Despite extensive research regarding the etiology of Huntington’s disease, relatively little is known about the epidemiology of this rare disorder, particularly in the United States where there are no national-scale estimates of the disease. The objectives of the research are to provide national-scale estimates of Huntington’s disease in a U.S. population and to test whether disease rates are increasing, and whether frequency varies by race, ethnicity, or other factors.Using an insurance database of over 67 million enrollees, we retrospectively identified a cohort of 3,707 individuals diagnosed with Huntington’s disease between 2003 and 2016. We estimated annual incidence, annual diagnostic frequency, and tested for trends over time and differences in diagnostic frequency by sociodemographic characteristics.
Тhe research findings suggest that disease patterns may be more driven by social or environmental factors. To find out more about the research and its outcomes, read the full article here.