BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) has a unique geographical distribution that reflects both genetic and environmental factors. Many studies have shown a positive correlation between MS frequency and latitude across both large and small geographical regions. However, scarce data have been published on the epidemiology of MS in Latin America and no study has evaluated latitudinal variation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of latitude on MS prevalence in Latin America. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of MS prevalence during January 2011. Prevalence rates were collected from eligible publications. The effect of latitude on prevalence was analyzed using linear regression. RESULTS: A total of ten studies were eligible for analysis, corresponding to six countries, spanning from Panama to Argentina. The crude prevalence of MS ranged from 0.75 to 21.5 per 100,000. We found a strong and significant association between prevalence and latitude (r(2) 0.8; p < 0.001) and determined an increase in prevalence of 0.33 per 100,000 per degree latitude. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a latitudinal prevalence gradient of MS in Latin American countries between Panama and Argentina.
BACKGROUND:Multiple sclerosis (MS) has a unique geographical distribution that reflects both genetic and environmental factors. Many studies have shown a positive correlation between MS frequency and latitude across both large and small geographical regions. However, scarce data have been published on the epidemiology of MS in Latin America and no study has evaluated latitudinal variation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of latitude on MS prevalence in Latin America. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of MS prevalence during January 2011. Prevalence rates were collected from eligible publications. The effect of latitude on prevalence was analyzed using linear regression. RESULTS: A total of ten studies were eligible for analysis, corresponding to six countries, spanning from Panama to Argentina. The crude prevalence of MS ranged from 0.75 to 21.5 per 100,000. We found a strong and significant association between prevalence and latitude (r(2) 0.8; p < 0.001) and determined an increase in prevalence of 0.33 per 100,000 per degree latitude. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a latitudinal prevalence gradient of MS in Latin American countries between Panama and Argentina.
Authors: Benedito Mauro Rossi; Edenir Inêz Palmero; Francisco López-Kostner; Carlos Sarroca; Carlos Alberto Vaccaro; Florencia Spirandelli; Patricia Ashton-Prolla; Yenni Rodriguez; Henrique de Campos Reis Galvão; Rui Manuel Reis; André Escremim de Paula; Luis Gustavo Capochin Romagnolo; Karin Alvarez; Adriana Della Valle; Florencia Neffa; Pablo German Kalfayan; Enrique Spirandelli; Sergio Chialina; Melva Gutiérrez Angulo; Maria Del Carmen Castro-Mujica; Julio Sanchez de Monte; Richard Quispe; Sabrina Daniela da Silva; Norma Teresa Rossi; Claudia Barletta-Carrillo; Susana Revollo; Ximena Taborga; L Lena Morillas; Hélène Tubeuf; Erika Maria Monteiro-Santos; Tamara Alejandra Piñero; Constantino Dominguez-Barrera; Patrik Wernhoff; Alexandra Martins; Eivind Hovig; Pål Møller; Mev Dominguez-Valentin Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2017-09-05 Impact factor: 4.430
Authors: Regina Maria Papais-Alvarenga; Claudia Cristina Ferreira Vasconcelos; Adriana Carra; Ibis Soto de Castillo; Sara Florentin; Fernando Hamuy Diaz de Bedoya; Raul Mandler; Luiza Campanella de Siervi; Maria Lúcia Vellutini Pimentel; Marina Papais Alvarenga; Marcos Papais Alvarenga; Anderson Kuntz Grzesiuk; Ana Beatriz Calmon Gama Pereira; Antonio Pereira Gomes Neto; Carolina Velasquez; Carlos Soublette; Cynthia Veronica Fleitas; Denise Sisteroli Diniz; Elizabeth Armas; Elizabeth Batista; Freda Hernandez; Fernanda Ferreira Chaves da Costa Pereira; Heloise Helena Siqueira; Hideraldo Cabeça; Jose Sanchez; Joseph Bruno Bidin Brooks; Marcus Vinicius Gonçalves; Maria Cristina Del Negro Barroso; Maria Elena Ravelo; Maria Carlota Castillo; Maria Lúcia Brito Ferreira; Maria Sheila Guimarães Rocha; Monica Koncke Fiuza Parolin; Omaira Molina; Patricia Beatriz Christino Marinho; Paulo Pereira Christo; Renata Brant de Souza; Silvio Pessanha Neto; Solange Maria das Graças Camargo; Suzana Costa Machado; Vanderson Carvalho Neri; Yara Dadalti Fragoso; Helcio Alvarenga; Luiz Claudio Santos Thuler Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-07-29 Impact factor: 3.240