Hamad Medical Corporation

Author Of 1 Presentation

Epidemiology Poster Presentation

P0469 - Increasing prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Qatar: 27-year data (ID 131)

Speakers
Presentation Number
P0469
Presentation Topic
Epidemiology

Abstract

Background

The State of Qatar is located on the eastern side of the Arabian peninsula. Free health care service for all Qatari nationals is the cornerstone of the health care program. Following diagnosis all multiple sclerosis (MS) patients receive their treatment and follow-up in our neurology service, the only tertiary referral governmental hospital for MS in Qatar. In 2010, the crude calculated prevalence of MS in the Qatari population was estimated at 64.57/100,000.

Objectives

To reassess the prevalence and demographic characteristics of patients with MS in Qatar almost one decade after our previous publication and to address the temporal trend of the prevalence in the local population.

Methods

Analysis of patients diagnosed with MS in Qatar (according to Poser criteria or the 2005 McDonald criteria) during a 27-year period (1990 thru 2017). Demographics and clinical characteristics were collected retrospectively from hospital records. Population data were obtained from the governmental websites. The study was approved by our Medical Research and Ethics Committee 17296/17.

Results

Seven hundred thirteen patients fulfilled the criteria of MS; 452 female and 261 men (F/M ratio 1.73). The majority of MS patients were non-Qatari nationals (418 (58.6%)) vs. 294 (41.2%) Qataris. The mean (SD) age in the overall population was 37.5 (SD+10.4) years. MS rates were highest among 31-40 year-olds (40%) and decreased with increasing age. The crude calculated prevalence of MS in 2017 was 27 per 100,000 in the total population. The prevalence in the Qatari population was 93.76 (83.65-105.11) per 100,000 which corresponds with an increase of 45% during the period between 2010 and 2017. In addition there was a significant increase in female/male ratio from 1.33 in 2010 to 1.73 in 2017.

Conclusions

Qatar could be considered as an area with a medium to high risk of MS. Furthermore compared with 2010 there is a sharp increase in prevalence in MS in the local population with increased risk in female population.

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