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Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in Barrhead County, Alberta, Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

Sharon Warren*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (S.W.), and the Multiple Sclerosis Patient Care and Research Clinic (K.G.W.), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
K.G. Warren*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (S.W.), and the Multiple Sclerosis Patient Care and Research Clinic (K.G.W.), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
*
Associate Professor, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, Room 329, Corbett Hall, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G4
Associate Professor, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, Room 329, Corbett Hall, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G4
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Abstract:

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A prevalence study of multiple sclerosis (MS) was carried out in the town of Barrhead and surrounding county of Barrhead, in Alberta, Canada. The prevalence rate for clinically probable/definite multiple sclerosis on January 1, 1990 was 196/100,000. The average annual incidence rates for patients living in the area at onset were 1.31/100,000 for 1950–59, 4.97/100,000 for 1960–69, 3.77/100,000 for 1970–79, and 4.22/100,000 for 1980–89. Fifty per cent of the patients were relapsing-remitting. Sixty per cent were still walking without assistance. The female-to-male ratio was 1:1. Mean current age, age at onset and duration of illness were 49, 27 and 22 years respectively. The majority of patients (40%) experienced multiple symptom onset. Fifty per cent were of single ethnic origin (either British or German); the rest were predominantly North European combinations. Forty per cent of patients reported another MS relative. MS had affected the work status of 60% of the patients, 15% of whom were confined to an extended care centre.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1992

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