Incidence of motor neurone disease within MidCentral Region, New Zealand
Caulfield, A.; Cariga, P.
New Zealand Medical Journal 131(1485): 48-51
2018
ISSN/ISBN: 1175-8716 PMID: 30408817 Document Number: 695427
The aims of this observational study were firstly to calculate annual incidence of motor neurone disease (MND) within the midcentral region of New Zealand and secondly to characterise the demographics of this patient group, including age, sex, ethnicity and geographical distribution within the region. Patients with a new diagnosis of MND over a five-year period (1 February 2013-31 January 2018) were identified via a clinical coding search of all outpatient and inpatient encounters. Records were then individually screened to confirm a new diagnosis of MND via both clinical (confirmation by a neurologist) and neurophysiological (needle electromyography) criteria. Twenty-five new diagnoses of MND were identified. The incidence was 2.9 per 100,000/year. Mean and median age at diagnosis were 69 and 72 respectively (range 38-84), and the male:female ratio was 13:12. Of the 25 identified cases, 21 (84%) were of European descent, two (8%) of Māori descent, and two of undetermined ethnicity. The findings from this study (incidence of 2.9/100,000) are in concordance with the higher incidence of MND found in other regions of New Zealand compared with other areas of the world. Further studies are warranted to investigate incidence in other regions, thereby building the foundations for the study of genetic and environmental factors.