Clinical characteristics of multiple sclerosis in Västerbotten County in northern Sweden
- 1Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden
- 2Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University Hospital
- Correspondence to: Dr Peter Sundström Department of Neurology, Umeå University Hospital, S-901 85 Umeå, Sweden; peter.sundstromneuro.umu.se
- Received 18 February 2003
- Accepted 25 September 2003
- Revised 24 September 2003
Abstract
Background: Most clinical data for multiple sclerosis are hospital based—that is, derived from patients referred to clinics specialising in the disease.
Objectives: To present data derived from two population based multiple sclerosis populations, an incidence cohort and a prevalence population, from Västerbotten County, northern Sweden.
Methods: The two populations were identified from multiple sources, and case ascertainment was assured through a personal clinical review, including interviews and examination of the patients.
Results: Characteristics at onset for the different clinical subtypes of multiple sclerosis are presented, including the clinical spectrum of the first attack, the anatomical correlation between the first and second attacks, sex distribution, and disability distribution.
Conclusions: Based on the comparison of present and earlier natural history data, multiple sclerosis appears to be a slightly more benign disease than previously recognised.
- DSS, disability status scale
- EDSS, expanded disability status scale
- PPMS, primary progressive multiple sclerosis
- PRMS, progressive relapsing multiple sclerosis
- RRMS, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
- SPMS, secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
Footnotes
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Competing interests: none declared
