Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Belo Horizont, Brazil between 2010 and 2020: a clinical epidemiological study

Abstract

Objective: To describe the clinical profile of individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) from a reference hospital in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Method: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study with data collection from electronic medical records of individuals with a defined diagnosis of ALS between 2010 and 2020, in the Muscular Dystrophies reference sector of a hospital in a Brazilian capital. Results: A total of 103 individuals with ALS were included, with a mean age of 60±12 years, mean diagnostic age 56±12 years, and mean time of disease progression of 3±3 years. Furthermore, 70% were male, 88% with sporadic ALS, with a similar bulbar involvement between mild (32%), moderate (27%) and severe (28%), and with a higher rate of diagnosis from 50 to 70 years of age. Conclusion: The epidemiological data from this study are very similar to those in the literature. However, the heterogeneity of the disease, the complexity of the diagnosis and the diversity of forms that each study brings to the disease, and especially the rapid progression, make a more extensive picture difficult to be discussed. Tracing this profile is important for a more focused clinic and a more adequate management, and for that, further studies are needed.