Towards establishing MS prevalence in Latin America and the Caribbean

• Published in: Multiple sclerosis Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. 145 - 152
• Main Authors: Melcon, MO, Melcon, CM, Bartoloni, L, Cristiano, E, Duran, JC, Grzesiuk, AK, Fragoso, YD, Brooks, JB Bidin, Díaz, V, Romero García, KM, Cabrera Gomez, JA, Abad, P, Islas, MA Macías, Gracia, F, Diaz de Bedoya, VF Hamuy, Ruiz, ME Córdova, Hackembruch, JH, Oehninger, C, Ketzoian, CN, Soto, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.02.2013; Sage Publications; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Caribbean Region - epidemiology; Conferences; Data Collection; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Disease Notification; Epidemiology; Ethnic Groups; Geographical distribution; Geography; Humans; Internet; Joints; Latin America - epidemiology; Medical sciences; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - epidemiology; Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis; Neurology; Prevalence; Reviews; South America - epidemiology; Ultraviolet Rays; South America; America; Latin America; Caribbean Region; South America; epidemiology; ethnicity; multiple sclerosis; latitude; environmental risk; UV exposure; Native American Indian; Caribbean; Hispanic; Nervous system diseases; Multiple sclerosis; Prevalence; American; Epidemiology; Inflammatory disease; Central nervous system disease; Risk factor; Indian; Degenerative disease
• ISSN: 1352-4585; 1477-0970
• DOI: 10.1177/1352458512441985

A very high prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been reported in some Western European and North American countries. The few surveys of MS epidemiology in South America reveal lower prevalence rates, implying that susceptibility varies between distinct ethnic groups, thus forming an important determinant of the geographic distribution of the disease. The objective of this study is to review MS prevalence estimates in different Latin American and Caribbean countries. We reviewed surveys of regional MS prevalence from 1991 to 2011. Sources included an online database, authors’ reports and proceedings or specific lectures from regional conferences. We obtained a total of 30 prevalence surveys from 15 countries, showing low/medium MS prevalence rates. Both the number and the quality of prevalence surveys have greatly improved in this region over recent decades. This is the first collaborative study to map the regional frequency of MS. Establishment of standardized methods and joint epidemiological studies will advance future MS research in Latin America and the Caribbean.