Multiple sclerosis in the Republic of Tatarstan: epidemiological and clinical characteristics

Abstract

The purpose — to clarify the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the Republic of Tatarstan (RT). Material and methods. A retrospective analysis of the register of MS patients in RT from 2015 to 2019 was carried out. The sample size was 2351 patients. The type of MS course, disease duration, clinical characteristics, including EDSS and MSSS scores, used by disease modifying therapies (DMT) were analyzed. Results and conclusions. The prevalence of MS in RT continues to grow and has increased by 29% over a 5-year period (from 46,6 to 60,3 per 100,000 population in 2015 and 2019, respectively). The incidence has relatively stabilized and averages 4,2 cases per 100,000 population per year. The dominant type of MS course in RT is remitting (51,3%), patients with progressive forms account for 48,7%, including those with primary progressive MS (6,9%). In RT, a positive tendency towards a more favorable course of the disease with a decrease in the degree of patients’ disability was traced, mainly due to early diagnosis and timely prescription of adequate treatment with DMT. The problem of timely diagnosis of MS in children and adolescents and in the primary progressive course of MS remains.