Increasing frequency of multiple sclerosis in Catania, Sicily: a 30-year survey.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) and its temporal profiles from 1975 to 2005 in the city of Catania.


METHODS
The incidence of MS from 1975 to 31 December 1999 had been previously investigated by the same group. The frequency of MS in the community of Catania from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2004 was studied in a population of 313,110 inhabitants (2001 census). All patients who satisfied Poser's criteria were considered as prevalent and incident cases.


RESULTS
Three hundred and ninety-eight patients with MS who had experienced the clinical onset of the disease before 31 December 2004 were found in a population of 313,110 inhabitants. The prevalence rate was 127.1/100,000 [95% confidence interval (CI) 115.1-140.4]. From 2000 to 2004, 108 patients with MS had clinical onset of the disease. The mean annual incidence was 7.0/100,000 (95% CI 5.7-13.7) and was higher in women (8.4/100,000; 95% CI 6.4-10.5) than in men (5.3/100,000; 95% CI 3.7-7.2). The mean length of time between the date of clinical onset and the date of the diagnosis was 1.4 ± 1.7 years. During the last 30 years the incidence of MS in this population increased from 1.3/100,000 during the first quinquennium (1975-9) to 7.0/100,000 during 2000-4.


CONCLUSIONS
Incidence rates have further increased in this population, suggesting that the risk of MS is still increasing.
Department of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Alessandra
A
Nicoletti
Francesco
F
Patti
Salvatore
S
Lo Fermo
Silvia
S
Messina
Elisa
E
Bruno
Graziella
G
Quattrocchi
Patrizia
P
Laisa
Sabina
S
Cilia
Giovanni
G
Mostile
Roberto
R
Marziolo
Renato
R
Scillieri
Davide
D
Maimone
Mario
M
Zappia
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012802:Sicily / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult