Disease Burden and Costs Associated with Multiple Sclerosis in China:A Cross-sectional Analysis of Nationwide Survey Data

DearEditors,Multiple sclerosis(MS)is a chronic,autoimmune neurological disorder characterized by inflammatory demyelination of the central nervous system;it is associated with reduced mobility,cognitive impairment,and numerous comorbidities[1].Global MS incidence(2.1 per 100,000 person-years)and prevalence(30.1 per 100,000)have increased in recent years,and its prevalence is notably higher in Western countries,ranging from~30 to 200 cases per 100,000[2].In China,recent epidemiological research has shown that the crude prevalence was 2.44 per 100,000 in 2016[3],and the age-and sex-adjusted incidence was 0.235 per 100,000 person-years[4].Despite the relatively low prevalence compared with the global average,China has extensively addressed the well-being of over 30,000 MS patients,enrolling MS in China's First National List of Rare Diseases in 2018.