Foundation for Neuroepidemiology Research, Junín, Argentina.
Mult Scler. 2013 Feb;19(2):145-52. doi: 10.1177/1352458512441985. Epub 2012 Apr 4.
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.
一些西欧和北美国家报告多发性硬化症（MS）的发病率非常高。在南美洲进行的少数几项 MS 流行病学调查显示，发病率较低，这意味着不同种族群体之间的易感性存在差异，因此形成了疾病地理分布的重要决定因素。本研究的目的是综述拉丁美洲和加勒比地区不同国家的 MS 患病率估计值。我们回顾了 1991 年至 2011 年的区域性 MS 患病率调查。来源包括在线数据库、作者报告以及区域会议的论文集或专题演讲。我们从 15 个国家共获得了 30 项患病率调查，结果显示这些国家的 MS 发病率处于低/中水平。近几十年来，该地区的患病率调查数量和质量都有了很大的提高。这是首次对拉丁美洲和加勒比地区 MS 区域频率进行的协作研究。建立标准化方法和联合流行病学研究将推动拉丁美洲和加勒比地区未来的 MS 研究。
