Possible increasing risk of multiple sclerosis in Catania, Sicily

Objective: To update prevalence and incidence rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Catania, Italy during 1990 to 1999 and evaluate their temporal profiles to assess a possible increase in the MS risk in our study population. Methods: We studied the frequency of MS in Catania, Italy (population of 313,110 as reported in the 2001 census). The primary sources for the case ascertainment were the neurologic and motor-rehabilitation departments, the MS centers, the Italian MS Association, private neurologists, and family doctors. We considered as prevalent and incident cases all patients who satisfied Poser’s criteria for clinically definite MS (CDMS), laboratory-supported definite MS (LSDMS), clinically probable MS (CPMS), and laboratory-supported probable MS (LSPMS). Results: We found 288 subjects with MS who had onset of disease before December 31, 1999 (prevalence day) in a population of 313,110 inhabitants. The prevalence rate was 92.0/100,000 (95% CI 81.8 to 103.2) and was higher in women (102.4/100,000) than in men (80.4/100,000). The age-specific prevalence showed a peak in the group aged 35 to 44 years (208.2/100,000). From 1990 to 1999, 155 patients with MS had the clinical onset of the disease. The mean annual incidence was 4.7/100,000 (95% CI 4.0 to 5.5). Age-specific incidence showed a peak in the group aged 25 to 34 years (11.7/100,000). Mean annual incidence for 5-year intervals increased from 3.9/100,000 during 1990 to 1994 to 5.5/100,000 during 1995 to 1999. Conclusions: Prevalence and incidence rates of multiple sclerosis have further increased during the last decade.

[1]  P. Aridon,et al.  Multiple Sclerosis in Southern Europe: Monreale City, Italy , 2004, Neuroepidemiology.

[2]  G. Moretto,et al.  Increasing frequency of multiple sclerosis in Padova, Italy: a 30 year epidemiological survey , 2003, Multiple sclerosis.

[3]  L. Grimaldi,et al.  High incidence and increasing prevalence of MS in Enna (Sicily), southern Italy , 2001, Neurology.

[4]  A. Compston,et al.  Recommended diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis: Guidelines from the international panel on the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis , 2001, Annals of neurology.

[5]  G. Rosati,et al.  The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the world: an update , 2001, Neurological Sciences.

[6]  P. Aridon,et al.  Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Sicily , 2001, Neurological Sciences.

[7]  F. Patti,et al.  Prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in Catania, Sicily , 2001, Neurology.

[8]  G. Rosati,et al.  Multiple sclerosis epidemiology in Sardinia: evidence for a true increasing risk , 2001, Acta neurologica Scandinavica.

[9]  P. Aridon,et al.  Incidence of multiple sclerosis in Bagheria City, Sicily, Italy , 2000, Neurological Sciences.

[10]  E. Granieri,et al.  The increasing incidence and prevalence of MS in a Sardinian province , 2000, Neurology.

[11]  J. Ferlay,et al.  Cancer Incidence in Five Continents , 1970, Union Internationale Contre Le Cancer / International Union against Cancer.

[12]  P. Aridon,et al.  Prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in the city of Monreale, Italy , 1997, Journal of Neurology.

[13]  E. Granieri,et al.  Multiple sclerosis in Italy. A reappraisal of incidence and prevalence in Ferrara. , 1996, Archives of neurology.

[14]  E. Kahana,et al.  Pitfalls in calculating and comparing prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis , 1995, Journal of Neuroimmunology.

[15]  C. Poser.  Onset symptoms of multiple sclerosis. , 1995, Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry.

[16]  D. Silberberg,et al.  New diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis: Guidelines for research protocols , 1983, Annals of neurology.

[17]  D. Guidetti,et al.  Epidemiological survey of multiple sclerosis in the provinces of Reggio Emilia and Modena, Italy. , 1995, Neuroepidemiology.

[18]  B. Schoenberg.  Calculating Confidence Intervals for Rates and Ratios , 1983 .