Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Kuwait: new trends in incidence and
prevalence.
_Alshubaili AF_
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term="Alshubaili%20AF"[Author]&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_Res
ultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus) , _Alramzy K_
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term="Alramzy%20K"[Author]&itool=EntrezSystem
2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus) , _Ayyad YM_
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term="Ayyad%20YM"[A
uthor]&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstrac
tPlus) , _Gerish Y_
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term="Gerish%20Y"[Author]&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_Resu
ltsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus) .
Department of Neurology, Ibn Sina Hospital, Safat, Kuwait.
alshubaili@hotmail.com
The epidemiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) is undergoing dramatic changes;
MS is occurring with increased frequency in many parts of the world. In this
retrospective study, we examined the changes in incidence and prevalence of
MS in Kuwait in the period between 1993 and 2000. We analyzed the records of
patients with clinically defined and laboratory supported MS. The total
incidence rate increased from 1.05/100,000 population in 1993 to 2.62/100,000 in
2000. The increased incidence of MS was most pronounced among Kuwaiti women
(from 2.26/100,000 in 1993 to 7.79/100,000 in 2000. The total prevalence rate
increased from 6.68/100,000 in 1993 to 14.77/100,000 in 2000. It was much
higher for Kuwaitis (31.15/100,000), as compared to non-Kuwaitis (5.55/ 100,000),
in a complete reversal of the pattern observed before 1990. The prevalence
was also higher among Kuwaiti women (35.54/100,000), as compared with Kuwaiti
men (26.65/100,000). In conclusion, the incidence and prevalence of MS in
Kuwait has increased between the early and late 1990s with no signs of leveling
off. In a geographic area that was previously associated with low prevalence,
local environmental factors may be responsible for these dramatic changes.
PMID: 15860917 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]