Clinical and Epidemiological Study of Multiple Sclerosis in Svoge and Troyan

Authors

  • Antonia Nikolova Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Ivan Milanov University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment of Neurology and Psychiatry “St. Naum” – Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Ksenia Kmetska University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment of Neurology and Psychiatry “St. Naum” – Sofia, Bulgaria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7546/CRABS.2024.10.17

Keywords:

epidemiology, multiple sclerosis, prevalence, incidence

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune, demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous  system. It is characterized by various symptoms depending on the area affected – brain, spinal cord or optic nerves. Multiple sclerosis typically presents at age 20–40 years and affects women more often than men. It is the most frequent nontraumatic disease causing neurologic deficit among young people. According to the 3rd edition of Atlas of MS, published by The Multiple Sclerosis International Federation in 2020, there are 2.8 million people living with the disease around the world. The last study on the epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Bulgaria was published in 1999. It  estimated prevalence of 44.5/100 000 and incidence 1.03/100 000.

We present an epidemiological study conducted between January 2016 and December 2020 in two small areas in Bulgaria with homogenous and stable population – Svoge and Troyan. The estimated prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Troyan was 116.5/100 000 with incidence of 28.2/100 000. The prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in Svoge were 117.7/100 000 and 24.5/100 000, respectively. The reason for the higher prevalence and incidence rates in our study may be explained by the better diagnosis of the disease according to well defined diagnostic criteria, the longer survival of the affected individuals and the availability of various disease modifying therapies.

Author Biographies

Antonia Nikolova, Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria

Mailing Address:
Department of Neurology,
Medical Faculty, Medical University Sofia,
15 Ivan Evstratiev Geshov Blvd, 1431, Sofia Bulgaria

E-mail: antoniq.gnk@gmail.com

Ivan Milanov, University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment of Neurology and Psychiatry “St. Naum” – Sofia, Bulgaria

Mailing Address:
Department of Multiple Sclerosis,
University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment
of Neurology and Psychiatry “St. Naum” Sofia,
1 Lyuben Rusev St, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

E-mail: milanovivan54@gmail.com

Ksenia Kmetska, University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment of Neurology and Psychiatry “St. Naum” – Sofia, Bulgaria

Mailing Address:
Department of Multiple Sclerosis,
University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment
of Neurology and Psychiatry “St. Naum” Sofia,
1 Lyuben Rusev St, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

E-mail: kkmetska@yahoo.com

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Published

29-10-2024

How to Cite

[1]
A. Nikolova, I. Milanov, and K. Kmetska, “Clinical and Epidemiological Study of Multiple Sclerosis in Svoge and Troyan”, C. R. Acad. Bulg. Sci., vol. 77, no. 10, pp. 1560–1566, Oct. 2024.

Issue

Section

Medicine