Motor Neuron Disease Mortality Trends in Australia From 1986 to 2023: A Population-Based Study

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Neurology

Background:

• Motor neuron disease (MND) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition with significant mortality.
• Understanding longitudinal trends in MND mortality is crucial for public health planning and resource allocation.
• Previous analyses of Australian MND mortality trends over extended periods are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the longitudinal changes in motor neuron disease (MND) mortality rates in Australia from 1986 to 2023.
• To identify demographic and geographic patterns associated with MND mortality trends.
• To assess the contribution of MND to all-cause mortality over nearly four decades.

Main Methods:

• A population-based study utilizing Australian Bureau of Statistics data on MND mortality and population demographics from 1986 to 2023.
• Analysis of certified MND deaths by year of registration, calculating mortality rates and 95% confidence intervals.
• Application of Joinpoint regression to identify trends and annual percentage changes, with data stratified by age, sex, state/territory, and remoteness.

Main Results:

• Total MND deaths in Australia more than tripled from 238 in 1986 to 781 in 2023.
• The age-standardised annual MND mortality rate increased by 0.47% from 1986 to 2023, though Joinpoint modelling indicated a recent reduction.
• MND mortality was higher in males, peaked in the 70-79 age group, and showed variations across states and regional areas, with higher rates in South Australia, Tasmania, and non-metropolitan regions.

Conclusions:

• Adjusted motor neuron disease (MND) mortality rates in Australia demonstrated an overall increase over the 37-year study period.
• MND's proportion of all-cause deaths doubled, highlighting its growing impact.
• The findings underscore the need for continued monitoring and targeted interventions for MND.