title: Towards establishing MS prevalence in Latin America and the Caribbean.
abstract: A very high prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been reported in some Western European and North American countries. The few surveys of MS epidemiology in South America reveal lower prevalence rates, implying that susceptibility varies between distinct ethnic groups, thus forming an important determinant of the geographic distribution of the disease. The objective of this study is to review MS prevalence estimates in different Latin American and Caribbean countries. We reviewed surveys of regional MS prevalence from 1991 to 2011. Sources included an online database, authors' reports and proceedings or specific lectures from regional conferences. We obtained a total of 30 prevalence surveys from 15 countries, showing low/medium MS prevalence rates. Both the number and the quality of prevalence surveys have greatly improved in this region over recent decades. This is the first collaborative study to map the regional frequency of MS. Establishment of standardized methods and joint epidemiological studies will advance future MS research in Latin America and the Caribbean.
authors.affiliation: Foundation for Neuroepidemiology Research, Junín, Argentina. finep@infovia.com.ar
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Melcon
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Melcon
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bartoloni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cristiano
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Duran
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Grzesiuk
authors.forename: Y D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Fragoso
authors.forename: J B Bidin
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Romero García
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cabrera Gomez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abad
authors.forename: M A Macías
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Islas
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gracia
authors.forename: V F Hamuy
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Diaz de Bedoya
authors.forename: M E Córdova
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hackembruch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oehninger
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Ketzoian
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soto
mesh_terms: D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection; D018563:Disease Notification; D005006:Ethnicity; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013020:South America / Q000453:epidemiology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays