Multiple sclerosis in Móstoles, central Spain.
OBJECTIVE
Until relatively recently southern Europe was regarded as having a medium to low multiple sclerosis prevalence, of about 20 or less per 100,000. However, recent studies in Sardinia, Sicily, continental Italy, Cyprus and Spain have yielded higher MS prevalence rates, between 32 and 102.6 per 100,000. We present the results of a prevalence study of MS in the municipality of M6stoles, central Spain.


METHODS
To ascertain the prevalence of multiple sclerosis in M6stoles (195,979 inhabitants), an intensive study was undertaken using several sources of information. We used the Poser criteria in diagnosis.


RESULTS
There were 85 patients (53 women and 32 men) classified as definite or probable, prevalence 43.4/100,000 (95% CI, 34.7 to 53.7). The incidence rate was 3.8/100,000/year (95% CI, 2.7 to 5.3) in the last 5 years. Mean age on prevalence day was 38.8+/-10.9 years. Mean age at onset was 31.7+/-9.3 years. Mean interval between initial symptoms and diagnosis was 1.7 years. Mean duration of disease was 7.6+/-6.1 years. Overall, 70.6% had a relapsing-remitting course, 18.8% had a primary progressive and 10.5% had a secondary progressive. Mean EDSS score was 2.7+/-1.9.


CONCLUSIONS
The M6stoles study confirms the conclusions of previous smaller population studies that Spain is a moderately high or medium MS risk zone.
Benito-León
J
J
Service of Neurology, Hospital-Fundación de Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
Martin
E
E
Vela
L
L
Villar
M E
ME
Felgueroso
B
B
Marrero
C
C
Guerrero
A
A
Ruiz-Galiana
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017668:Age of Onset; D018450:Disease Progression; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate