Contributions
Abstract: EP1368
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Epidemiology
Background: Few epidemiologic studies have focused on estimating and tracking MS annual incidence in Hispanic populations. Systematic capture of newly diagnosed MS cases is essential to calculate reliable prevalence and incidence rates of MS. The Puerto Rico (PR) MS registry has demonstrated that the incidence rate of MS in our population has a moderate to high risk.
Objective: Document trends in MS incidence over 3 consecutive years in PR.
Methods: A cooperative multicenter initiative and an ongoing MS registry were created in order to ensure the capture of mostly all newly diagnosed MS cases in PR from 2013-2015. A validated standardized questionnaire was designed to gather demographic and MS clinical characteristics. Patients were diagnosed using the 2010 McDonald criteria. All patients were 18 and older and an informed consent was obtained previous to data collection. Data collected was evaluated and analyzed using Stata version 12. Chi-square analyses were used to examine bivariate associations between categorical variables. Student"s t-tests and analyses of variance (ANOVA) were used for continuous variables. The usual 0.05 threshold for Type I error was used for statistical significance.
Results: The MS annual incidence rates for 2013, 2014, and 2015 were 5.5/ 100,000, 6.3/ 100,000, and 4.6/1000, respectively. These results amount to an average of 2-3 new MS cases diagnosed per week. The female-to-male ratio over this time period increased from 2.3:1 to 2.4:1 to 3.0:1. The average age of MS diagnosis was 39.4 (±11.6) but a decreasing trend over time was observed 41.0 (±11.4), 40.3 (±12.1), and 36.3 (±10.7) (p < 0.005).
The decrease in the age of diagnosis of MS cases could be attributed to an increase in the awareness of the disease as well as better access to health care and improved diagnostic capabilities. It can also be attributed to the large group of neurologist working cooperatively within the island to ensure the proper evaluation and diagnosis of MS. These efforts have paved the way for enacting a law that states that all MS cases reported within PR must be enlisted in a mandatory and ongoing registry. These efforts have paved the way for enacting a law that states that all MS cases reported within PR must be enlisted in a mandatory and ongoing registry.
Disclosure: Dr. Chinea is a speaker and consultant for Biogen, Allergan, Novartis, Teva, and Genzymes Sanofi. Dr. Chinea has also received grants from Novartis.
Abstract: EP1368
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Epidemiology
Background: Few epidemiologic studies have focused on estimating and tracking MS annual incidence in Hispanic populations. Systematic capture of newly diagnosed MS cases is essential to calculate reliable prevalence and incidence rates of MS. The Puerto Rico (PR) MS registry has demonstrated that the incidence rate of MS in our population has a moderate to high risk.
Objective: Document trends in MS incidence over 3 consecutive years in PR.
Methods: A cooperative multicenter initiative and an ongoing MS registry were created in order to ensure the capture of mostly all newly diagnosed MS cases in PR from 2013-2015. A validated standardized questionnaire was designed to gather demographic and MS clinical characteristics. Patients were diagnosed using the 2010 McDonald criteria. All patients were 18 and older and an informed consent was obtained previous to data collection. Data collected was evaluated and analyzed using Stata version 12. Chi-square analyses were used to examine bivariate associations between categorical variables. Student"s t-tests and analyses of variance (ANOVA) were used for continuous variables. The usual 0.05 threshold for Type I error was used for statistical significance.
Results: The MS annual incidence rates for 2013, 2014, and 2015 were 5.5/ 100,000, 6.3/ 100,000, and 4.6/1000, respectively. These results amount to an average of 2-3 new MS cases diagnosed per week. The female-to-male ratio over this time period increased from 2.3:1 to 2.4:1 to 3.0:1. The average age of MS diagnosis was 39.4 (±11.6) but a decreasing trend over time was observed 41.0 (±11.4), 40.3 (±12.1), and 36.3 (±10.7) (p < 0.005).
The decrease in the age of diagnosis of MS cases could be attributed to an increase in the awareness of the disease as well as better access to health care and improved diagnostic capabilities. It can also be attributed to the large group of neurologist working cooperatively within the island to ensure the proper evaluation and diagnosis of MS. These efforts have paved the way for enacting a law that states that all MS cases reported within PR must be enlisted in a mandatory and ongoing registry. These efforts have paved the way for enacting a law that states that all MS cases reported within PR must be enlisted in a mandatory and ongoing registry.
Disclosure: Dr. Chinea is a speaker and consultant for Biogen, Allergan, Novartis, Teva, and Genzymes Sanofi. Dr. Chinea has also received grants from Novartis.