Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30770430›Full record

ArticleNeurology2019

The prevalence of MS in the United States: A population-based estimate using health claims data.

Mitchell T Wallin, William J Culpepper, Jonathan D Campbell, Lorene M Nelson, Annette Langer-Gould, Ruth Ann Marrie, Gary R Cutter, Wendy E Kaye, Laurie Wagner, Helen Tremlett and 6 more

Erratum issued 3 registry-linked trialsAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Neurology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. It is linked to 3 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 561 papers, 11 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
561citing papers in PubMed, 11 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04073940 naunknown statusnot on this map

Exploration of Brain Changes Due to a Targeted Ballet Program in Multiple Sclerosis

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignRan2019 to 2021Enrolled30ConditionsMultiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-RemittingArmsTargeted Ballet Program
NCT07152145 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Stimulation (tSCS) for Improving Upper Limb Function in People With MS

TypeinterventionalSponsorParc de Salut MarRan2025 to 2026Enrolled60ConditionsMultiple SclerosisArmsActive stimulation tSCS, Sham: stimulations using a non-active electric stimulation, Occupational/Upper Limb Rehabilitation Therapy
NCT07757568 active not recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Prospective Evaluation of De-Escalation From antiCD-20 Therapies to Dimethyl Fumarate (Tecfidera) or Diroximel Fumarate (Vumerity)

TypeobservationalSponsorUniversity of Colorado, DenverRan2023 to 2026Enrolled11ConditionsMultiple Sclerosis (MS) Relapsing RemittingArmsVumerity, Tecfidera
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

561 citing papers in PubMed, 11 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  5. Alemtuzumab and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: Analysis of an international surveillance database and systematic literature review.Transfusion and apheresis science : official journal of the World Apheresis Association : official journal of the European Society for Haemapheresis · 2025
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  7. Incidence and prevalence of functional neurological disorder: a systematic review.Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry · 2025
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501 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Mitchell T WallinFrom the Department of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence (M.T.W., W.J.C.); Georgetown University School of Medicine (M.T.W.), Washington, DC; University of Maryland (W.J.C.), Baltimore; University of Colorado (J.D.C., P.D.), Aurora; Stanford University School of Medicine (L.M.N., B.T.), CA; Southern California Permanente Medical Group (A.L.-G., L.H.C.), Pasadena; Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Sciences (R.A.M.), Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; University of Alabama at Birmingham (G.R.C.); McKing Consulting Corp (W.E.K., L.W.), Atlanta, GA; Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) and Centre for Brain Health (H.T.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Brown University (S.L.B.), Providence, RI; and National Multiple Sclerosis Society (N.G.L.), New York, NY. mitchell.wallin@va.gov.
William J CulpepperFrom the Department of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence (M.T.W., W.J.C.); Georgetown University School of Medicine (M.T.W.), Washington, DC; University of Maryland (W.J.C.), Baltimore; University of Colorado (J.D.C., P.D.), Aurora; Stanford University School of Medicine (L.M.N., B.T.), CA; Southern California Permanente Medical Group (A.L.-G., L.H.C.), Pasadena; Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Sciences (R.A.M.), Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; University of Alabama at Birmingham (G.R.C.); McKing Consulting Corp (W.E.K., L.W.), Atlanta, GA; Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) and Centre for Brain Health (H.T.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Brown University (S.L.B.), Providence, RI; and National Multiple Sclerosis Society (N.G.L.), New York, NY.
Jonathan D CampbellFrom the Department of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence (M.T.W., W.J.C.); Georgetown University School of Medicine (M.T.W.), Washington, DC; University of Maryland (W.J.C.), Baltimore; University of Colorado (J.D.C., P.D.), Aurora; Stanford University School of Medicine (L.M.N., B.T.), CA; Southern California Permanente Medical Group (A.L.-G., L.H.C.), Pasadena; Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Sciences (R.A.M.), Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; University of Alabama at Birmingham (G.R.C.); McKing Consulting Corp (W.E.K., L.W.), Atlanta, GA; Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) and Centre for Brain Health (H.T.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Brown University (S.L.B.), Providence, RI; and National Multiple Sclerosis Society (N.G.L.), New York, NY.
Lorene M NelsonFrom the Department of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence (M.T.W., W.J.C.); Georgetown University School of Medicine (M.T.W.), Washington, DC; University of Maryland (W.J.C.), Baltimore; University of Colorado (J.D.C., P.D.), Aurora; Stanford University School of Medicine (L.M.N., B.T.), CA; Southern California Permanente Medical Group (A.L.-G., L.H.C.), Pasadena; Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Sciences (R.A.M.), Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; University of Alabama at Birmingham (G.R.C.); McKing Consulting Corp (W.E.K., L.W.), Atlanta, GA; Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) and Centre for Brain Health (H.T.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Brown University (S.L.B.), Providence, RI; and National Multiple Sclerosis Society (N.G.L.), New York, NY.
Annette Langer-GouldFrom the Department of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence (M.T.W., W.J.C.); Georgetown University School of Medicine (M.T.W.), Washington, DC; University of Maryland (W.J.C.), Baltimore; University of Colorado (J.D.C., P.D.), Aurora; Stanford University School of Medicine (L.M.N., B.T.), CA; Southern California Permanente Medical Group (A.L.-G., L.H.C.), Pasadena; Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Sciences (R.A.M.), Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; University of Alabama at Birmingham (G.R.C.); McKing Consulting Corp (W.E.K., L.W.), Atlanta, GA; Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) and Centre for Brain Health (H.T.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Brown University (S.L.B.), Providence, RI; and National Multiple Sclerosis Society (N.G.L.), New York, NY.
Ruth Ann MarrieFrom the Department of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence (M.T.W., W.J.C.); Georgetown University School of Medicine (M.T.W.), Washington, DC; University of Maryland (W.J.C.), Baltimore; University of Colorado (J.D.C., P.D.), Aurora; Stanford University School of Medicine (L.M.N., B.T.), CA; Southern California Permanente Medical Group (A.L.-G., L.H.C.), Pasadena; Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Sciences (R.A.M.), Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; University of Alabama at Birmingham (G.R.C.); McKing Consulting Corp (W.E.K., L.W.), Atlanta, GA; Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) and Centre for Brain Health (H.T.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Brown University (S.L.B.), Providence, RI; and National Multiple Sclerosis Society (N.G.L.), New York, NY.
Gary R CutterFrom the Department of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence (M.T.W., W.J.C.); Georgetown University School of Medicine (M.T.W.), Washington, DC; University of Maryland (W.J.C.), Baltimore; University of Colorado (J.D.C., P.D.), Aurora; Stanford University School of Medicine (L.M.N., B.T.), CA; Southern California Permanente Medical Group (A.L.-G., L.H.C.), Pasadena; Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Sciences (R.A.M.), Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; University of Alabama at Birmingham (G.R.C.); McKing Consulting Corp (W.E.K., L.W.), Atlanta, GA; Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) and Centre for Brain Health (H.T.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Brown University (S.L.B.), Providence, RI; and National Multiple Sclerosis Society (N.G.L.), New York, NY.
Wendy E KayeFrom the Department of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence (M.T.W., W.J.C.); Georgetown University School of Medicine (M.T.W.), Washington, DC; University of Maryland (W.J.C.), Baltimore; University of Colorado (J.D.C., P.D.), Aurora; Stanford University School of Medicine (L.M.N., B.T.), CA; Southern California Permanente Medical Group (A.L.-G., L.H.C.), Pasadena; Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Sciences (R.A.M.), Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; University of Alabama at Birmingham (G.R.C.); McKing Consulting Corp (W.E.K., L.W.), Atlanta, GA; Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) and Centre for Brain Health (H.T.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Brown University (S.L.B.), Providence, RI; and National Multiple Sclerosis Society (N.G.L.), New York, NY.
Laurie WagnerFrom the Department of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence (M.T.W., W.J.C.); Georgetown University School of Medicine (M.T.W.), Washington, DC; University of Maryland (W.J.C.), Baltimore; University of Colorado (J.D.C., P.D.), Aurora; Stanford University School of Medicine (L.M.N., B.T.), CA; Southern California Permanente Medical Group (A.L.-G., L.H.C.), Pasadena; Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Sciences (R.A.M.), Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; University of Alabama at Birmingham (G.R.C.); McKing Consulting Corp (W.E.K., L.W.), Atlanta, GA; Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) and Centre for Brain Health (H.T.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Brown University (S.L.B.), Providence, RI; and National Multiple Sclerosis Society (N.G.L.), New York, NY.
Helen TremlettFrom the Department of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence (M.T.W., W.J.C.); Georgetown University School of Medicine (M.T.W.), Washington, DC; University of Maryland (W.J.C.), Baltimore; University of Colorado (J.D.C., P.D.), Aurora; Stanford University School of Medicine (L.M.N., B.T.), CA; Southern California Permanente Medical Group (A.L.-G., L.H.C.), Pasadena; Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Sciences (R.A.M.), Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; University of Alabama at Birmingham (G.R.C.); McKing Consulting Corp (W.E.K., L.W.), Atlanta, GA; Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) and Centre for Brain Health (H.T.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Brown University (S.L.B.), Providence, RI; and National Multiple Sclerosis Society (N.G.L.), New York, NY.
Stephen L BukaFrom the Department of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence (M.T.W., W.J.C.); Georgetown University School of Medicine (M.T.W.), Washington, DC; University of Maryland (W.J.C.), Baltimore; University of Colorado (J.D.C., P.D.), Aurora; Stanford University School of Medicine (L.M.N., B.T.), CA; Southern California Permanente Medical Group (A.L.-G., L.H.C.), Pasadena; Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Sciences (R.A.M.), Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; University of Alabama at Birmingham (G.R.C.); McKing Consulting Corp (W.E.K., L.W.), Atlanta, GA; Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) and Centre for Brain Health (H.T.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Brown University (S.L.B.), Providence, RI; and National Multiple Sclerosis Society (N.G.L.), New York, NY.
Piyameth DilokthornsakulFrom the Department of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence (M.T.W., W.J.C.); Georgetown University School of Medicine (M.T.W.), Washington, DC; University of Maryland (W.J.C.), Baltimore; University of Colorado (J.D.C., P.D.), Aurora; Stanford University School of Medicine (L.M.N., B.T.), CA; Southern California Permanente Medical Group (A.L.-G., L.H.C.), Pasadena; Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Sciences (R.A.M.), Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; University of Alabama at Birmingham (G.R.C.); McKing Consulting Corp (W.E.K., L.W.), Atlanta, GA; Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) and Centre for Brain Health (H.T.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Brown University (S.L.B.), Providence, RI; and National Multiple Sclerosis Society (N.G.L.), New York, NY.
Barbara TopolFrom the Department of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence (M.T.W., W.J.C.); Georgetown University School of Medicine (M.T.W.), Washington, DC; University of Maryland (W.J.C.), Baltimore; University of Colorado (J.D.C., P.D.), Aurora; Stanford University School of Medicine (L.M.N., B.T.), CA; Southern California Permanente Medical Group (A.L.-G., L.H.C.), Pasadena; Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Sciences (R.A.M.), Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; University of Alabama at Birmingham (G.R.C.); McKing Consulting Corp (W.E.K., L.W.), Atlanta, GA; Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) and Centre for Brain Health (H.T.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Brown University (S.L.B.), Providence, RI; and National Multiple Sclerosis Society (N.G.L.), New York, NY.
Lie H ChenFrom the Department of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence (M.T.W., W.J.C.); Georgetown University School of Medicine (M.T.W.), Washington, DC; University of Maryland (W.J.C.), Baltimore; University of Colorado (J.D.C., P.D.), Aurora; Stanford University School of Medicine (L.M.N., B.T.), CA; Southern California Permanente Medical Group (A.L.-G., L.H.C.), Pasadena; Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Sciences (R.A.M.), Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; University of Alabama at Birmingham (G.R.C.); McKing Consulting Corp (W.E.K., L.W.), Atlanta, GA; Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) and Centre for Brain Health (H.T.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Brown University (S.L.B.), Providence, RI; and National Multiple Sclerosis Society (N.G.L.), New York, NY.
Nicholas G LaRoccaFrom the Department of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence (M.T.W., W.J.C.); Georgetown University School of Medicine (M.T.W.), Washington, DC; University of Maryland (W.J.C.), Baltimore; University of Colorado (J.D.C., P.D.), Aurora; Stanford University School of Medicine (L.M.N., B.T.), CA; Southern California Permanente Medical Group (A.L.-G., L.H.C.), Pasadena; Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Sciences (R.A.M.), Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; University of Alabama at Birmingham (G.R.C.); McKing Consulting Corp (W.E.K., L.W.), Atlanta, GA; Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) and Centre for Brain Health (H.T.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Brown University (S.L.B.), Providence, RI; and National Multiple Sclerosis Society (N.G.L.), New York, NY.
US Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence Workgroup

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo generate a national multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence estimate for the United States by applying a validated algorithm to multiple administrative health claims (AHC) datasets.

methodsA validated algorithm was applied to private, military, and public AHC datasets to identify adult cases of MS between 2008 and 2010. In each dataset, we determined the 3-year cumulative prevalence overall and stratified by age, sex, and census region. We applied insurance-specific and stratum-specific estimates to the 2010 US Census data and pooled the findings to calculate the 2010 prevalence of MS in the United States cumulated over 3 years. We also estimated the 2010 prevalence cumulated over 10 years using 2 models and extrapolated our estimate to 2017.

resultsThe estimated 2010 prevalence of MS in the US adult population cumulated over 10 years was 309.2 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval [CI] 308.1-310.1), representing 727,344 cases. During the same time period, the MS prevalence was 450.1 per 100,000 (95% CI 448.1-451.6) for women and 159.7 (95% CI 158.7-160.6) for men (female:male ratio 2.8). The estimated 2010 prevalence of MS was highest in the 55- to 64-year age group. A US north-south decreasing prevalence gradient was identified. The estimated MS prevalence is also presented for 2017.

conclusionThe estimated US national MS prevalence for 2010 is the highest reported to date and provides evidence that the north-south gradient persists. Our rigorous algorithm-based approach to estimating prevalence is efficient and has the potential to be used for other chronic neurologic conditions.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultAgedAlgorithmsDiagnosis, Computer-AssistedFemaleGeography, MedicalHumansInsurance, HealthMaleMiddle AgedMultiple SclerosisPrevalenceUnited StatesYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID30770430
PMCPMC6442006

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.