title: Prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in central Poland, 2010-2014.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Comprehensive epidemiologic data for multiple sclerosis (MS) in Poland are limited. The aim of this cross-sectional population-based study was to determine the incidence and prevalence of MS in the Swietokrzyskie Region (central Poland).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study identified MS cases every year between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2014. The study area population on the prevalence day (December 31, 2014) was 1,263,176 (646,506 women and 616,670 men). A total of 1462 patients with a clinically definite diagnosis of MS according to McDonald's criteria (2005), recorded in the Polish Multiple Sclerosis Registry, were considered for estimation of crude, age- and sex-specific prevalence, and incidence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall crude prevalence rate of confirmed MS patients was 115.7/100,000 (95 % confidence interval (CI), 111.2-121.4). A significantly higher prevalence was recorded in females (159.6/100,000; 95 % CI, 151.1-165.3) than in males (69.7/100,000; 95 % CI, 62.4-77.3) (P < 0.001). Age-adjusted rates for the Polish and European Standard Population were 109.8/100,000 (95 % CI, 105.4-114.8) and 106.6/100,000 (95 % CI, 101.1-111.2), respectively. The female/male ratio was 2.4. The mean annual incidence was 4.2/100,000 (95 % CI. 3.7-4.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence and prevalence of MS in the Swietokrzyskie region confirm that central Poland is a high risk area for MS. Compared with previous epidemiologic studies from Poland, the prevalence of MS has increased during recent years.
authors: Department of Neurology, Specialist Hospital in Końskie, 41 Gimnazjalna Street, 26-200, Końskie, Poland. wbrola@wp.pl.
authors: Waldemar
authors: W
authors: Brola
authors: Department of Neurology, Holy Spirit Specialist Hospital in Sandomierz, 13 Schinzla Street, 27-600, Sandomierz, Poland.
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Sobolewski
authors: AGH University of Science and Technology, 30 Mickiewicza Av., 30-059, Krakow, Poland.
authors: Stanisław
authors: S
authors: Flaga
authors: Department of Neurology, Specialist Hospital in Końskie, 41 Gimnazjalna Street, 26-200, Końskie, Poland.
authors: Małgorzata
authors: M
authors: Fudala
authors: Department of Neurology, Holy Spirit Specialist Hospital in Sandomierz, 13 Schinzla Street, 27-600, Sandomierz, Poland.
authors: Wiktor
authors: W
authors: Szczuchniak
authors: Department of Neurology, Regional Hospital, 1 Szpitalna Street, 26-110, Skarżysko-Kamienna, Poland.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Stoiński
authors: Department of Neurology, Regional Hospital, 70 Radomska Street, 27-200, Starachowice, Poland.
authors: Anita
authors: A
authors: Rosołowska
authors: Department of Neurology, Regional Hospital, 78 11-Listopada Street, 28-200, Staszów, Poland.
authors: Jacek
authors: J
authors: Wójcik
authors: Department of Neurology, Medical University of Bialystok, 24A Skłodowskiej - Curie Street, 15-276, Bialystok, Poland.
authors: Katarzyna
authors: K
authors: Kapica-Topczewska
authors: First Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Danuta
authors: D
authors: Ryglewicz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Epidemiology; Incidence; Multiple sclerosis; Poland; Prevalence