PREVALENCE AND INCIDENCE OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS IN THE CITY OF BAKU (REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN)

Abstract

Abstract. Introduction. Multiple sclerosis is a common neurological disease that causes inflammation and degeneration in the central nervous system. Globally, there is a growing trend in the prevalence of multiple sclerosis, with various incidences ranging from stable to increasing. Aim. To determine the prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in the city of Baku. Materials and Methods. The study was conducted based on the State program. A total of 535 patients were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis between 2013 and 2019. Of these, 70.1% were female and 29.9% were male. The data was processed by the Statistica for Windows 10 software package using absolute and relative indicators. Results and Discussion. The overall prevalence of multiple sclerosis was 23.3 cases per 100,000 population by 2019. At the same time, the indicator increased in both women and men (from 12.7 to 32.5 in women and from 7.6 to 14.0 in men, respectively). Patients in the age group from 20 to 40 years prevailed over the rest. In the group under 19 years of age, men predominated, and starting from 20 years of age, women predominated. The prevalence of multiple sclerosis among residents of the central areas of the city was higher than in coastal areas, their ratio was 1.4:1.0. The incidence rate remained relatively stable over the study period (2.1–2.9/100,000), while the rate increased from 2.7 to 3.7 in women and decreased from 2.1 to 0.9 in men. Conclusions. The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the city of Baku showed an increasing trend, with the city being classified as a medium-risk zone for MS. The indicator prevailed among women and residents of the central regions of the city. The incidence remained stable due to an increase in the rate among women with a parallel decrease among men. The incidence of MS prevailed in the age range from 20 to 40 years.