Incidence of multiple sclerosis in Bagheria City, Sicily, Italy

Abstract

We investigated the incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a Sicilian community located at sea level. The study was a retrospective search for MS patients. Incidence was studied in the period from 1 January 1985 to 31 December 1994. We searched for definite MS patients, according to Poser's criteria, among the population resident in Bagheria (Palermo province). There were 25 subjects affected by MS, of which 20 were incident MS patients. The average annual incidence was 4.4 per 100,000 persons (n = 453,385 person-years). The incidence increased over time (1985-1989 = 3.5, 1990-1994 = 5.3). A parallel decrease of the interval between onset and diagnosis of MS was observed (1985-1989, 3.7 years, 95% CI = 1.6-7.3; 1990-1994, 1.9 years, 95% CI = 1.0-3.3). These results confirm that MS is frequent in Sicily.

A possible spatial and temporal cluster of multiple sclerosis in the town of Linguaglossa, Sicily

“…On the other hand considering the previous decade 1981-1990 in the same population (the mid population in this decade was 5,566) only two cases had experienced the onset of MS giving an onset-adjusted annual incidence risk of 3.6/100.000 (95 % CI 0.43-83.2). This rate is close to those reported in other Sicilian communites [3,7,12,14]. The risk of developing MS during 1991-2000 was about five times greater than in the previous 10 years (RR 5.1 95 % CI 1.11-23.1).…”

“…Several epidemiological surveys have been carried out also in Sicily where prevalence and incidence rates found during recent decades were close to those reported in continental Italy [3,7,[12][13][14].At the end of 90s we carried out an epidemiological survey in the city of Catania finding a prevalence rate of 58.5/100,000 (Preva-■ Abstract We carried out an epidemiological survey to determine prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in the little town of Linguaglossa in the Province of Catania. We calculated prevalence rate as point prevalence at 1 January 2001 and incidence during 1991-2000.…”

High Prevalence and Fast Rising Incidence of Multiple Sclerosis in Caltanissetta, Sicily, Southern Italy

“…Poser's hypothesis [10] concerning the relationship between Viking invasions and MS dissemination throughout the world may be considered for the municipalities of Caltanissetta, Enna and Monreale whose population experienced an extended period of Viking domination. The high prevalence rates observed in other Sicilian communities characterized by different historical and genetic backgrounds [2,11] are, however, not consistent with this theory. Moreover, even in Sicily, the rates registered in Caltanissetta and Enna represent a unique occurrence.…”

The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the District of Santarém, Portugal

“…The methodology followed is similar to that applied by other researchers in Spain [1,5,14,24,26], Italy [10,22,23,25], Sicily [19,20], Sardinia [6,18] Cyprus [11], and Greece [12]. Located in central Portugal, the District of Santarém seemed suitable for a prevalence study: harbouring a stable population and a good local health organization.…”

“…Several population studies conducted in recent years in continental Italy [2,7,10,[21][22][23]25], Sardinia [6,16,18], Sicily [13,17,19,20], Cyprus [11], Greece [12], and in Spain [1,5,14,24,26], showed higher than expected prevalence rates for MS. Disease frequency is far from being homogeneous in South Europe: the Mediterranean island of Malta in 1999 showed a low MS prevalence -13.2/100,000 [3], whereas later surveys conducted in the neighbouring island of Sicily show a MS prevalence ranging from 43.3 to 71.2 [13,17,19,20]. Some variability was also reported in continental Italy where surveys estimated MS prevalence rates ranging from 21.5 to 56/100,000 [3], being as high as 94/100,000 in a recent published study conducted in Genoa, northwest Italy [23].…”