The study population is based on the 'National Health Insurance Research Database' (NHIRD) from 2001 to 2015 provided by Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare. The subjects are diagnosed as MS patients based on the 'Registry for Catastrophic Illness'. First, the investigators will perform the statistical analysis of the incidence, the prevalence, the mortality and the trend analysis of the MS patients diagnosed each year. First, Kaplan-Meier method will be employed to examine the survival curves. Next, Cox proportional hazards model will be used to analyze the survival and related factors. Last, multiple regression analysis will be then performed to analyze the influence of independent variables on patients' medical utilization in each year.
In response to the lack of data on population-based epidemiological studies on MS diseases in Asia, this research wishes to fill the gaps in the studies of global prevention and analyze the patient's survival, mortality risk factors and the medical utilization as a reference for national health policies.
