BackgroundThe risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) increases with increasing latitude. Taking into consideration that Norway has a large latitude range, a south-to-north gradient would be expected. However, previous studies have reported an uneven distribution of the disease in Norway, with a relatively low prevalence in the most northern parts of the country.We describe the incidence and prevalence of MS in a county in the north of Norway over a period of 40 years.MethodsAll patients with MS living in Nordland County in the period 1970–2010 were identified by reviewing hospital charts. The patients were included if they met the criteria of definitive or probable MS according to Poser [Ann Neurol 13:227-231, 1983] or MS according to McDonalds [Ann Neurol 50:121-127, 2001]. Point prevalence at the beginning of the decades was calculated. The average annual incidence was calculated for 5-year periods.ResultsThe total crude prevalence on January 1, 2010 was 182.4 per 100 000. The annual incidence continuously increased from 0.7 per 100 000 in 1970 – 1974 to 10.1 per 100,000 in 2005 – 2009. The time delay from the first symptom to diagnosis was stable from 1975 to 2010. The proportion of primary progressive MS in the prevalence numbers was 38.2% in 1980, and decreases continuously, to 18.6% in 2010. The female to male prevalence ratio has been stable since 1990 at 2.2 to 1.ConclusionThe prevalence and the incidence of MS have steadily increased over a 40 year period. Nordland County is a high-risk area for MS.
Nevrologisk avdeling Nordlandssykehuset i Bodø og Det helsevitenskapelige fakultet Universitetet i Tromsø-Norges arktiske universitet Karl Bjørnar Alstadhaug er spesialist i nevrologi, overlege og professor. Forfatteren har fylt ut ICMJE-skjemaet og oppgir ingen interessekonflikter. MERETHE KARLBERG Nevrologisk avdeling Nordlandssykehuset i Bodø Merethe Karlberg er spesialist i nevrologi og overlege. Forfatteren har fylt ut ICMJE-skjemaet og oppgir ingen interessekonflikter.
Nevrologisk avdeling Nordlandssykehuset Merethe Karlberg er spesialist i nevrologi og overlege. Forfa eren har fylt ut ICMJE-skjemaet og oppgir ingen interessekonflikter. Diagnostisk klinikk Nordlandssykehuset Hanne Thoresen er spesialist i radiologi og overlege. Forfa eren har fylt ut ICMJE-skjemaet og oppgir ingen interessekonflikter. Nevrofysiologisk seksjon Nordlandssykehuset Diana Hristova Berg er spesialist i nevrologi og LIS-lege i klinisk nevrofysiologi. Forfa eren har fylt ut ICMJE-skjemaet og oppgir ingen interessekonflikter. Nevrofysiologisk seksjon Nordlandssykehuset Oana-Gratiela Ciopat er spesialist i nevrofysiologi. Forfa eren har fylt ut ICMJE-skjemaet og oppgir ingen interessekonflikter. Nevrologisk avdeling Nordlandssykehuset og Universitetet i Tromsø Karl Bjørnar Alstadhaug er spesialist i nevrologi, overlege og professor. Forfa eren har fylt ut ICMJE-skjemaet og oppgir ingen interessekonflikter. En mann i 40-årene med aku forvirring | Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening
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