Multiple sclerosis in Latin America: A different disease course severity? A collaborative study from the MSBase...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Limited data suggest multiple sclerosis (MS) may be less severe in Latin America (LA) compared to other global regions.
• Geographical variations in MS course and severity are not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical course and severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) between Latin America and other major global regions.
• To investigate potential geographical disparities in MS progression.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the MSBase Registry, including over 9600 patients from 18 countries.
• Assessed MS severity using the MS Severity Score (MSSS) for patients with disease duration between 1 and 30 years.
• Compared MSSS values across different regions (North America, Europe, Australia, LA), hemispheres, and individual countries.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences in mean MSSS were observed among patients from Latin America, North America, Europe, or Australia.
• Mean MSSS values were comparable between the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
• Analysis revealed no significant variations in MS severity based on region, hemisphere, or country.

Conclusions:

• The study found no evidence to support the hypothesis that multiple sclerosis (MS) is less severe in Latin America compared to other regions.
• Geographical location does not appear to be a significant determinant of MS severity as measured by MSSS.
• Further research may explore other factors influencing MS course globally.