Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in western Herzegovina

Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in western Herzegovina

Abstract Objectives To determine epidemiological rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) in western Herzegovina. Patients and methods We analysed data from 81 MS patients (49 females, 32 males) on the prevalence day, 31 December 2003. Patient information was obtained from a search of all available medical...

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Published in:Clinical neurology and neurosurgery Vol. 109; no. 9; pp. 779 - 783
Main Authors: Klupka-Sarić, Inge, Ristić, Smiljana, Sepčić, Juraj, Kapović, Miljenko, Peterlin, Borut, Materljan, Eris, Jurišić, Tonka, Mamić, Dražena Martinović, Burina, Adnan, Šulentić, Vlatko
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-11-2007
Elsevier Science
Elsevier Limited
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Age of Onset
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Bosnia and Herzegovina - epidemiology
Europe
Female
Herzegovina
Humans
Incidence
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis - epidemiology
Neurology
Neurosurgery
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
Sex Distribution
Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases
Europe
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Multiple sclerosis
Prevalence
Europe
Herzegovina
Incidence
Nervous system diseases
Surgery
Central nervous system disease
Epidemiology
Inflammatory disease
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Summary:Abstract Objectives To determine epidemiological rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) in western Herzegovina. Patients and methods We analysed data from 81 MS patients (49 females, 32 males) on the prevalence day, 31 December 2003. Patient information was obtained from a search of all available medical records from the period 1994–2003 in the investigated area. Results Crude prevalence of MS was 27/100,000 (95% confidence interval (CI) 20–34). Prevalence was highest in the mountainous municipality of Posušje (56/100,000) and lowest in the coastal municipality of Neum (0 incidence). The annual incidence of MS was 1.6/100,000 (95% CI 0–3.3). The female/male ratio of MS was 1.5. The mean age of the patients on prevalence day was 40.0 ± 11.6 years, and the mean age at disease onset was 31.0 ± 7.1 years. Eight (10%) of the patients had a first-degree relative with MS. The primary progressive (PP) disease course was observed only in females. Visual symptoms were the initial symptom of MS in 6 (7%) of the patients. Conclusions Western Herzegovina is an area of moderate risk for MS, and the distribution of MS in western Herzegovina is heterogeneous. PP-MS occurred only in females, and involvement of the visual pathways as the initial symptom of MS was low.
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ISSN:0303-8467
1872-6968
DOI:10.1016/j.clineuro.2007.07.014