Objectives: To determine epidemiological rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) in western Herzegovina.
Patients and methods: We analysed data from 81 MS patients (49 females, 32 males) on the prevalence day, 31 December 2003. Patient information was obtained from a search of all available medical records from the period 1994-2003 in the investigated area.
Results: Crude prevalence of MS was 27/100,000 (95% confidence interval (CI) 20-34). Prevalence was highest in the mountainous municipality of Posusje (56/100,000) and lowest in the coastal municipality of Neum (0 incidence). The annual incidence of MS was 1.6/100,000 (95% CI 0-3.3). The female/male ratio of MS was 1.5. The mean age of the patients on prevalence day was 40.0+/-11.6 years, and the mean age at disease onset was 31.0+/-7.1 years. Eight (10%) of the patients had a first-degree relative with MS. The primary progressive (PP) disease course was observed only in females. Visual symptoms were the initial symptom of MS in 6 (7%) of the patients.
Conclusions: Western Herzegovina is an area of moderate risk for MS, and the distribution of MS in western Herzegovina is heterogeneous. PP-MS occurred only in females, and involvement of the visual pathways as the initial symptom of MS was low.