title: Prevalence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the city of Porto Alegre, in Southern Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted an extensive investigation in clinics and hospitals that provide specialized assistance to these patients, contacted neurologists and the regional association of people with ALS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On July 31, 2010, 70 patients were alive and diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Considering the population living in the city in the same period (1,409,351), the estimated prevalence was 5.0 cases per 100,000 people (95% CI, 3.9-6.2), being higher for men (5.2/100,000 95% CI, 3.6-7.2) than for women (4.8/100,000 95% CI, 3.4-6.5). The prevalence increased with age peaking in the age group 70-79 years in both genders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of ALS in the city of Porto Alegre is similar to that reported in other parts of the world.
authors.affiliation: Porto AlegreRS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Linden-Junior
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Porto AlegreRS.
authors.forename: Jefferson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Porto AlegreRS.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schestatsky
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Santa Casa de Porto Alegre, Brazil, Porto AlegreRS.
authors.forename: Francisco Tellechea
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Rotta
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Porto AlegreRS.
authors.forename: Carlo Domenico
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Marrone
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Porto AlegreRS.
authors.forename: Irenio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gomes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution