title: Prevalence, demographics and clinical characteristics of multiple sclerosis in Qatar.
abstract: No published epidemiologic data on multiple sclerosis (MS) in Qatar exist. Our objectives were to determine the prevalence, demographics and clinical characteristics of MS in the Middle Eastern country of Qatar. We analyzed data for Qatari MS patients fulfilling the McDonald diagnostic criteria. A total of 154 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. On 31 April 2010, the crude prevalence of MS in Qatar was 64.57 per 100,000 inhabitants (95% CI: 58.31-70.37). The female-to-male ratio was 1.33:1. A positive family history was found in 10.4% of included MS patients. We conclude that Qatar is now a medium-to-high risk area for MS, with some important differences in clinical characteristics as compared to other countries in the region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology (Medicine), Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. ddeleu@hmc.org.qa
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deleu
authors.forename: Danial
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mir
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Tabouki
authors.forename: Rim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mesraoua
authors.forename: Boulenouar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mesraoua
authors.forename: Naveed
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al Hail
authors.forename: Atlantic
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'souza
authors.forename: Gayane
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Melikyan
authors.forename: Yahia Z B
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Imam
authors.forename: Yasir
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: Osama
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Elalamy
authors.forename: Tageldin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sokrab
authors.forename: Sadaat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamran
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruiz Miyares
authors.forename: Faiza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011780:Qatar / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult