title: Epidemiological study of multiple sclerosis in La Rioja.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating disease that causes severe disability in younger patients. Many epidemiology studies have confirmed a variable prevalence. The objective of this study was to analyse the prevalence of this disease in La Rioja (Spain), using such variables as age and sex; type of progression, initial form of the disease, EDSS and number of relapses; disease-modifying treatment and reasons for treatment withdrawal; personal and family history of cancer; and incidence and mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of patients in La Rioja diagnosed with MS (according to Poser criteria or the 2005 McDonald criteria) during a 10-year period (2001-2011). Data were collected from hospital records, multiple sclerosis associations, and personal records kept by neurologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MS prevalence rate in La Rioja is 65 patients/100 000 inhabitants with an incidence rate of 3.5 cases/100 000 residents per year. Relapsing-remitting MS is present in 67.6% of the patient total. Mean age of onset is 20-29 years (range, 12 to 70). Most EDSS scores were mostly ≤ 2. Untreated MS cases account for 47.6% of the total and the most commonly used therapy is interferon. We detected 4 haematological tumours and 7 families with multiple members affected by MS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence and incidence are similar to those found in other regions Spain. The average age at onset age for primary progressive MS is slightly higher than in other papers (40-49 years). In families with multiple patients, MS may be more aggressive. Disability in these patients remains very severe. We require more epidemiology studies with a variety of data gathering methods to support findings for prevalence obtained in different provinces.
authors: Asociación de Esclerosis Múltiple de La Rioja, Logroño, La Rioja, España; Sección de Neurología, Hospital Universitario de Burgos, Burgos, España. Electronic address: mbartulosiglesias@hotmail.com.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Bártulos Iglesias
authors: Sección de Neurología, Hospital San Pedro , Logroño, La Rioja, España.
authors: M E
authors: ME
authors: Marzo Sola
authors: Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria, Centro de Salud Gonzalo de Berceo, Logroño, La Rioja, España; Centro de Salud de Medina de Pomar, Burgos, España.
authors: L A
authors: LA
authors: Estrella Ruiz
authors: Sección de Neurología, Hospital Universitario de Burgos, Burgos, España.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Bravo Anguiano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Epidemiology; Epidemiología; Esclerosis múltiple; España; Incidence; Incidencia; La Rioja; Multiple sclerosis; Prevalence; Prevalencia; Spain