Incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from an 8-year population-based study in Central Italy based on healthcare utilization databases.

Background: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with a high multidimensional burden, with an obscure etiopathogenesis.

Methods: We designed a longitudinal, population-based study of people residing in Central Italy (Marche Region) who were beneficiaries of the National Health System. People with an unprecedented ALS hospitalization (335.