Prevalence of multiple sclerosis in an urban population of Sivas province in Turkey

Abstract

Background/aim: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common neurological disorder that can be a leading cause of nontraumatic disability inseveral countries. Recent reports have indicated a moderate to high risk of MS in European countries. In this study, we examined theprevalence of MS in a well-defined urban population of provincial center in Sivas Province in Turkey.Materials and methods: This study sampled all registered residents of urban areas of provincial center in Sivas Province in April 2017and 2018 January. All the included patients met the McDonald 2010 criteria. Medical records were reviewed, including all availablepreviously acquired magnetic resonance imaging data. All patients were subsequently subjected to neurologic examination to confirmthe MS diagnosis.Results: We identified 21 possible MS patients, with MS diagnosis confirmed in 19. The prevalence of MS was 288 per 100,000 inhabitants.Conclusion: For future studies, these high ratio results can be used in regional and national comparisons to determine cofactorscontributing to the high prevalence of MS in our region and can help health-decision makers to better plan healthcare policies toimprove neurological services and awareness about multifaceted clinical presentations of MS.