Lg. Gunnarsson et al., AN EPIDEMIC-LIKE CLUSTER OF MOTOR-NEURON DISEASE IN A SWEDISH COUNTY DURING THE PERIOD 1973-1984, Neuroepidemiology, 15(3), 1996, pp. 142-152
We have tried to find all cases of motor neuron disease (MND) with ons
et during the study period 1961-1990 in the county of Skaraborg, Swede
n, and in this retrospective study we have identified 168 cases, 107 m
en and 61 women. Fifty percent of them were alive 2 years after onset.
The number of MND cases in consecutive 5-year intervals during the st
udy period was shown to be statistically significantly elevated for ma
les in the period 1981-1985 (Knox test disjoint procedure, p = 0.02).
During the period 1973-1984, 70 males had onset of MND, corresponding
to an average annual incidence of 4 per 100,000 person-years, This epi
demic-like cluster was compared to the MND morbidity in a neighbouring
county and was shown to be statistically significantly elevated even
when the p value was adjusted for multiple comparisons, Agricultural w
ork was significantly more common among the cases Risk factors compare
d to the rest of the population.