Hypnos Instituto del Sueño, Peru.
Mult Scler. 2011 Sep;17(9):1055-9. doi: 10.1177/1352458511405562. Epub 2011 May 6.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) has a unique geographical distribution that reflects both genetic and environmental factors. Many studies have shown a positive correlation between MS frequency and latitude across both large and small geographical regions. However, scarce data have been published on the epidemiology of MS in Latin America and no study has evaluated latitudinal variation.
To evaluate the effect of latitude on MS prevalence in Latin America.
We conducted a systematic review of MS prevalence during January 2011. Prevalence rates were collected from eligible publications. The effect of latitude on prevalence was analyzed using linear regression.
A total of ten studies were eligible for analysis, corresponding to six countries, spanning from Panama to Argentina. The crude prevalence of MS ranged from 0.75 to 21.5 per 100,000. We found a strong and significant association between prevalence and latitude (r(2) 0.8; p < 0.001) and determined an increase in prevalence of 0.33 per 100,000 per degree latitude.
Our findings suggest a latitudinal prevalence gradient of MS in Latin American countries between Panama and Argentina.
多发性硬化症（MS）具有独特的地理分布，反映了遗传和环境因素。许多研究表明，MS 的发病率与纬度之间存在正相关，无论是在大的地理区域还是小的地理区域。然而，关于拉丁美洲 MS 的流行病学数据很少，也没有研究评估纬度的变化。
评估纬度对拉丁美洲多发性硬化症发病率的影响。
我们对 2011 年 1 月期间多发性硬化症的发病率进行了系统综述。从合格出版物中收集了发病率数据。采用线性回归分析纬度对发病率的影响。
共有 10 项研究符合分析标准，涉及 6 个国家，从巴拿马到阿根廷。多发性硬化症的粗发病率范围为每 100,000 人 0.75 至 21.5 例。我们发现发病率与纬度之间存在强烈且显著的关联（r² 0.8；p<0.001），并且每增加 1 度纬度，发病率就会增加 0.33 例/每 100,000 人。
我们的研究结果表明，在巴拿马和阿根廷之间的拉丁美洲国家，多发性硬化症的发病率存在纬度梯度。
