Tola M A, Yugueros M I, Fernández-Buey N, Fernández-Herranz R
Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario de Valladolid, Spain.
J Neurol. 1999 Mar;246(3):170-4. doi: 10.1007/s004150050329.
The aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a northern Spanish region and to compare it with that from the most recent epidemiological studies in the country. MS prevalence was studied for a period of 2 years using multiple sources of information in the province of Valladolid, with a sample comprising a total population of 92,632. Patients were classified according to the Poser criteria. The crude prevalence of definite and probable MS was 58.3 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval: 43.7-75.7). The same methods have been used in ascertaining similar prevalence rates in Vélez-Málaga, Osona, and Gijón and a slightly lower rate in Teruel. Our survey confirms Spain as a high-risk area for MS, with prevalence rates over 50 per 100,000.
