Author/Authors :
Ghajarzadeh, Mahsa Multiple Sclerosis Research Center - Neuroscience Institute - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Foroushani, Abbas R Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics - School of Public Health, Tehran, Iran , Ghezelbash, Parviz Department of Radiology - Vali‑e‑asr Hospital - Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran , Ghoreishi, Abdoreza Department of Neurology -, Vali‑e‑asr Hospital - Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran , Maghbooli, Mehdi Department of Neurology -, Vali‑e‑asr Hospital - Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran , Yousefi, Mehran Department of Neurology -, Vali‑e‑asr Hospital - Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran , Rahgoshai, Babak K Department of Neurology -, Vali‑e‑asr Hospital - Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran , Maemodan, Farhad G Department of Neurology -, Vali‑e‑asr Hospital - Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran , Mohammadifar, Mehdi Department of Radiology - Vali‑e‑asr Hospital - Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran , Sahraian, Mohammad A Multiple Sclerosis Research Center - Neuroscience Institute - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
Background: The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) varies in different geographical regions
and has dramatically increased in Iran. Revealing the high prevalence rate draws the attention of
policymakers and helps them allocate necessary resources. The aim of this study is to determine
the prevalence of MS in Zanjan province of Iran. Methods: We included all registered residents of
Zanjan province with MS on the prevalence day (July 31, 2019). All cases met the McDonald criteria.
All registered cases in Zanjan MS society were identified as index cases. Data regarding patient’s
national code, gender, age, age at the first symptom onset, city of residence, marital status, education
level, occupation, ethnicity, family history of MS and the time span between symptom’s onset and
disease diagnosis were recorded. Results: We identified 758 patients, 551 of whom (72.7%) were
female. The mean age at the first symptom onset was 28.9 ±8.7 years old. The crude prevalence
was 71.6 per 100,000 population (95% CI 66.6–76.9). The disease was most prevalent in Zanjan
city (100.5 per 100,000). The gender‑specific prevalence per 100,000 population was 105.4 for
women (95% CI: 96.8–114.6) and 38.7 for men (95% CI: 33.6–44.1), with female to male ratio of
2.6. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was calculated as expected/observed for both men and
women as 2.3 (207/88.2) (551/234.1). Conclusions: Our data confirm that the MS prevalence rate is
high in Zanjan province of Iran.
