A nationwide study has described motor neuron disease in Latvia from 2020 to 2024
Original source
Nationwide Epidemiology of Motor Neuron Diseases in Latvia (2020-2024): Incidence, Prevalence, and Clinical Characteristics. (opens in a new tab)Compass summarised this from the study's abstract.
Study details
- Studied in
- Human
A hospital-record study identified 181 people with motor neuron diseases in Latvia, including 131 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or related phenotypes. The age-standardized ALS incidence was 1.22 per 100,000 person-years, and prevalence was 4.69 per 100,000. Diagnostic delays varied substantially across conditions, including a mean delay of 13.4 months for ALS.
Why this matters
The findings provide national epidemiological data for Latvia and point to delayed diagnosis and possible under-recognition of adult spinal muscular atrophy and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. The study authors say genetic testing, a national registry and equitable access to therapies should be prioritized. This study does not change treatment for individuals directly.
Limitations and context
The study was retrospective and hospital-based, using records from three Latvian hospitals and diagnostic codes from 2020 to 2024. These methods may not capture every person with motor neuron disease in the country. The findings describe diagnosis patterns and disease frequency; they do not test a treatment or establish that the proposed priorities improve outcomes.