Increasing Incidence of MS in Puerto Rico

Neuroepidemiology; 2017 Nov; Chinea, et al
December 5, 2017

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.

Citation:
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.