Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Neurological Sciences
Published in: Neurological Sciences 3/2017

01-03-2017 | Original Article

Estimated prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Italy in 2015

Authors: Mario Alberto Battaglia, Daiana Bezzini

Published in: Neurological Sciences | Issue 3/2017

Login to get access

Abstract

Italy is a high risk area for multiple sclerosis (MS) as confirmed by the numerous prevalence and incidence studies conducted in several regions/districts of the country. Nevertheless, there are no recent published epidemiological data, nor studies about the total prevalence of MS in Italy. Our aim was to update as of 2015 the prevalence rates of MS in different geographical areas using already published epidemiological studies, and to estimate the overall prevalence of the disease in Italy. We made a search in MEDLINE database of all published studies on epidemiology of MS in Italy. Then, we applied, to the already published prevalence data, the last published incidence and mortality rates to recalculate, as of 2015, the prevalence of MS. So, we calculated the mean prevalence rate from our extrapolations, and we applied it to the population in 2015 to estimate the number of MS patients in Italy. Our prevalence extrapolations ranged from 122 to 232 cases/100,000 in the mainland and Sicily, with an average of 176/100,000, and from 280 to 317 cases/100,000 in Sardinia with an average of 299/100,000. Applying these media to the Italian population in 2015, we obtained an estimate of more than 109,000 MS patients in Italy. Our estimates were higher than the latest published rates but consistent with the annual increase of prevalence due to incidence that exceeds mortality, with the increase of survival and, maybe, with the probable increase of incidence.
Literature
1.
Pugliatti M, Rosati G, Carton H et al (2006) The epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Europe. Eur J Neurol 13:700–722CrossRefPubMed
2.
3.
Rosati G (2001) The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the world: an update. Neurol Sci 22:117–139CrossRefPubMed
4.
5.
Gajofatto A, Stefani A, Turatti M et al (2013) Prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Verona, Italy: an epidemiological and genetic study. Eur J Neurol 20(4):697–703CrossRefPubMed
6.
Puthenparampil M, Seppi D, Rinaldi F, Multiple Sclerosis Epidemiology Veneto Study Group (MuSEV) et al (2013) Increased incidence of multiple sclerosis in the Veneto region. Italy. Mult Scler 19(5):601–604CrossRefPubMed
7.
Granieri E, Economou NT, De Gennaro R et al (2007) Multiple sclerosis in the province of Ferrara. Evidence for an increasing trend. J Neurol 254:1642–1648CrossRefPubMed
8.
Grimaldi L, Palmeri B, Salemi G et al (2007) High prevalence and fast rising incidence of multiple sclerosis in Caltanisetta, Sicily, Southern Italy. Neuroepid 28(1):28–32CrossRef
9.
10.
Sironi L, D’Alessandro G, Corso G, Botacchi E (1997) Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Valle d’Aosta, Italy. Mult Scler 3:283
11.
Bellantonio P, Iuliano G, Di Blasio F, Ruggieri S (2013) Prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in Campobasso (Molise region chieftown, southern Italy). Clin Neur Neurosur 115(9):1806–1808CrossRef
12.
Bergamaschi R, Montomoli C, Candeloro E, PREMS (Pavia REgister of Multiple Sclerosis) Group et al (2006) Bayesian mapping of multiple sclerosis prevalence in the province of Pavia, northern Italy. J Neurol Sci 244:127–131CrossRefPubMed
13.
Nardi PG (1979) Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in the province of Venezia. Riv Patol Nerv Ment 100(3):121–142PubMed
14.
Ghizzoni P, Bortone E, Bettoni L (1987) Prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in the province of Parma, 1965–1980. Preliminary data. Acta Biomed Ateneo Parmense 58(1–2):33–40PubMed
15.
Rosati G, Granieri E, Carreras M, Tola R (1980) A prevalence study in the sociosanitary district of Copparo, Northern Italy. Acta Neurol Scand 62:244–249CrossRefPubMed
16.
Guidetti D, Cavalletti S, Merelli E et al (1995) Epidemiological survey of multiple sclerosis in the provinces of Reggio Emilia and Modena, Italy. Neuroepidemiology 14:7–13CrossRefPubMed
17.
Granieri E, Monaldini C, De Gennaro R et al (2008) Multiple sclerosis in the Republic of San Marino: a prevalence and incidence study. Mult Scler 14(3):325–329CrossRefPubMed
18.
Solaro C, Ponzio M, Moran E et al (2015) The changing face of multiple sclerosis: prevalence and incidence in an aging population. Mult Scler 21(10):1244–1250CrossRefPubMed
19.
Granieri E, Casetta I, Tola MR (1995) Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Italy and in southern Europe. Acta Neurol Scand S161:60–70CrossRef
20.
Iuliano G, Napoletano R (2008) Prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in Salerno (southern Italy) and its province. Eur J Neurol 15:73–76PubMed
21.
Ragonese P, Salemi G, D’Amelio M, Gammino M, Aridon P, Savettieri G (2004) Multiple sclerosis in Southern Europe: Monreale City, Italy. Neuroepidemiology 23(6):306–309CrossRefPubMed
22.
Salemi G, Ragonese P, Aridon P et al (2000) Incidence of multiple sclerosis in Bagheria City, Sicily, Italy. Neurol Sci 21(6):361–365CrossRefPubMed
23.
Grimaldi LME, Salemi G, Grimaldi G et al (2001) High incidence and increasing prevalence of MS in Enna (Sicily), southern Italy. Neurology 57:1891–1893CrossRefPubMed
24.
Nicoletti A, Patti F, Lo Fermo S et al (2011) Increasing frequency of Multiple Sclerosis in Catania, Sicily: a 30-year survey. Mult Scler 17(3):273–280CrossRefPubMed
25.
Nicoletti A, Bruno E, Nania M et al (2013) Multiple sclerosis in the Mount Etna region: possible role of volcanogenic trace elements. PLoS One 8(12):e74259CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
26.
Nicoletti A, Patti F, Lo Fermo S et al (2009) A possible spatial and temporal cluster of multiple sclerosis in the town of Linguaglossa, Sicily: an update. Mult Scler 15(1):129–130CrossRefPubMed
27.
Pugliatti M, Cossu P, Sotgiu S, Rosati G, Riise T (2009) Clustering of multiple sclerosis, age of onset and gender in Sardinia. J Neurol Sci 286:6–13CrossRefPubMed
28.
Rosati G, Aiello I, Pirastru MI et al (1987) Sardinia, a high-risk area for multiple sclerosis: a prevalence and incidence study in the district of Alghero. Ann Neurol 21(2):190–194CrossRefPubMed
29.
Cocco E, Sardu C, Massa R et al (2011) Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in south-western Sardinia. Mult Scler 17(11):1282–1289CrossRefPubMed
30.
Sardu C, Cocco E, Mereu A et al (2012) Population based study of 12 autoimmune diseases in Sardinia, Italy: prevalence and comorbidity. PLoS One 7(3):e32487CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
31.
Pugliatti M, Riise T, Sotgiu MA et al (2005) Increasing incidence of multiple sclerosis in the Province of Sassari, Northern Sardinia. Neuroepidemiology 25(3):129–134CrossRefPubMed
32.
Granieri E, Casetta I, Govoni V et al (2000) The increasing incidence and prevalence of MS in a Sardinian province. Neurology 55(6):842–847CrossRefPubMed
33.
Granieri E, Rosati G, Tola R et al (1983) The frequency of multiple sclerosis in Mediterranean Europe. An incidence and prevalence study in Barbagia, Sardinia, insular Italy. Acta Neurol Scand 68:84–89CrossRefPubMed
34.
Savettieri G, Salemi G, Ragonese P, Aridon P, Scola G, Randisi G (1998) Prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in the city of Monreale, Italy. J Neurol 245(1):40–43CrossRefPubMed
35.
Dean G, Grimaldi G, Kelly R et al (1979) Multiple sclerosis in southern Europe. I: prevalence in Sicily in 1975. J Epidemiol Community Health 33:107–110CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
36.
Casetta I, Granieri E, Marchi D et al (1998) An epidemiological study of multiple sclerosis in central Sardinia, Italy. Acta Neurol Scand 98(6):391–394CrossRefPubMed
37.
Tassinari T, Parodi S, Badino R, Vercelli M (2001) Mortality trend for multiple sclerosis in Italy (1974–1993). Eur J Epidem 17(2):105–110CrossRef
38.
39.
Bezzini D, Policardo L, Meucci G et al (2015) Prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Tuscany (Central Italy): a study based on validated administrative data. Neuroepidemiology 46(1):37–42CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Estimated prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Italy in 2015
Authors
Mario Alberto Battaglia
Daiana Bezzini
Publication date
01-03-2017
Publisher
Springer Milan
Published in
Neurological Sciences / Issue 3/2017
Print ISSN: 1590-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1590-3478
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-016-2801-9

Other articles of this Issue 3/2017

Neurological Sciences 3/2017 Go to the issue

Letter to the Editor

Cavernous sinus syndrome due to neurosarcoidosis in adolescence: a diagnosis not to be missed

Letter to the Editor

Phenotypic variability of TTR Val122Ile mutation: a Caucasian patient with axonal neuropathy and normal heart

History of Neurology

Rediagnosing one of Smith’s patients (John McCann) with “neuromas tumours” (1849)

Letter to the Editor

Preserved ability to cycle in patient with progressive supranuclear palsy–parkinsonism

Letter to the Editor

Human herpes virus 6 brainstem encephalitis in a patient with primary macroglobulinemia

Original Article

F-wave of single firing motor units: correct or misleading criterion of motoneuron excitability in humans?