1977--1999 Canadian mortality trends associated with motor neuron diseases

Motor Neuron Disease (MND) is a group of devastating diseases that cause a profound state of disability leading to an eventual premature death. Five Canadian studies have investigated mortality trends of MND. Of these five studies, the most recent was completed and published nearly a decade ago. As such, there is limited current knowledge regarding how often MND affects Canadians. The purpose of this study was to examine MND mortality trends in Canada, to determine whether MND is becoming more or less common and to explore other socio-demographic trends associated with MND. Descriptive-comparative statistics were used to identify and compare annual MND prevalence and socio-demographic data from a statistics Canada mortality database for the years 1979 through 1999. Seven research questions addressing: (a) prevalence rate, (b) age, (c) gender, (d) birthplace, (e) marital status, (f) province of residence, and (g) location of death were used to guide this research study. Five major findings resulted from this thesis study. First, this thesis study established MND are a rare cause of death in Canada with a slight increase in the prevalence rate of MND over the 21-year study period. Second, among the 9,028 people who were recorded as having died of MND, a slight but significant increase in average annual age at death was noted from 1979 through 1999. Third, this thesis study established individuals dying of MND are more often married than not married. Fourth, a slight but significant increase in female cases of MND occurred over time. Lastly, this thesis study established more individuals with MND die in hospital that in other locations. As such, the findings of this study have implications for practice, programs, policy, and research.