A new way to estimate neurologic disease prevalence in the United States: Illustrated with MS.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Considerable gaps exist in knowledge regarding the prevalence of neurologic diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), in the United States. Therefore, the MS Prevalence Working Group sought to review and evaluate alternative methods for obtaining a scientifically valid estimate of national MS prevalence in the current health care era.

Methods

We carried out a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis for 3 approaches to estimate MS prevalence: population-based MS registries, national probability health surveys, and analysis of administrative health claims databases. We reviewed MS prevalence studies conducted in the United States and critically examined possible methods for estimating national MS prevalence.

Results

We developed a ne

SUBMITTER: Nelson LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6442012 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature