Abstract
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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1432-1436 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Multiple Sclerosis Journal |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2010 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- epidemiology
- Frosinone
- Italy
- Lazio
- multiple sclerosis
- prevalence
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Neurology
Cite this
The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in central Italy. / Millefiorini, Enrico; Cortese, Antonio; Di Rezze, Simone; Barletta, Giovanna; Bellantonio, Paolo; Batocchi, Anna P.; Di Battista, Giancarlo; Fiore, Stefania; Gasperini, Claudio; Grasso, Maria Grazia; Koudriatseva, Tatiana; Totaro, Rocco; Durastanti, Valentina.
In: Multiple Sclerosis Journal, Vol. 16, No. 12, 12.2010, p. 1432-1436.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in central Italy
AU - Millefiorini, Enrico
AU - Cortese, Antonio
AU - Di Rezze, Simone
AU - Barletta, Giovanna
AU - Bellantonio, Paolo
AU - Batocchi, Anna P.
AU - Di Battista, Giancarlo
AU - Fiore, Stefania
AU - Gasperini, Claudio
AU - Grasso, Maria Grazia
AU - Koudriatseva, Tatiana
AU - Totaro, Rocco
AU - Durastanti, Valentina
PY - 2010/12
Y1 - 2010/12
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 - epidemiology
KW - Frosinone
KW - Italy
KW - Lazio
KW - multiple sclerosis
KW - prevalence
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78650127299&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=78650127299&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1352458510373263
DO - 10.1177/1352458510373263
M3 - Article
C2 - 20834041
AN - SCOPUS:78650127299
VL - 16
SP - 1432
EP - 1436
JO - Multiple Sclerosis
JF - Multiple Sclerosis
SN - 1352-4585
IS - 12
ER -