The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the Sanitary District of Vélez-Málaga, southern Spain.

Since little is known about the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Spain, we undertook an epidemiologic study to ascertain the prevalence of MS in the Sanitary District of Vélez-Málaga, close to the city of Málaga, in southern Spain. The crude prevalence rate of MS in Vélez-Málaga was 53 per 100,000, twice as high as the prevalence previously reported in both the city and province of Málaga. The MS prevalence in the Sanitary District of Vélez-Málaga is similar to that in Sicily and in Cyprus.