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Cristiano E, Rojas JI, Romano M, Frider N, Machnicki G, Giunta DH, Calegaro D, Corona T, Flores J, Gracia F, Macias-Islas M, Correale J. The epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review. Mult Scler 2012; 19:844-54. [DOI: 10.1177/1352458512462918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) varies geographically as shown through extensive epidemiological studies performed mainly in developed countries. Nonetheless, scant data is available in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The objective of this review is to assess epidemiological data of MS in LAC. We conducted a systematic review of published articles and gray literature from January 1995 to May 2011. Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria after full-text review. Incidence data were found in only three studies and ranged from 0.3 to 1.9 annual cases per 100,000 person-years. Prevalence was reported in 10 studies and ranged from 0.83 to 21.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The most prevalent subtype of MS was the relapsing–remitting form (48% to 91% of the series). No data about mortality were found. This study showed low frequency for MS in LAC compared with North American and European countries. The role of environmental and genetic factors should be well studied, providing new insights about its etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Cristiano
- Department of Neurology, MS Clinic, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - JI Rojas
- Department of Neurology, MS Clinic, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Romano
- Department of Neurocience, Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas Norberto Quirno, CEMIC, Argentina
| | - N Frider
- Regional Medical Director in Neuroscience, Novartis Latinoamerica & Canada
| | - G Machnicki
- Global Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Novartis Latinoamerica & Canada
| | - DH Giunta
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Epidemiology, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - D Calegaro
- Hospital das Clinicas-Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - T Corona
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Mexico
| | - J Flores
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Mexico
| | - F Gracia
- Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, Santo Tomás Hospital, Panamá
| | - M Macias-Islas
- Neurosciences Department, CUCS, Guadalajara University, Mexico
| | - J Correale
- Department of Neurology, Raúl Carrea Institute for Neurological Research, FLENI, Argentina
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