Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Sardinia, Italy: an epidemiologic study

Abstract

The authors carried out an epidemiologic study on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Sardinia for the years 1957 through 1990. The duration of the disease and survival were significantly shorter in bulbar form. The distribution of ALS in various areas of the island was found to be not at all homogeneous. Mean yearly incidence showed no significant variations in the decades 1971–80 and 1981–90. In the last decade, an increase of bulbar forms was observed.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Sardinia (Italy): epidemiologic features from 1957 to 2000

“…In this study, like in our two previous papers (16,28), we only considered patients affected by ALS, excluding all the other MND. All the patients examined were born and/or resident in Sardinia for a period of time of at least 3 years.…”

“…Extending the investigation to the end of 2001 seemed to be sufficiently appropriate for the scope of the study, considering that in our previous paper the mean interval between the onset of the disease and the diagnosis was 11.37 months (16). Diagnoses of ALS were based on the finding of a lesion of the upper and lower motor neuron (progressive muscular weakness; pyramidal signs; progressive amyotrophy with fasciculations; paralysis in bulbar muscles) and of a typical EMG picture.…”

“…The probability calculus for survival was performed with the direct method employed in our previous papers (16,28). The probability calculus for survival was performed with the direct method employed in our previous papers (16,28).…”

“…To evaluate correctly a possible increase in the incidence rate in the 1991-2000 decade in comparison with 1971-1980, we utilized the 1976 Sardinian population as a standard, like we did in the previous paper (16). To evaluate correctly a possible increase in the incidence rate in the 1991-2000 decade in comparison with 1971-1980, we utilized the 1976 Sardinian population as a standard, like we did in the previous paper (16).…”

Contribution of geolocalisation to neuroepidemiological studies: Incidence of ALS and environmental factors in Limousin, France

“…Studies on the incidence of ALS and the identification of geographical clusters have taken place in many Western countries, including the USA [13][14][15][16], Italy [17,18], Sweden [19], Finland [20], United Kindgom [21], Greece [22] and France [10]. The work done in the southeast of France between 1975 and 1992 is particularly interesting: clusters were identified but the fact that nine couples were affected excluded any exclusively genetic hypotheses.…”