Epidemiol Health.  2012;34:e2012008.

Burden of Disease of Multiple Sclerosis in Korea

• Chung SE
• Cheong HK
• Park JH
• Kim HJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. There are few reports on the burden of disease of MS, worldwide. The authors aim to estimate burden of disease and estimate the epidemiologic indexes of MS in Korea using available epidemiologic data.
METHODS
Epidemiologic indexes were computed using DISMOD II software based on prevalence from nationwide survey, incidence estimated from extrapolation, mortality from National Statistics Office, and duration of disease from literature as input indexes. We calculated disability-adjusted life year (DALY) as a measure of premature mortality and disability, equivalent to years of healthy life lost due to a given condition.
RESULTS
The incidence of MS in Korea was 0.1 per 100,000, higher in female than in male. The highest incidence was estimated in the age group between 35 and 44 years in male and age group between 25 and 29 years in female. Total burden of disease of MS was 1,394 DALY, comprised of 292 (21%) years of life lost and 1,101 (79%) years lived with disability. The mean age at onset of MS was 33 years old in men and 32 years old in female. Estimated duration of disease was 35 years in men and 40 years in female. Most of the DALY of MS occurred in the adult population between 25 and 54 years of age.
CONCLUSION
Although MS is a rare disease in Korea, most of the DALY arises from young people, which results in a major financial burden on the patient, family, health system and society.

Keyword

Multiple sclerosis; Burden of disease; DISMOD II; Incidence; Prevalence; Quality of Life

MeSH Terms

Adult
Central Nervous System
Demyelinating Diseases
Female
Humans
Incidence
Korea
Male
Mortality, Premature
Multiple Sclerosis
Prevalence
Quality of Life
Rare Diseases