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BACKGROUND Estimates of incidence and prevalence are needed to determine disease risk and to plan for health service needs. Although the province of Nova Scotia, Canada is located in a region considered to have a high prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS), epidemiologic data are limited. OBJECTIVE We aimed to validate an administrative case definition for MS and to use this to estimate the incidence and prevalence of MS in Nova Scotia. METHODS We used provincial administrative claims data to identify persons with MS. We validated administrative case definitions using the clinical database of the province's only MS Clinic; agreement between data sources was expressed using a kappa statistic. We then applied these definitions to estimate the incidence and prevalence of MS from 1990 to 2010. RESULTS We selected the case definition using ≥7 hospital or physician claims when >3 years of data were available, and ≥3 claims where less data were available. Agreement between data sources was moderate (kappa = 0.56), while the positive predictive value was high (89%). In 2010, the age-standardized prevalence of MS per 100,000 population was 266.9 (95% CI: 257.1- 277.1) and incidence was 5.17 (95% CI: 3.78-6.56) per 100,000 persons/year. From 1990-2010 the prevalence of MS rose steadily but incidence remained stable. CONCLUSIONS Administrative data provide a valid and readily available means of estimating MS incidence and prevalence. MS prevalence in Nova Scotia is among the highest in the world, similar to recent prevalence estimates elsewhere in Canada. Incidence et prévalence de la sclérose en plaques en Nouvelle-Écosse, Canada.
Ruth Ann Marrie, and
John D Fisk, and
Karen J Stadnyk, and
Bo Nancy Yu, and
Helen Tremlett, and
Christina Wolfson, and
Sharon Warren, and
Virender Bhan, and
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Ruth Ann Marrie, and
John D Fisk, and
Karen J Stadnyk, and
Bo Nancy Yu, and
Helen Tremlett, and
Christina Wolfson, and
Sharon Warren, and
Virender Bhan, and
October 2012,
Preventive veterinary medicine,
Ruth Ann Marrie, and
John D Fisk, and
Karen J Stadnyk, and
Bo Nancy Yu, and
Helen Tremlett, and
Christina Wolfson, and
Sharon Warren, and
Virender Bhan, and
January 1987,
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Ruth Ann Marrie, and
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Karen J Stadnyk, and
Bo Nancy Yu, and
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Christina Wolfson, and
Sharon Warren, and
Virender Bhan, and
February 1980,
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Ruth Ann Marrie, and
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Sharon Warren, and
Virender Bhan, and
January 1996,
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Ruth Ann Marrie, and
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Bo Nancy Yu, and
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Sharon Warren, and
Virender Bhan, and
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Ruth Ann Marrie, and
John D Fisk, and
Karen J Stadnyk, and
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Christina Wolfson, and
Sharon Warren, and
Virender Bhan, and
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Sexual health,
Ruth Ann Marrie, and
John D Fisk, and
Karen J Stadnyk, and
Bo Nancy Yu, and
Helen Tremlett, and
Christina Wolfson, and
Sharon Warren, and
Virender Bhan, and
August 2022,
The Science of the total environment,
Ruth Ann Marrie, and
John D Fisk, and
Karen J Stadnyk, and
Bo Nancy Yu, and
Helen Tremlett, and
Christina Wolfson, and
Sharon Warren, and
Virender Bhan, and
September 1993,
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Ruth Ann Marrie, and
John D Fisk, and
Karen J Stadnyk, and
Bo Nancy Yu, and
Helen Tremlett, and
Christina Wolfson, and
Sharon Warren, and
Virender Bhan, and
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