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Cited by 229Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ResearchNeurogenetic and Muscular Disorders ResearchDementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

Incidence and lifetime risk of motor neuron disease in the United Kingdom: a population‐based study

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Alonso, A., Logroscino, G., Jick, S. S., Hernán, M. A.·2009·European Journal of Neurology
DOI 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2009.02586.xPMC PMC3093130
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Abstract

Background and purpose: To estimate the incidence and lifetime risk of motor neuron disease (MND) in a population‐based sample in the United Kingdom. Methods: We identified new cases of MND during the period 1990–2005 in the General Practice Research Database, which includes clinical information from more than 3 million Britons enrolled with selected general practitioners. Individuals with a first medical diagnosis of MND recorded in the database were considered incident cases of the disease. The positive predictive value of the computer‐based diagnosis was estimated through review of a sample of medical records from potential MND cases. Results: In the period 1990–2005, 830 new cases of MND were identified. Age‐standardized incidence of MND was 2.6 per 100 000 persons per year in women (95% CI: 2.3, 2.8) and 3.9 in men (95% CI: 3.6, 4.3). Incidence for both sexes peaked between 75 and 79 years. The rate of MND in men was 54% higher than in women (95% CI: 33%, 77%). The lifetime risk of MND, adjusting for competing causes of death, was 1 in 472 (2.1 per 1000) in women and 1 in 350 (2.9 per 1000) in men. No increase in MND incidence over time was apparent. Conclusion: In this population‐based database, we found that MND incidence is higher in men than women, peaking in both sexes between 75 and 79 years.

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  • The gender distribution (male-to-female ratio = 1.24:1) and gender-dependent differences in average age at symptom onset (56.8 vs 62.1 years) in the cohort were in line with values from previous ALS populations.

    “Furthermore, both the distribution of gender (male‐to‐female ratio = 1.24:1) and gender‐dependent differences in average age at symptom onset (56.8 vs. 62.1 years) were in line with values from previous ALS populations, reporting male‐to‐female ratios ranging between 0.8:1 and 2.7:1 (Alonso et al., 2009; Cronin et al., 2007; Uenal et al., 2014) and a tendency for earlier symptom‐onset in men than”

    From Prevalence of potential sports‐associated risk factors in Swiss amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients (2017) · cites this paper as Alonso et al., 2009

    The Results report 470 men and 360 women with MND, a male-to-female case ratio of about 1.31:1, consistent with the cited range. The Results and Discussion also report higher incidence in men. They do not report a sex-specific average age at symptom onset or establish earlier onset in men; the Results say incidence peaked at ages 75–79 in both sexes. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Authors
Alonso, A., Logroscino, G., Jick, S. S., & Hernán, M. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Bari Aldo Moro (IT)
  • Boston University (US)
ORCID
Venue
European Journal of Neurology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2009-04-28
Volume
16
Issue
6
Pages
745-751
ISSN
  • 1351-5101 (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-1331
DOI
10.1111/j.1468-1331.2009.02586.x
PMC
PMC3093130
OpenAlex
W2105897360
Cited by
229
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 10
FWCI
5.97
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • European Journal of Neurology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Harvard University
  • National Institute on Aging (P30AG024409)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Genetics › Neurogenetic and Muscular Disorders Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
Keywords
motor neuron disease, incidence, lifetime risk, sex differences, age-standardized incidence, competing risk of death, Clinical Practice Research Datalink, United Kingdom
MeSH terms
Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cause of Death, Female, United Kingdom, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Risk Factors, Cohort Studies, Incidence, Motor Neuron Disease, Age Distribution, Sex Distribution, Databases as Topic, Young Adult

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