title: The Puerto Rico study for the prevalence of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: This article review the results of a study conducted by the Puerto Rico Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. It presents the results of the first continuous patient registry of the Puerto Rico Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Foundation in the Island between the years 2003 and 2008. It describes the profile of patients with MS and the estimated prevalence. Based on the database of the registry, the estimated prevalence at the present time is estimated to be 52 of 100,000. This population-based study analyzed data of 698 surveyed individuals diagnosed with MS. This study examines demographic factors (age distribution, gender and age at onset), other MS related variables such as the most common symptoms at the onset and after the onset of MS, psychological manifestations, family history, most common treatments, comorbid medical conditions, childhood diseases, use of assistive equipment and patients needs. MS is a chronic demyelinating disease affecting the Central Nervous System, typically manifesting itself in patients between the ages of 30 and 40 years old, causing considerable disability in a significant proportion of afflicted individuals. To date, there has only been one study conducted on the condition of the disease in Puerto Rico.
authors.affiliation: San Juan Multiple Sclerosis Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico. achinea@prtc.net
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chinea
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perez-Canabal
authors.forename: Felicita
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Poser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies