Beer S, Kesselring J
Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Berne, Switzerland.
Neuroepidemiology. 1994;13(1-2):14-8. doi: 10.1159/000110353.
Prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) was determined in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland. This canton is a geographically diverse region at 47 degrees northern latitude with 920,000 inhabitants. Epidemiological data were obtained from the case records of the University Department of Neurology, from the Swiss MS Society, from practising neurologists and from regional hospitals. Diagnostic accuracy was ascertained in retrospect, and only those cases fulfilling the criteria proposed by the Poser Committee were included. Of the patients provided by the Swiss MS Society, only those who had been diagnosed by a neurologist were accepted as definite cases. Changes of population due to migration or death were traced at governmental registry offices, and the place of residence was determined. Using the 1,016 cases of definite and probable MS identified, the minimal prevalence rate was 110 MS cases/100,000 inhabitants in the Canton of Berne on January 1, 1986. The increase in MS in this region since the 1950s was due mainly to the increase in life duration of MS patients rather than an increase in incidence rates over the last 20 years.
在瑞士伯尔尼州确定了多发性硬化症（MS）的患病率。该州是一个位于北纬47度、地域多样的地区，有92万居民。流行病学数据来自大学神经科的病例记录、瑞士多发性硬化症协会、执业神经科医生以及地区医院。回顾性地确定诊断准确性，仅纳入那些符合波泽委员会提出标准的病例。在瑞士多发性硬化症协会提供的患者中，只有那些由神经科医生诊断的患者被确认为确诊病例。通过政府登记处追踪因迁移或死亡导致的人口变化，并确定居住地。利用所确定的1016例确诊和可能的多发性硬化症病例，1986年1月1日伯尔尼州的最低患病率为每10万居民中有110例多发性硬化症病例。自20世纪50年代以来该地区多发性硬化症病例的增加主要是由于多发性硬化症患者寿命的延长，而非过去20年发病率的增加。
