MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS IN MOSTOLES, CENTRAL SPAIN

Objectives - Until relatively recently southern Europe was regarded as having a medium to low multiple sclerosis prevalence, of about 20 or less per 100,000. However, recent studies in Sardinia, Sicily, contine ntal Italy, Cyprus and Spain have yielded higher MS prevalence rates, between 32 and 102.6 per 100,000. We present the results of a prevalen ce study of MS in the municipality of Mostoles, central Spain. Materia l ann Methods - To ascertain the prevalence of multiple sclerosis in M ostoles (195,979 inhabitants), an intensive study was undertaken using several sources of information. We used the Poser criteria in diagnos is. Results - There were 85 patients (53 women and 32 men) classified as definite or probable, prevalence 43.4/100,000 (95% CI, 34.7 to 53.7 ). The incidence rate was 3.8/100,000/year (95% CI, 2.7 to 5.3) in the last 5 years. Mean age on prevalence day was 38.8+/-10.9 years. Mean age at onset was 31.7+/-9.3 years. Mean interval between initial sympt oms and diagnosis was 1.7 years. Mean duration of disease was 7.6+/-6. 1 years. Overall, 70.6% had a relapsing-remitting course, 18.8% had a primary progressive and 10.5% had a secondary progressive. Mean EDSS s core was 2.7+/-1.9. Conclusion - The Mostoles study confirms the concl usions of previous smaller population studies that Spain is a moderate ly high or medium MS risk zone.