TY - JOUR
T1 - The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in central Italy
AU - Millefiorini, Enrico
AU - Cortese, A
AU - Di Rezze, D
AU - Barletta, G
AU - Bellantonio, P
AU - Batocchi, Anna Paola
AU - Di Battista, G
AU - Fiore, S
AU - Gasperini, Claudio
AU - Grasso, Maria Grazia
AU - Koudriatseva, Tatiana
AU - Totaro, R
AU - Durastante, Valentina
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - BACKGROUND: The prevalence of multiple sclerosis varies considerably throughout the world.
OBJECTIVE: To better define the prevalence of MS in central Italy.
METHODS: This is a population-based study conducted in the province of Frosinone, which is situated in the Lazio region, central Italy. The selected prevalence day was 1 January 2007. A total of 467 patients, with a definite diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, were considered for crude, age- and sex-specific prevalence estimation.
RESULTS: The overall crude prevalence rate was 95.0 cases per 100,000 (95% confidence interval (CI) 86.6-104.0). A significantly higher prevalence rate was recorded in females (134.9, 95% CI 121.0-150.1) than in males (53.3, 95% CI 44.4-63.3) (p = 0.001). Age-specific prevalence peaked in the 25-34 year, 35-44 year and 45-54 year age groups; moreover, it was found to increase up to the 35-44 year age group in males and the 45-54 year age group in females, decreasing thereafter. The female to male ratio was 2.6.
CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm that MS occurs more frequently in central Italy than might be expected on the basis of the geographic-related distribution model, thus supporting the view that this is a high-risk area for the disease.
AB - BACKGROUND: The prevalence of multiple sclerosis varies considerably throughout the world.
OBJECTIVE: To better define the prevalence of MS in central Italy.
METHODS: This is a population-based study conducted in the province of Frosinone, which is situated in the Lazio region, central Italy. The selected prevalence day was 1 January 2007. A total of 467 patients, with a definite diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, were considered for crude, age- and sex-specific prevalence estimation.
RESULTS: The overall crude prevalence rate was 95.0 cases per 100,000 (95% confidence interval (CI) 86.6-104.0). A significantly higher prevalence rate was recorded in females (134.9, 95% CI 121.0-150.1) than in males (53.3, 95% CI 44.4-63.3) (p = 0.001). Age-specific prevalence peaked in the 25-34 year, 35-44 year and 45-54 year age groups; moreover, it was found to increase up to the 35-44 year age group in males and the 45-54 year age group in females, decreasing thereafter. The female to male ratio was 2.6.
CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm that MS occurs more frequently in central Italy than might be expected on the basis of the geographic-related distribution model, thus supporting the view that this is a high-risk area for the disease.
KW - multiple sclerosis
KW - prevalence
KW - multiple sclerosis
KW - prevalence
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/7775
M3 - Article
SN - 1352-4585
VL - 2010
SP - 1432
EP - 1436
JO - Multiple Sclerosis Journal
JF - Multiple Sclerosis Journal
ER -