title: Prevalence of neuromuscular disorders in Qena governorate/Egypt: population-based survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few epidemiological studies of the prevalence of neuromuscular disorders have been undertaken. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of the most common types of neuromuscular disorders in Qena governorate/Egypt.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample was taken from 11 districts, involving 9303 inhabitants with 57.3% urban residents and 42.7% rural residence. Patients were diagnosed using a screening questionnaire for the diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders. All positive cases were referred to Qena University hospital where they underwent full clinical, electrophysiological, and laboratory investigations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 9303 participants 448 cases were identified positive during survey. Four hundred and twenty-six cases proved to have neuromuscular disorders giving a crude prevalence rate (CPR) of 4.57%; 408 cases had definite neuropathy and 18 cases had muscular disorders equivalent to CPR of 4.39% and 193/105respectively. There was a higher prevalence in the rural than urban population. The CPR of focal compression neuropathies was 1.8%, with the majority of cases having carpal tunnel syndrome (CPR = 1.67%). CPR of diabetic neuropathy was 1.67%. The CPR of compressive radiculopathy was 0.34%. Traumatic nerve injury had a CPR 0.06%. The lifetime prevalence of Bell's palsy was 0.16%. Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy had a CPR 0.08%. The CPR of idiopathic neuropathy was 0.09% and Infective Leprotic neuropathy was 0.04%. Five patients were diagnosed as having muscular dystrophy and another 5 patients had myotonia with CPR of 54/105for each. Two cases of myasthenia gravis and another two cases with systemic myopathy were recorded giving a CPR of 21/105.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall CPR of neuromuscular disorders in the general population in Qena governorate/Egypt was higher than reported in other countries.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neuropsychiatry , Assiut University , Assiut , Egypt.
authors.forename: Eman M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Khedr
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neuropsychiatry , Sohag University , Sohag , Egypt.
authors.forename: Gharib
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fawi
authors.affiliation: c Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neuropsychiatry , South Valley University , Qena , Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohammed Abd-Allah
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neuropsychiatry , Assiut University , Assiut , Egypt.
authors.forename: Noha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abo El-Fetoh
authors.affiliation: c Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neuropsychiatry , South Valley University , Qena , Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Zaki
authors.affiliation: c Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neuropsychiatry , South Valley University , Qena , Egypt.
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gamea
authors.affiliation: d Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine , Assiut University , Assiut , Egypt.
authors.forename: Ghada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Al Attar
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018672:Community Health Planning; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Diabetic neuropathy; Egypt; Entrapment neuropathy; Epidemiology; Muscle disease; Neuromuscular disorders; Peripheral neuropathy; Prevalence; Radiculopathy