title: Incidence of polyneuropathy in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ascertain the incidence of cryptogenic axonal polyneuropathy (CAP) and how this relates to the overall incidence of polyneuropathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electronic diagnostic registries of all hospital-based neurologic practices in the province of Utrecht (population 1,224,852 = 7.4% of the Dutch population) were consulted in 2010 to identify incident cases with polyneuropathy. Medical files were reviewed to specify the final diagnosis. Age-adjusted incidence rates for the Netherlands were calculated using national age-specific population figures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall incidence of polyneuropathy was 77.0/100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval 71.1-82.8) in persons aged 18 years and older. Diabetic polyneuropathy (32%), CAP (26%), toxic polyneuropathy (14%), and immune-mediated polyneuropathy (9%) were the most frequent diagnoses. The incidence of CAP was 31.6/100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval 27.0-36.3) in persons aged 40 years and older. The incidence of polyneuropathy increased with age, as well as the proportion of patients diagnosed with CAP: 12% (40-49 years), 20% (50-59 years), 28% (60-69 years), 32% (70-79 years), and 35% (≥80 years) (χ(2) test, p = 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The chance of establishing an etiologic diagnosis in patients presenting with a polyneuropathy decreases with age. Given the aging population, polyneuropathy in general and CAP in particular will pose a growing health care problem.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands. n.a.visser-3@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Nora A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nicolette C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Notermans
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rosalie S N
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Linssen
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Leonard H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Alexander F J E
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Vrancken
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult