Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in western Herzegovina.
OBJECTIVE
To determine epidemiological rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) in western Herzegovina.


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 Posusje (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.
Klupka-Sarić
Inge
I
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ristić
Smiljana
S
Sepcić
Juraj
J
Kapović
Miljenko
M
Peterlin
Borut
B
Materljan
Eris
E
Jurisić
Tonka
T
Mamić
Drazena Martinović
DM
Burina
Adnan
A
Sulentić
Vlatko
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution