Journal article
Epidemiologic evidence for a changing natural history of myasthenia gravis
Neurology, Vol.47(5), pp.1233-1238
11/1996
DOI: 10.1212/wnl.47.5.1233
PMID: 8909435
Abstract
To survey the epidemiologic literature for evidence of an increasing prevalence of myasthenia gravis (MG) over time, and to explore the reasons for the increase.
We found population-based reports of the epidemiology of MG by searching bibliographic databases. We used MG, epidemiology, prevalence, incidence, and mortality as search terms.
We included population-based studies that reported the number of cases and the time period from which rates were calculated.
We performed a regression analysis of rates versus date of study, comparing the slopes of regression lines for prevalence, incidence, and mortality. We performed a second analysis grouping rates by decade of study and calculating a mean rate weighted by the size of the population studied. We calculated 95% confidence intervals for each rate.
We included 33 studies from 1950 through 1995. Prevalence and incidence rates increased over time, but the regression line for prevalence significantly exceeded that for incidence. Mortality rates declined slightly. The weighted means for prevalence rose significantly, but there was no significant change in incidence or mortality.
The prevalence of MG has increased over the past forty-five years, probably because patients with the disease have longer life spans owing to present-day treatment.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Epidemiologic evidence for a changing natural history of myasthenia gravis
- Creators
- L H Phillips II - Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22908, USAJ C Torner
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Neurology, Vol.47(5), pp.1233-1238
- DOI
- 10.1212/wnl.47.5.1233
- PMID
- 8909435
- NLM abbreviation
- Neurology
- ISSN
- 0028-3878
- eISSN
- 1526-632X
- Publisher
- United States
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/1996
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology; Surgery; Injury Prevention Research Center; Neurosurgery
- Record Identifier
- 9983995107302771
Metrics
29 Record Views