Biomaterial Database

[Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Spain. Prevalence and incidence data]. 1999

J Mallada

Servicio de Neurología, Hospital General de Elda, Alicante, España. jmalladaf@meditex.es

BACKGROUND Traditionally, Spain has been considered to be an area with a low prevalence of multiple sclerosis. However, the most recent studies show much higher figures than those previously described. OBJECTIVE We aim to summarize the current data on prevalence and incidence of the disorder in Spain so as to determine the true situation regarding multiple sclerosis in this country. METHODS We have evaluated all the epidemiological data published on the descriptive epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Spain, and analyzed the differences in method which might explain the disparity between the figures quoted. We also studied the data on incidence available, mainly in the Alcoi health district, where we carried out the most prolonged incidence study in Spain. CONCLUSIONS The figures for prevalence given by the most recent studies include Spain in the area of moderate risk. The analysis of prevalence figures seem to indicate that these have varied with time and, at least in some zones, the incidence has increased in recent years.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009103	Multiple Sclerosis	An autoimmune disorder mainly affecting young adults and characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. Pathologic findings include multiple sharply demarcated areas of demyelination throughout the white matter of the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction. The usual pattern is one of recurrent attacks followed by partial recovery (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, RELAPSING-REMITTING), but acute fulminating and chronic progressive forms (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE) also occur. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p903)	MS (Multiple Sclerosis),Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating,Sclerosis, Disseminated,Disseminated Sclerosis,Sclerosis, Multiple
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013030	Spain	Country located between France on the northeast and Portugal on the west and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The capital is Madrid.	Balearic Islands,Canary Islands
D015994	Incidence	The number of new cases of a given disease during a given period in a specified population. It also is used for the rate at which new events occur in a defined population. It is differentiated from PREVALENCE, which refers to all cases in the population at a given time.	Attack Rate,Cumulative Incidence,Incidence Proportion,Incidence Rate,Person-time Rate,Secondary Attack Rate,Attack Rate, Secondary,Attack Rates,Cumulative Incidences,Incidence Proportions,Incidence Rates,Incidence, Cumulative,Incidences,Person time Rate,Person-time Rates,Proportion, Incidence,Rate, Attack,Rate, Incidence,Rate, Person-time,Rate, Secondary Attack,Secondary Attack Rates
D015995	Prevalence	The total number of cases of a given disease in a specified population at a designated time. It is differentiated from INCIDENCE, which refers to the number of new cases in the population at a given time.	Period Prevalence,Point Prevalence,Period Prevalences,Point Prevalences,Prevalence, Period,Prevalence, Point,Prevalences