Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis worldwide: Insights from the Atlas of MS, third edition

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7720355/

  High-quality epidemiologic data worldwide are needed to improve our understanding of disease risk, support health policy to meet the diverse needs of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and support advocacy efforts. […] The Atlas of MS is an open-source global compendium of data regarding the epidemiology of MS and the availability of resources for people with MS reported at country, regional and global levels. […] A total of 2.8 million people are estimated to live with MS worldwide (35.9 per 100,000 population). MS prevalence has increased in every world region since 2013 but gaps in prevalence estimates persist. […] The global prevalence of MS has risen since 2013, but good surveillance data is not universal. Action is needed by multiple stakeholders to close knowledge gaps. […] Between September 2019 and March 2020, MSIF collected epidemiologic data from 115 countries representing 87% of the worlds population.

• #2 Number of people with MS | Atlas of MS

  https://www.atlasofms.org/

  The Atlas of MS is the most comprehensive worldwide study of the epidemiology of MS and the global availability and accessibility of resources for people with MS. […] The data shows that the number of people with MS across the globe has increased from 2.3 million in 2013 to 2.8 million in 2020 and 2.9 in 2023. It highlights the many barriers and inequalities that people with MS face in accessing diagnosis, treatment and care. […] This 3rd edition of the Atlas of MS shines a spotlight on the barriers to accessing diagnosis and disease modifying therapies around the world. These issues are particularly evident in low and middle income countries but high income countries are not exempt. This report highlights the need for major policy changes to ensure early diagnosis and improved access to a range of treatments, to guarantee the best possible outcomes for people with MS. Information from the Atlas of MS should be used to guide policy-makers, health planners and specialists, in order to close the gaps in care, decrease inequities globally and provide a better future for people with MS and their families.

• #3

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44197-025-00353-6

  The epidemiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) is complex due to the interaction of various risk factors. This study assesses the global, regional, national and sub-national burden of MS and predicts future trends. […] Globally, 1.89 million people live with MS, with over 62,000 new cases diagnosed in 2021. The global prevalence of MS is 23.9 cases per 100,000 population, with a continuous increase over the past three decades. North America and Western Europe had the highest prevalence, incidence, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and mortality rates. […] The burden of MS is rising worldwide, especially in developed countries. To reduce this burden, it is essential to understand the distribution and risk factors of MS, and to address healthcare disparities in early diagnosis, access to treatment and social services.

• #4

  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/multiple-sclerosis

  Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects function in cognitive, emotional, motor, sensory, or visual areas and occurs as a result of a persons immune system attacking their brain and spinal cord. […] It is estimated that over 1.8 million people have MS worldwide. […] MS is not always easy to diagnose in its early stages. Typically, people who have been diagnosed with MS will have been through several diagnostic stages, which can be an unsettling and frightening experience. […] MS happens most commonly in young to middle-aged adults, more in females than males, and is more common in higher latitudes, possibly due to sun exposure and vitamin D. […] MS is a diagnosis of exclusion and there are no definitive diagnostic tests. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help with diagnosis by showing plaques or sclerosis on the brain and spinal cord. Other tests such as lumbar puncture, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and visual evoked potentials can also help support the diagnosis.

• #5 Rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis worldwide: Insights from the Atlas of MS, third edition

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7720355/

  Countries with no prevalence data available tended to be found in regions where countries reported a lower MS prevalence. […] The estimated number of people with MS worldwide has increased to 2.8 million in 2020. […] MS prevalence has increased in every world region since 2013. […] The pooled incidence rate across 75 reporting countries was 2.1 per 100,000 persons/year. […] Globally, females are twice as likely to have MS as males and this is consistent with both prior editions of the Atlas.

• #6

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44197-025-00353-6

  Understanding the global, regional, and country-level variations in MS prevalence and incidence is important for addressing the growing burden of this disease. […] In 2021, there were 1.89 million (uncertainty interval: 1.688 to 2.113) people in the world living with MS. This corresponds to 23.9 cases per 100,000 population (uncertainty interval: 21.4 to 26.8). This rate has been increasing continuously since 1990 in all regions of the world with the greatest increase in more developed regions. […] North America and Western Europe sustained the highest prevalence, incidence, DALYs and mortality due to MS compared Africa, Asia and Latin America. […] The prevalence of MS has been gradually increasing globally over the past three decades, with an average increase of 26%. […] Countries with the highest prevalence of MS were Sweden (219 /100,000 population), Canada (182), Norway (176), Ireland (163), and the United Kingdom (158).

• #7 Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis – PubMed

  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26718593/

  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most frequently seen demyelinating disease, with a prevalence that varies considerably, from high levels in North America and Europe (100/100,000 inhabitants) to low rates in Eastern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa (2/100,000 population). […] In 2004, the prevalence of MS in France was 94.7/100,000 population, according to data from the French National Health Insurance Agency for Salaried Workers (Caisse nationale d’assurance maladie des travailleurs Salaris [CNAM-TS]), which insures 87% of the French population. This prevalence was higher in the North and East of France. […] As for risk factors of MS, the most pertinent environmental factors are infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), especially if it arises after childhood and is symptomatic. […] In conclusion, France is a high-risk country for MS, but it only slightly reduces life expectancy. MS is a multifactorial disease and the implications of immunogenetics are major. Preventative approaches might be derived from knowledge of the risk factors and natural history of the disease (smoking, vitamin D).

• #8 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/health/Multiple-Sclerosis-Epidemiology.aspx

  Some experts believe a certain combination of genes may predispose an individual to MS, while other theories suggest that viral infection of the immune and/or nervous system may be responsible. […] Research into the incidence of the condition across the globe has shown that MS is more common in countries that lie further north of the equator, such as the United Kingdom and Scandinavia than in countries such as Malaysia or Ecuador, for example. […] Worldwide, the median estimated prevalence of MS is 30 per 100,000 population. […] Globally, the median incidence of new cases annually is 2.5 per 100,000 population. […] Among different regions, the median estimated prevalence is highest in Europe, at 80 per 100,000 population. […] Studies have also shown that when countries are stratified by income, the median estimated prevalence of MS is greatest in the high-income countries, at 89 per 100,000 population. […] Overall, MS is more common among white populations than in non-white populations.

• #9

  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/multiple-sclerosis-prevalence-incidence-and-smoking-status/multiple-sclerosis-prevalence-incidence-and-smoking-status-data-briefing

  MS estimated prevalence is 190 cases per 100,000 population, with 105,800 individuals in England. […] MS estimated incidence of between 8 and 11 new cases diagnosed each year in England per 100,000 population. […] on average 4,950 new cases of MS are diagnosed each year in England. […] The findings of this study show that the prevalence of MS in England is estimated to be 190 people per 100,000 population. […] The estimated incidence of MS was calculated for the 9 financial years 2008 to 2009 through to 2016 to 2017. […] This study shows that on average 4,950 new cases of MS was diagnosed in England each year during the financial years ending 2009 to 2017, with a mean incidence rate of 9 per 100,000 population per year. […] The incidence of MS in England has remained consistent across the study period, financial years ending 2009 through to 2017. […] Each year there are on average 4,950 new case of MS diagnosed and recorded in primary care records.

• #10

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44197-025-00353-6

  The prevalence of MS in United States was also fairly high (126/100,000), with northern states having higher prevalence rates compared to the southern states. […] Women were twice as likely to be diagnosed with MS than men, particularly in the age group 15-40 years. […] The global prevalence of MS among women was 32.3 per 100,000 population compared 15.6 in men. […] The prevalence of MS was greater in higher latitudes and to a lesser extent in countries with higher healthcare expenditures. […] Multiple sclerosis is an important global health problem. It is estimated that 23 million people live with MS. […] The burden of MS has risen in many parts of the world over the last three decades. MS shows some epidemiologic associations with latitude, age of onset, and female predominance, indicating a complex interplay of environmental (EBV exposure, latitude), socio-economic (affluence), and polygenetic factors.

• #11 Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis | National MS SocietyNational Multiple Sclerosis Society LogoNational Multiple Sclerosis Society LogoOpen search

  https://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-the-society/who-we-are/research-we-fund/ms-prevalence

  Almost 1 million people in the United States have received a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, according to a 2019 prevalence study funded by the National MS Society. This is more than twice the estimate from previous studies. MS organizations estimate that 2.8 million people in the world have MS. […] The government does not require reporting or tracking MS prevalence in the U.S. To ensure an accurate estimate, we set out to come up with a scientifically sound estimate with leading experts and a variety of data sources. Updating the estimate was vital to: Better understand the impact of MS on people’s lives, finances, healthcare and services; Know if MS is increasing and if any clusters of the disease hold clues to factors that may trigger MS; Make sure that research continues at a fast pace in order to find treatments and solutions for people with MS.

• #12 Epidemiology and Causation of MS | National MS SocietyNational Multiple Sclerosis Society LogoNational Multiple Sclerosis Society LogoOpen search

  https://www.nationalmssociety.org/for-professionals/for-healthcare-professionals/general-ms-information/epidemiology

  Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory demyelinating disease that most often appears in young adulthood, with the incidence peaking around age 30. Findings published in the journal Neurology on Feb. 15, 2019, estimate the 2017 prevalence of adults with MS in the United States to be 362 cases per 100,000, or 913,925. In addition, the study supports previous evidence of a 3:1 female to male ratio. MS is more common in areas inhabited by people of northern European ancestry. It is more common in Europe, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and some parts of Australia; it is much less common in Asia and rare in tropical and sub-tropical regions. With some notable exceptions, the global distribution of MS increases with distance north or south of the equator, although there is some evidence that the north-south incidence gradient may have disappeared in the northern hemisphere. MS is an immune-mediated disorder and is thought by most to be autoimmune, though the specific antigen(s) have not yet been identified. The cause of MS involves both genetic and environmental factors.

• #13 Prevalence and incidence of MS in Canada and around the world | MS Canada

  https://mscanada.ca/ms-research/latest-research/prevalence-and-incidence-of-ms-in-canada-and-around-the-world

  There are now 2.8 million people worldwide who have multiple sclerosis (MS). The number of people living with MS has increased in every region around the world since 2013. […] Canada continues to have one of the highest rates of MS in the world with over 90,000 people living with MS – 1 in every 400 people. […] Over 90,000 Canadians living with MS 1 in every 400. […] 4,377 people are diagnosed with MS each year – almost 12 people per day. […] Average age of diagnosis is 43 years. […] 75% of the people living with MS are women. […] 90% of people with MS are initially diagnosed with relapsing-remitting forms of MS, while 10% are diagnosed with progressive forms of MS.

• #14 Rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Saudi Arabia, a descriptive study | BMC Neurology | Full Text

  https://bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12883-020-1629-3

  In conclusion, the Saudi Multiple sclerosis registry was able to establish baseline epidemiological data on MS and potentially inform the healthcare providers, healthcare planners, patients and the scientific community. […] With the available data, the projected prevalence of MS was estimated at 40.40/100,000 total population putting Saudi above the low risk zone as per Kurtzke classification. […] Further studies are needed to assess the risk factors associated with the increased prevalence in Saudi Arabia.

• #15 The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Israel based on validation of a health care organization database | Scientific Reports

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-76282-4

  The rise in MS prevalence in Israel that is reported in here (from 68 per 100,000 population by the end of 2011 to 95 per 100,000 population by the end of 2021), is in line with the global upward trend in the prevalence of MS. […] We hope that the extraction algorithm established in this study will serve as a scientific basis for upcoming population-based epidemiological research on MS in Israel, as accurate patient identification is essential for any future epidemiological study.

• #16 Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis | PLOS One

  https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0214738

  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological disorders and is one of the main causes of disability. The prevalence and incidence of MS in Iran is reported to range from 5.3 to 89/ 100,000 and 7 to 148.1/ 100,000, respectively. […] A systematic review of the present study focused on MS epidemiology in Iran based on PRISMA guidelines for systematic review and meta-analysis. […] The prevalence of MS in Iran was estimated 29.3/ 100,000 (95%CI: 25.6-33.5) based on random effects model. The incidence of MS in Iran was estimated to be 3.4/ 100,000 (95%CI: 1.8-6.2) based on random effects model. […] The results of this study can provide a general picture of MS epidemiology in Iran. The current meta-analysis showed that the prevalence and incidence of MS in Iran is high and is rising over time.

• #17 Multiple sclerosis – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_sclerosis

  MS is the most common autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system. The latest estimation of the total number of people with MS was 2.8 million globally, with a prevalence of 36 per 100,000 people. Moreover, prevalence varies widely in different regions around the world. In Africa, there are five people per 100,000 diagnosed with MS, compared to South East Asia where the prevalence is nine per 100,000, 112 per 100,000 in the Americas, and 133 per 100,000 in Europe. Nearly one million people in the United States had MS in 2022. […] Increasing rates of MS may be explained simply by better diagnosis. Studies on populational and geographical patterns have been common and have led to a number of theories about the cause. […] MS usually appears in adults in their late twenties or early thirties but it can rarely start in childhood and after 50 years of age. The primary progressive subtype is more common in people in their fifties. Similarly to many autoimmune disorders, the disease is more common in women, and the trend may be increasing. As of 2020, globally it is about two times more common in women than in men, and the ratio of women to men with MS is as high as 4:1 in some countries. In children, it is even more common in females than males, while in people over fifty, it affects males and females almost equally.

• #18 Multiple Sclerosis: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1146199-overview

  Prevalence estimates for MS in the United States vary from 58 to 95 per 100,000 population. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 400,000 individuals in the United States are affected by MS. Misdiagnosis is common, however. […] As is true of autoimmune diseases in general, MS is more common in women. The female-to-male ratio of MS incidence has increased since the mid-20th century, from an estimated 1.4 in 1955 to 2.3 in 2000. MS is usually diagnosed in persons aged 15-45 years; however, it can occur in persons of any age. The average age at diagnosis is 29 years in women and 31 years in men. […] Worldwide, approximately 2.1 million people are affected by MS. The disease is seen in all parts of the world and in all races, but rates vary widely. In general, the prevalence of MS tends to increase with latitude (eg, lower rates in the tropics, higher rates in northern Europe), but there are many exceptions to this gradient (eg, low rates among Chinese, Japanese, and African blacks; high rates among Sardinians, Parsis, and Palestinians). […] Epidemiologic studies indicate an increase in MS prevalence in Latin America. Susceptibility to MS and clinical behavior of the disease varies genetically in Latin America; for example, MS apparently does not occur in Amerindians with Mongoloid genes.

• #19 Overview of the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Disease Progression Associated With Multiple Sclerosis

  https://www.ajmc.com/view/ace008_13feb_ms_tullmans15tos20

  Koch-Henriksen and Srensen conducted an extensive literature search and meta-regression analysis to evaluate the changes in MS incidence and prevalence worldwide. Their analysis indicated that the prevalence and incidence of MS are increasing over time. […] This increase in MS among females appears to be driving the increase in incidence, and may be due to changes over time in occupation, cigarette smoking, obesity, birth control, and later childbirth. […] MS is fairly common in Caucasians of northern European ancestry, but less common where non-Caucasians live, in low-income countries, and in tropical zones. […] Thus, factors which influence MS incidence include population genetics, the interplay between genes and a geographically determined physical environment, and socioeconomic structure, including availability of medical facilities.

• #20 Lectures:   Epidemiology and Prevalence

  https://library.med.utah.edu/kw/ms/epidemiology.html

  There are about 300,000 patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis in the North America today. The age of onset peaks between 20 and 30 years. Almost 70% of patients manifest symptoms between ages 21 and 40. Disease rarely occurs prior to 10 or after 60 years of age. However, patients as young as 3 and as old as 67 years of age have been described. Like other immuno-mediated diseases, females are affected more frequently than males (1.4 to 3.1 times as many women than men affected.) […] There is a very specific geographic distribution of this disease around the world. A significantly higher incidence of the disease is found in the northernmost latitudes of the northern and the southern hemispheres compared to southernmost latitudes. This observation is based on the incidence of the disease in Scandinavia, northern United States and Canada, as well as Australia and New Zealand.

• #21 Who Gets MS? Prevalence, Epidemiology, and More | MyMSTeam

  https://www.mymsteam.com/resources/who-gets-ms-multiple-sclerosis-epidemiology

  Global research shows that the prevalence of multiple sclerosis varies considerably according to several factors: geography, sex, age, and ethnicity. […] Prevalence studies have shown that North American and European countries usually have a higher prevalence of MS (greater than 100 people per 100,000 inhabitants), while Eastern Asian and Sub-Saharan African countries generally have lower rates, often ranging from 5 to 10 people per 100,000 inhabitants. […] Within the United States, multiple sclerosis prevalence is approximately 450 cases per 100,000 individuals for women and 160 for men, according to research cited in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality Outcomes. This means that women are nearly three times more likely than men to develop MS. […] In the United States, the highest prevalence of multiple sclerosis is found in adults between the ages of 55 and 64, according to studies of age-specific MS prevalence. […] Among racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., African Americans have the highest prevalence of multiple sclerosis, followed by white Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans, according to research cited in Multiple Sclerosis.

• #22 Epidemiology and Causation of MS | National MS SocietyNational Multiple Sclerosis Society LogoNational Multiple Sclerosis Society LogoOpen search

  https://www.nationalmssociety.org/for-professionals/for-healthcare-professionals/general-ms-information/epidemiology

  Research has demonstrated that MS occurs in most racial and ethnic groups, including Blacks, Asians and Hispanics/Latinos/Latinx. Susceptibility rates vary among these groups, with findings suggesting that Black women have a higher than previously reported risk of developing MS. In the largest genetic study of people with MS of non-European ancestry, investigators obtained DNA samples from 1,162 Blacks with MS and 2,092 Blacks without MS, as well as 577 Whites with MS and 461 Whites without MS. The team looked for similarities and differences in 128 gene variants that have been associated with MS. They confirmed associations of key immune-response genes (HLA) with MS among African Americans. However, among 73 non-HLA genes that were associated with MS among White Americans, only 8 were associated with MS among African Americans. The authors concluded that MS genetic risk in African Americans only partially overlaps with that of Europeans and could explain the difference of MS prevalence between populations. Conversations about the genetic contribution to MS risk should include mention of the complex interaction with environmental factors. Increased incident rates of MS and generally worse prognosis in African Americans suggest social, environmental and genetic risk factors that impact disease.

• #23 Update on Multiple Sclerosis Prevalencelogo-32logo-40logo-60NEJM Journal WatchnejmJW_1L_RGB-b

  https://www.jwatch.org/na56152/2023/06/06/update-multiple-sclerosis-prevalence

  Data were evaluated by race, ethnicity, age, sex, and region. […] The National Multiple Sclerosis Society formed the Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence Workgroup to estimate U.S. epidemiology of multiple sclerosis (MS), using administrative health claims data from private and government-sponsored insurance programs during the years 2008 through 2010. […] Among 744,781 adults identified with MS, 76% were female, and median age was 45 to 54 years; 77% were white, 10% Black, and 7% Hispanic. The estimated prevalence of MS was 375 per 100,000 among white individuals, 298 per 100,000 among Black individuals, and 161 per 100,000 among Hispanic individuals. The correlation of prevalence with latitude was r=0.82. […] While MS is most prevalent among white individuals, MS is also highly prevalent among Black individuals. The correlation with latitudinal gradients remains strong.

• #24 The Epidemiology of Multiple Sclerosis in Scotland: Inferences from Hospital Admissions | PLOS One

  https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0014606

  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disorder with a highly characteristic disease distribution. Prevalence and incidence in general increase with increasing distance from the equator. Similarly the female to male sex ratio increases with increasing latitude. […] We calculated the number and rate of patient-linked hospital admissions throughout Scotland between 1997 and 2009 from the Scottish Morbidity Records. […] There is a definite latitudinal effect on MS risk across Scotland, arising primarily from an excess of female MS patients at more Northerly latitudes. […] Our findings have shown that the latitude gradient of MS prevalence and incidence observed still exists in Scotland. […] Much of this latitude gradient is as a result of an increase in female MS risk at increasing latitudes. […] The high prevalence of MS in the North of Scotland should be recognised in funding of care for MS and for studies of disease prevention.

• #25 Epidemiology and Causation of MS | National MS SocietyNational Multiple Sclerosis Society LogoNational Multiple Sclerosis Society LogoOpen search

  https://www.nationalmssociety.org/for-professionals/for-healthcare-professionals/general-ms-information/epidemiology

  A history of symptomatic infectious mononucleosis increases MS risk more than twofold. Elevated serum antibody titers to EBV nuclear antigen 1(EBNA-1) precede the clinical onset of MS. The strongest epidemiological evidence to date that EBV may be causally related to MS showed that MS occurs only after a primary EBV infection. In established MS, EBV antibody titers have been associated with MRI activity in some but not all studies. Some studies have also found evidence of EBV infection in MS lesions, but this observation has not been reliably replicated. The evidence concerning the relationship between MS and EBV is not conclusive. There are arguments for and against EBV as a requisite causative agent in MS pathogenesis. […] Evidence pointing to a critical role for vitamin D includes that high levels of serum 25(OH)D prior to MS clinical onset is associated with a reduced risk of MS and 25(OH)D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of MS. Genetically determined low 25(OH)D has been associated with an increased risk of both adult and pediatric onset of MS. In a one-year, double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study looking at the safety and efficacy of vitamin D3 as an add on therapy to interferon β-1b (IFNB), vitamin D3 reduced MRI disease activity. Results from the Betaferon/Betaseron in Newly Emerging multiple sclerosis For Initial Treatment (BENEFIT) and the Betaferon/Betaseron Efficacy Yielding Outcomes of a New Dose in multiple sclerosis (BEYOND) studies suggest higher 25(OH)D level may have a positive effect on clinical and MRI measures. Randomized controlled clinical trials of high dose vitamin D also suggest a beneficial effect of vitamin D on MRI outcomes among patients on IFNB-1a therapy.

• #26 Epidemiology and Causation of MS | National MS SocietyNational Multiple Sclerosis Society LogoNational Multiple Sclerosis Society LogoOpen search

  https://www.nationalmssociety.org/for-professionals/for-healthcare-professionals/general-ms-information/epidemiology

  Both active and passive smoking have been identified as environmental risk factors for developing MS and smokers are diagnosed with MS at an earlier age than non-smokers. […] Obesity in early life has been identified as a predictor of MS risk. Genetically determined elevated BMI in childhood or early adolescence may be a risk factor for MS, though this association has not been thoroughly studied.

• #27 Epidemiology of Multiple Sclerosis: A Critical Overview | Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences | Cambridge Core

  https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/canadian-journal-of-neurological-sciences/article/epidemiology-of-multiple-sclerosis-a-critical-overview/B4542ABE36A34A5E884BFF57CAC1AB58

  The decisive conclusions to be drawn from the available epidemiological data, mostly geography and prevalence, of MS are: (1) a north-south (as well as west-east in the United States) gradient exists independent of genetic/racial factors; (2) major differences in prevalence occur in the absence of latitude differences; (3) individuals from the same ethnic derivation have either similar prevalence rates or very different prevalence rates in widely separated geographical areas and (4) specific resistant isolates are shown to exist regardless of latitude. […] Existing information leads to the almost inescapable conclusion that the epidemiology of MS cannot be explained by any single known environmental or genetic factor(s) in isolation. A combination of a heterogeneous distribution of both genetic and environmental factors appears to be required to explain the available data on MS.

• #28 Multiple Sclerosis Surveillance Registry – Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence

  https://www.va.gov/MS/Professionals/MSSR/Multiple_Sclerosis_Surveillance_Registry.asp

  The purpose of the MS Surveillance Registry (MSSR) is to understand the unique characteristics and treatment patterns of Veterans with multiple sclerosis (MS) in order to optimize their care in the VA system. […] The first step towards a national MS registry was the creation of a prototype data entry template and web-based clinician dashboard in 2013, through a collaborative effort between the VA Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence (MSCoE) and VA Northwest Innovation Center at the VA HCS in Portland, OR. […] Along with a federal IT contractor, the MSCoE team developed the MSSR within the VA Converged Registries Solution (CRS). […] In 2014-2015, the MSSR was piloted in Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) 5 and 20 and modifications were made to the web-based input tool and data captured through the CDW. […] Due to challenges of linking the MSAT through CPRS at each individual VAMC and the eventual replacement of CPRS by the Cerner electronic medical record, the MSSR contract team developed a mechanism for direct entry of patients to the registry without the MSAT.

• #29 Epidemiology of Multiple Sclerosis | 13 | Neuroepidemiology | Sharon W

  https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.1201/9780429277276-13/epidemiology-multiple-sclerosis-sharon-warren

  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a major cause of neurologic disability among young and middle-aged adults. […] MS has a low incidence, but relatively high prevalence due to prolonged survival. […] The disease is not routinely reported in any country, and there are few places where MS registers exist. […] Since casefinding by door-to-door surveys is almost always impractical, epidemiologists often rely on physician, clinic, or hospital records as their source of information.

• #30 CDC Launches National Surveillance System to Study Multiple SclerosisEnvelope icon

  https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/2018/11/30/cdc-launches-national-surveillance-system-to-study-multiple-sclerosis/

  The U.S. Congress is supporting with $5 million the National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System (NNCSS), an initiative to be launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help researchers better understand who develops neurological disorders and why. […] The surveillance system will focus initially on two diseases, multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease, and will serve as demonstration projects to help the CDC determine which areas are most affected by neurological conditions. […] The purpose of NNCSS is to expand surveillance of neurological conditions. With improved data collection, it may be possible, for instance, to identify environmental or viral triggers of MS. […] The NNCSS will build on the success of the MS Society Prevalence Initiative, launched in 2014, with leading experts in MS epidemiology, statistics and healthcare, who utilized information from Medicare, Medicaid, the Veteran’s Health Administration, and private insurers to determine the number of people in the U.S. affected by MS.

• #31 Epidemiology of familial multiple sclerosis in Iran: a national registry-based study | BMC Neurology | Full Text

  https://bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12883-022-02609-1

  In summary, our findings imply a noteworthy upward trend of FMS in Iran, even more than the global prevalence, which suggests a unique Atlas of FMS prevalence in this multi-ethnic population. […] With a higher intensity in the central part of the country, Iran is currently considered as an area with a high rate of MS. […] Recently, a positive history of FMS among the Iranian population was found to be 3.3-26.7%. […] The prevalence of familial and sporadic MS in each studies province is reported in Table 1. […] The NMSRI, with high reliability and validity, was launched in 2018. […] The registration of information was done by a neurologist or some trained registrants. […] The present study showed that the prevalence of FMS in Iran was 19%. […] A systematic review and meta-analysis study performed by Moosazadeh et al. in 2017 also reported a high rate of FMS among Iranian people, ranging from 3.3 to 26.7%.

• #32 The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Israel based on validation of a health care organization database | Scientific Reports

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-76282-4

  In Israel there is no registry of multiple sclerosis (MS), thus the prevalence of MS is unknown. […] The prevalence of MS in Israel is rising, in line with the worldwide trend. […] Information about the prevalence and incidence rates of MS is vital for healthcare decision makers to plan healthcare services that can meet the needs of these patients. […] National registry of pwMS is currently unavailable in Israel. […] The principal aim of this study was to develop an optimal algorithm to identify pwMS using CHSs database and to validate it against a gold-standard diagnosis by expert neurologists according to accepted diagnostic criteria. […] A snapshot of the CHS database at the end of each year is routinely saved to explore trends in epidemiology and healthcare utilization. Thus, prevalence rates of MS in Israel by the end of the years 2011, 2016 and 2021, using the best retrieval definition, were calculated.

• #33

  https://journals.lww.com/continuum/fulltext/2022/08000/epidemiology_and_pathophysiology_of_multiple.4.aspx

  PURPOSE OF REVIEW This article provides an overview of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle risk factors affecting the disease course of multiple sclerosis (MS) and reviews the pathophysiologic characteristics of both relapsing and progressive MS. […] The prevalence of MS has increased in recent decades, and costs of care for patients with MS have risen dramatically. Black, Asian, and Hispanic individuals may be at risk for more severe MS-related disability. Multiple genetic MS risk factors have been identified. Factors such as low vitamin D levels and a history of Epstein-Barr virus, smoking, and obesity, especially during childhood, also influence MS risk. […] Complex interactions between genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors affect the risk for MS as well as the disease course. People of color have historically been underrepresented in both MS clinical trials and literature, but current research is attempting to better clarify unique considerations in these groups.

• #34 Rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Saudi Arabia, a descriptive study | BMC Neurology | Full Text

  https://bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12883-020-1629-3

  Through this article, we reflected the current prevalence of MS which was estimated at 7.70/100,000 population based on the registry data from the 20 hospitals included. […] The prevalence was estimated to be the highest for the central region, followed by the eastern, western, northern and southern regions. […] The estimated prevalence in Saudi Arabia was lower than that reported in studies conducted in Kuwait (104.88 / 100,000 persons), Qatar (64.57 / 100, 000), UAE (57.09 / 100,000) and Iran (54.51 / 100,000). […] The prevalence reported in this paper should be interpreted cautiously as the prevalence has been projected based on the assumption that the number of diagnosed MS cases in included hospitals in the registry (in each region) and excluded hospitals (that are capable of diagnosing MS) in the same region are the same, which could have under or overestimated the projected rate.

• #35 Apparent changes in the epidemiology and severity of multiple sclerosis | Nature Reviews Neurology

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41582-021-00556-y

  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immunological disease that causes acute inflammatory lesions and chronic inflammation in the CNS, leading to tissue damage and disability. […] Overall, these data seem to indicate that the incidence of MS has increased, but the course of the disease has become milder, particularly in the 25 years since the first disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) became available. […] In this Review, we consider the evidence for changes in the epidemiology of MS, focusing on trends in the incidence of the disease over time and trends in the disease severity. […] Most studies of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the same population over time have shown that the incidence has increased. […] At least a part of the increase in incidence can be attributed to improved public awareness, better health care, more MS specialists and MRI scanners, and changing diagnostic criteria.

• #36 Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis | PLOS One

  https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0214738

  The meta-regression model for prevalence and incidence of MS was significantly higher in terms of year of study (p<0.001). [...] The present study is the first systematic review and meta-analysis on the epidemiology of MS in Iran. According to the results of the present meta-analysis, the prevalence and incidence of MS in Iran is estimated to be 29.3/ 100,000 and 3.4/ 100,000, which is more than some Middle Eastern countries [...] According to the meta-regression model, the prevalence and incidence of MS in Iran increased significantly (p<0.001) with an increase in year of studies. [...] The present meta-analysis showed that the prevalence and incidence of MS in Iran is high and is rising over time.

• #37 Epidemiology of familial multiple sclerosis in Iran: a national registry-based study | BMC Neurology | Full Text

  https://bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12883-022-02609-1

  The current study and all our previous studies in Tehran indicated that FMS prevalence rose steadily; from 5% in 2003 to 13.04% in 2018. […] The results showed that FMS prevalence was higher among Iranian females compared with males. […] The mean age of disease onset was 30.66 years. […] The present findings showed the considerable impression of familial history on the disease course which should be taken in consideration.

• #38 Apparent changes in the epidemiology and severity of multiple sclerosis | Nature Reviews Neurology

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41582-021-00556-y

  In parallel with the increase in incidence, the disease course of MS has also changed; time to disability has lengthened and survival has improved in patients with relapsing-remitting MS. […] Understanding the reasons for the changing epidemiology of MS is important and provides insight into factors that influence development and progression of MS and for clinical management.

• #39

  https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2024/02230/review_of_multiple_sclerosis__epidemiology,.15.aspx

  The McDonald criteria establish that a diagnosis of MS can be made in patients who experience a CIS for the first time if demyelinating lesions with dissemination of lesions in space and dissemination of lesions in time are displayed on their brain MRIs. […] MS treatment: There are various types of MS treatment. […] Currently, 13 medications are approved by the European Medicine Agency and Food and Drug Administration as disease-modifying treatments for MS, including IFN-1a (Avonex), IFN-1b (Betaseron or Extavia), glatiramer acetate (Copaxone), natalizumab (Tysabri), fingolimod (Gilenya), and dimethyl fumarate (Tecfi). […] Evidence from randomized control trials and real-world observational studies suggests that switching from first-line therapies to second-line treatments (natalizumab, fingolimod, alemtuzumab, and ocrelizumab) after first-line therapies have failed to control inflammatory activity is typically associated with a better level of control.

• #40 Tysabri (natalizumab) Market Research Report 2025:

  https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/05/08/3076898/0/en/Tysabri-natalizumab-Market-Research-Report-2025-Epidemiology-Pipeline-Analysis-Market-Insights-Forecasts-2019-2034.html

  Tysabri (natalizumab) is a monoclonal antibody used to treat relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) and Crohn’s disease by reducing inflammation and nerve damage. […] Multiple sclerosis is a condition that causes the breakdown of the protective covering of nerves. […] Market growth during the historic period can be attributed to Tysabri’s efficacy in treating multiple sclerosis, its ability to target specific immune cells, its approval for multiple autoimmune disorders, robust clinical trial data, rising demand for effective disease-modifying therapies, and increasing patient awareness of available treatment options. […] Globally, multiple sclerosis cases grew by 30% in 2022 compared to the previous decade. […] As a result, Tysabri, which targets specific immune cells to prevent inflammation, is becoming an essential treatment for these conditions, driving market growth.

• #41

  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/multiple-sclerosis

  The goals of MS treatment are to reduce the frequency and severity of relapses, slow disease progression, manage symptoms, and improve quality of life. […] In May 2022, the World Health Assembly endorsed the Intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders 20222031. The action plan addresses the challenges and gaps in providing care and services for people with epilepsy and other neurological disorders such as MS that exist worldwide and ensure a comprehensive, coordinated response across sectors.

• #42 Rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Saudi Arabia, a descriptive study | BMC Neurology | Full Text

  https://bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12883-020-1629-3

  In 2015, the first nationwide, multicenter Multiple Sclerosis (MS) registry was initiated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) mainly with an objective to describe current epidemiology, disease patterns, and clinical characteristics of MS in Saudi Arabia. […] The reported prevalence of MS for those hospitals was estimated to be 7.70/100,000 population and 11.80/100,000 Saudi nationals. […] The overall prevalence of MS at the country level was reported to be 40.40/100,000 total population and 61.95/100,000 Saudi nationals. […] The prevalence of MS has significantly increased in Saudi Arabia but is still much lower than that in the western and other neighboring countries like Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. […] The prevalence was higher among female, younger and educated individuals. […] The data reported increased prevalence of MS in the Kingdom, which is alarming and warrants an immediate public health action.

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