Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Mortality in the United States, 1979–2001 (original) (raw)

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Research Articles| September 02 2005

James J. Sejvar;

aDivision of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga., and

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Robert C. Holman;

aDivision of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga., and

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Joseph S. Bresee;

aDivision of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga., and

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Kenneth D. Kochanek;

bDivision of Vital Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Md., USA

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Lawrence B. Schonberger

aDivision of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga., and

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Neuroepidemiology (2005) 25 (3): 144–152.

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Abstract

The etiology of nonfamilial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains unknown. Earlier studies have suggested an increase in the incidence of ALS over time. We performed a retrospective analysis of ALS-associated death rates and trends in the United States for 1979–2001 using death records from the national multiple cause-of-death database. The US average annual age-adjusted ALS death rate was 1.84 per 100,000 persons for 1979 through 1998. Most deaths were among adults ≧65 years of age and the median age at death was 67 years. A small overall increase in the death rate was observed primarily between 1979 and 1983, with a subsequent plateau. This slight change in the overall rate reflected apparent increases in the rates among those persons ≧65 years of age, particularly women, and persons in the 20- to 49-year-old age group. The ALS-associated death rate appeared to differ by geographic area, with a higher occurrence among most northern states. Our findings suggest that the epidemiology of ALS-associated deaths in the United States demonstrated small increases in the overall age-adjusted death rate and in the death rates among elderly women and adults 20–49 years of age. Subpopulations at higher risk for ALS were males, whites, persons ≧65 years of age, and residents of northern states. This study provides information for further studies to examine the epidemiology and risk factors associated with ALS.

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© 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

2005

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