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Increasing Incidence of MS in Puerto Rico
Neuroepidemiology; 2017 Nov; Chinea, et al
Multiple sclerosis (MS) incidence estimates for Puerto Rico (PR) were higher than other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) but consistent with MS increases in other world regions, a recent study found. This study examined trends of MS incidence over 4 years and to provide age- and gender-standardized incidence rate estimates for a Caribbean island. Data from the PR MS Foundation’s registry was used to identify all newly diagnosed MS cases between 2013 and 2016. MS patients were aged ≥18 years and met the 2010 revised McDonald criteria. Researchers found:
- A total of 583 new MS cases were diagnosed in PR from 2013 to 2016.
- The age- and gender-standardized MS incidence rate for PR increased from 6.1/100,000 in 2013 to 6.7/100,000 in 2016.
- The annual age-standardized MS incidence rates for females rose from 8.4/100,000 in 2013 to 9.8/100,000 in 2016 and were higher than males, which remained around 3.7/100,000.
Chinea A, Ríos-Bedoya CF, Vicente I, et al. Increasing incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Puerto Rico (2013–2016). Neuroepidemiology. 2017;49:106-112. doi:10.1159/000484090.