University of Tasmania
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Change in multiple sclerosis prevalence over time in Australia 2010-2017 utilising disease modifying therapy prescription data

Objective: Determine the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Australia in 2017 using MS-specific disease-modifying therapy (DMT) prescription data and estimate the change in prevalence from 2010.

Methods: DMT prescriptions were extracted from Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) data for January-December 2017. Percentages of people with MS using DMTs (DMT penetrance) were calculated using data from the Australian MS Longitudinal Study. Prevalence was estimated by dividing the total number of monthly prescriptions by 12 (except alemtuzumab), adjusted for DMT penetrance and Australian population estimates. Prevalences in Australian states/territories were age-standardised to the Australian population. Comparisons with 2010 prevalence data was performed using Poisson regression.

Results: Overall DMT penetrance was 64%, and the number of people with MS in Australia in 2017 was 25,607 (95% CI: 24,874-26,478), a significant increase of 4,324 people since 2010 (p<0.001). The prevalence increased significantly from 95.6/100,000 (2010) to 103.7/100,000 (2017), with estimates highest in Tasmania in 2017 (138.7/100,000; 95% CI: 137.2-140.1) and lowest in Queensland (74.6/100,000; 95% CI: 73.5-75.6). We also found an average 3% increase in prevalence from 2010 to 2017 per one degree increase in latitude.

Conclusion: Consistent with global trends, Australia’s MS prevalence has increased, this probably reflecting decreased mortality, increased longevity and increased incidence.

History

Publication title

Multiple Sclerosis Journal

Volume

26

Issue

11

Pagination

1315-1328

ISSN

1352-4585

Department/School

Menzies Institute for Medical Research

Publisher

Sage Publications Ltd

Place of publication

United Kingdom

Rights statement

© The Author(s), 2019.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Public health (excl. specific population health) not elsewhere classified