Prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in central Poland, 2010-2014

• Published in: BMC neurology Vol. 16; no. 1; p. 134
• Main Authors: Brola, Waldemar, Sobolewski, Piotr, Flaga, Stanisław, Fudala, Małgorzata, Szczuchniak, Wiktor, Stoiński, Jan, Rosołowska, Anita, Wójcik, Jacek, Kapica-Topczewska, Katarzyna, Ryglewicz, Danuta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 11.08.2016; BioMed Central
• Subjects: 2010 AD; 2014 AD; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Care and treatment; Complications and side effects; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disability; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - epidemiology; Poland - epidemiology; Prevalence; Prevalence studies (Epidemiology); Risk factors; Poland; Poland; Multiple sclerosis; Prevalence; Epidemiology; Incidence
• ISSN: 1471-2377; 1471-2377
• DOI: 10.1186/s12883-016-0662-8

Comprehensive epidemiologic data for multiple sclerosis (MS) in Poland are limited. The aim of this cross-sectional population-based study was to determine the incidence and prevalence of MS in the Swietokrzyskie Region (central Poland). This study identified MS cases every year between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2014. The study area population on the prevalence day (December 31, 2014) was 1,263,176 (646,506 women and 616,670 men). A total of 1462 patients with a clinically definite diagnosis of MS according to McDonald's criteria (2005), recorded in the Polish Multiple Sclerosis Registry, were considered for estimation of crude, age- and sex-specific prevalence, and incidence. The overall crude prevalence rate of confirmed MS patients was 115.7/100,000 (95 % confidence interval (CI), 111.2-121.4). A significantly higher prevalence was recorded in females (159.6/100,000; 95 % CI, 151.1-165.3) than in males (69.7/100,000; 95 % CI, 62.4-77.3) (P < 0.001). Age-adjusted rates for the Polish and European Standard Population were 109.8/100,000 (95 % CI, 105.4-114.8) and 106.6/100,000 (95 % CI, 101.1-111.2), respectively. The female/male ratio was 2.4. The mean annual incidence was 4.2/100,000 (95 % CI. 3.7-4.4). The incidence and prevalence of MS in the Swietokrzyskie region confirm that central Poland is a high risk area for MS. Compared with previous epidemiologic studies from Poland, the prevalence of MS has increased during recent years.