An epidemiologic investigation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Thrace, Turkey, 2006-2010.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to investigate the incidence and prevalence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Thrace, Turkey in a five-year time period (2006-2010).

METHODS

Study population included residents of three provinces (Edirne, Tekirdag, Kırklareli) in the Thrace region. Cases were ascertained from all of the neurologic centers and hospitals of these provinces. Demographic and clinical information was collected for each patient. Newly diagnosed ALS patients who are fulfilling the El Escorial revised diagnostic criteria were enrolled into the study.

RESULTS

We identified a total of 145 patients (93 males, 52 females). The mean age at diagnosis was 57.0 ± 13.6. According to El Escorial criteria, 60.0% of the cases were definite ALS, 24.8% were probable, and 15.2% were possible ALS. Thirty-two cases were bulbar (22.1%), 113 cases (77.9%) were spinal onset. Mean time delay from onset to diagnosis was 12.0 ± 11.2 months. Age-gender standardized incidence rates with reference to Turkey, USA 2008 census were 1.9 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.8-2.1), 1.9 (95%CI, 1.8-2.2) for overall. There were 112 living ALS patients at the end of the study. Crude point prevalence was calculated as 7.3 per 100,000 population (95%CI, 5.9-8.7).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to provide fundamental data about demographic and clinical characteristics about ALS in Thrace region of Turkey. Incidence and prevalence of ALS in Thrace region of Turkey appear to be comparable with European countries.