Changing incidence and subtypes of ALS in Modena, Italy: A 10-years prospective study

Abstract

We performed a prospective population-based study to describe the temporal pattern of the incidence and prevalence and the clinical features and phenotypes of ALS in Modena, Italy, from 2000 to 2009.

From 2000 onwards, a prospective registry has been collecting all cases of incident ALS among residents in the province of Modena. This source was implemented by cases resulting from the provincial hospitals, and by death certificates. Based on 193 newly diagnosed cases, the crude average annual incidence rate of ALS was 2.9 cases per 100,000 person years (py); adjusted incidence rate was 2.8/100,000. The age-standardized incidence rates increased from 2.6 per 100,000 py in 2000–2004 to 2.9 per 100,000 py in 2005–2009, representing an annual increase of approximately 2% throughout the 10-year period. There was a constant increase in prevalence rates throughout the years of the study (from 5.8/100,000 on 31 December 2000 to 11.2/100,000 on 31 December 2009). Median life time was 29 months for patients diagnosed before the year 2000 and 36 months for patients diagnosed from 1 January 2000 (p < 0.01). Thus, we report incidence rates similar to those reported by recent European population based studies, but we observed an increasing trend over the 10 years of the study. The increasing incidence is not explained by aging of the population, and our study raises the question as to whether local environmental or genetic factors are driving this temporal trend. Along with an increasing incidence, we found an important increase in prevalence and survival probably related to access to mutidisciplinary clinics and improvements in symptomatic care of ALS.

Key words::

• ALS
• epidemiology
• population based study

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the collaborators of the multidisciplinary centre for motor neuron disease in Modena, S. Agostino-Estense Hospital: Bianconi Giorgia (psychologist), Monelli Marco, Verduri Alessia, Marchioni Alessandro, Cappiello Gaia, Giovannini Michele, Rossano Dallari (pulmonologists), Vacondio Paolo (palliative care specialist), Fantuzzi Anna Laura, Raggi Silvia, Cortesi Francesca (dietitians), Losi Elisabetta, Frigieri Federica (speech pathologists), Genovese Elisabetta (otolaryngologist), Pinelli Giovanni (Urgent Care Medicine-Intensive Care Medicine), Stacca Raffaele (Intensive Care Medicine-Anaesthesiology), Greco Gabriele, Santangelo Mario, Amidei Stefano (neurologists), Elisa Farina, Mazzoleni Luciano, Gherardi Walter, Galli Gianpaolo (rehabilitation physicians).

This work has been supported by a grant to J. Mandrioli and E. Georgoulopoulou from the Italian Association of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (AISLA), section of Modena.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.