TY - JOUR
T1 - Incidence and prevalence of small-fiber neuropathy A survey in the Netherlands
AU - Peters, M.J.
AU - Bakkers, Mayienne
AU - Merkies, Ingemar S. J.
AU - Hoeijmakers, Janneke G. J.
AU - van Raak, Elisabeth P. M.
AU - Faber, Catharina G.
PY - 2013/10/8
Y1 - 2013/10/8
N2 - Objective: To determine the minimum incidence and minimum prevalence rates of small-fiber neuropathy (SFN) in a well-defined region in the southern part of the Netherlands. Methods: In this cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection, we used data of patients diagnosed with pure SFN at our Small Fiber Neuropathy Center between January 2006 and December 2011 to calculate minimum incidence and prevalence rates. Results: A total of 88 patients were diagnosed with SFN (mean age 56.9 years, SD 11.8, range 34-81; 44.3% women, 55.7% men). The overall minimum incidence over 2010 and 2011 was 11.73 (95% confidence interval 7.12-18.22) cases/100,000 inhabitants/year. The overall minimum prevalence was 52.95 (95% confidence interval 42.47-65.23) cases/100,000. Incidence and prevalence rates were higher in men than in women, as were the rates in elderly patients compared with younger patients. Conclusions: The minimum incidence and prevalence rates of SFN are presented. We found that SFN is more frequently seen in men and more often diagnosed in elderly patients. These rates probably are an underestimation and are expected to increase in the coming years, since the awareness of SFN is increasing worldwide.
AB - Objective: To determine the minimum incidence and minimum prevalence rates of small-fiber neuropathy (SFN) in a well-defined region in the southern part of the Netherlands. Methods: In this cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection, we used data of patients diagnosed with pure SFN at our Small Fiber Neuropathy Center between January 2006 and December 2011 to calculate minimum incidence and prevalence rates. Results: A total of 88 patients were diagnosed with SFN (mean age 56.9 years, SD 11.8, range 34-81; 44.3% women, 55.7% men). The overall minimum incidence over 2010 and 2011 was 11.73 (95% confidence interval 7.12-18.22) cases/100,000 inhabitants/year. The overall minimum prevalence was 52.95 (95% confidence interval 42.47-65.23) cases/100,000. Incidence and prevalence rates were higher in men than in women, as were the rates in elderly patients compared with younger patients. Conclusions: The minimum incidence and prevalence rates of SFN are presented. We found that SFN is more frequently seen in men and more often diagnosed in elderly patients. These rates probably are an underestimation and are expected to increase in the coming years, since the awareness of SFN is increasing worldwide.
U2 - 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182a8236e
DO - 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182a8236e
M3 - Article
C2 - 23997150
SN - 0028-3878
VL - 81
SP - 1356
EP - 1360
JO - Neurology
JF - Neurology
IS - 15
ER -