Multiple sclerosis and mortality statistics

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Abstract
A 3-fold increase in prevalence and a corresponding increase in incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) from 1963-1983 in the county of Hordaland, Norway was found. When studying the official mortality statistics and the decreased patients at the Department of Neurology, University of Bergen, Norway clinical, no increase in death rate could be observed in the same period. Official mortality statistics include both over- and underestimates of MS-patients. Of definite MS-patients in the clinical material, 91.7% were registered with MS on the death certificates, either as the underlying or contributory cause of death. When studying only underlying causes of death, 59.5% of deceased definite MS patients were registered as MS on the death certificates. Official mortality statistics reflect a change in incidence of MS both incompletely and with a delay of several decades.