title: MS Prevalence and Patients' Characteristics in the District of Braga, Portugal.
abstract: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the Central Nervous System causing inflammation and neurodegeneration. There are only 3 epidemiological studies in Portugal, 2 in the Centre and 1 in the North, and there is the need to further study MS epidemiology in this country. The objective of this work is to contribute to the MS epidemiological knowledge in Portugal, describing the patients' epidemiological, demographic, and clinical characteristics in the Braga district of Portugal. This is a cross-sectional study of 345 patients followed in two hospitals of Braga district. These hospitals cover a resident population of 866,012 inhabitants. The data was collected from the clinical records, and 31/12/2009 was established as the prevalence day. For all MS patients, demographic characteristics and clinical outcomes are reported. We have found an incidence of 2.74/100,000 and a prevalence of 39.82/100,000 inhabitants. Most patients have an EDSS of 3 or lower and a mean age of 42 years. The diagnosis was done at mean age of 35, with RRMS being the disease type in more than 80% of patients. In this cohort, we found a female : male ratio of 1.79. More than 50% of patients are treated with Interferon β-1b IM or IFNβ-1a SC 22 μg.
authors: Neurology Department, Hospital Privado de Braga, 4715-196 Braga, Portugal.
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Figueiredo
authors: Neurology Department, Hospital Senhora da Oliveira de Guimarães, 4835-044 Guimarães, Portugal.
authors: Ângela
authors: Â
authors: Silva
authors: School of Health Sciences, Universidade do Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal ; Neurology Department, Hospital de Braga, 4710-243 Braga, Portugal.
authors: João J
authors: JJ
authors: Cerqueira
authors: Novartis Farma SA, 2740-255 Porto Salvo, Portugal.
authors: Joaquim
authors: 0000-0003-1206-7969
authors: J
authors: Fonseca
authors: Department of Mathematics and Applications, Universidade do Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal.
authors: Paulo A
authors: PA
authors: Pereira
references: N Engl J Med. 2006 Mar 2;354(9):942-55
references: 16510748
references: Lancet. 2008 Oct 25;372(9648):1502-17
references: 18970977
references: Neurology. 1996 Apr;46(4):907-11
references: 8780061
references: J Neurovirol. 2000 May;6 Suppl 2:S134-40
references: 10871801
references: Eur J Neurol. 2006 Jul;13(7):700-22
references: 16834700
references: Brain. 1980 Jun;103(2):281-300
references: 7397479
references: J Neurol. 2006 Jul;253(7):914-8
references: 16502218
references: Acta Neurol Scand. 1980 Aug;62(2):65-80
references: 6971038
references: Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2008 Nov;110(9):897-904
references: 18534742
references: Neurology. 1983 Nov;33(11):1444-52
references: 6685237
references: Neuroepidemiology. 2012;38(4):209-16
references: 22555496
references: Lancet Neurol. 2006 Nov;5(11):932-6
references: 17052660
references: Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2012 Jan;22(1):36-43
references: 21669514
references: Mult Scler. 2008 Nov;14(9):1157-74
references: 18805839