treated by neurologists in the ambulatory care setting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results provide important information on the administrative prevalence of MS in Bavaria and on healthcare provision for patients, which is relevant for resource planning in the healthcare sector.
authors.affiliation: IGES Institute GmbH, Berlin, Germany. ah@iges.de.
authors.forename: Ariane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Höer
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schiffhorst
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fischaleck
authors.forename: Luise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gehrmann
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahrens
authors.forename: Gunther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carl
authors.forename: Karl-Otto
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Sigel
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Osowski
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Hans-Holger
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Bleß
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009313:National Health Programs; D015995:Prevalence