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Epidemiologic trends of multiple sclerosis in Puerto Rico (2013-2020)

Angel Chinea1, Carlos F Ríos-Bedoya2, Ivonne Vicente3

  • 1San Juan MS Center, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico; San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto Rico; Puerto Rico Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico; School of Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, Puerto Rico.

Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
|December 22, 2022
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Multiple sclerosis (MS) rates in Puerto Rico remain high, with prevalence increasing. Incidence saw a slight decrease, though male MS rates rose while female rates declined.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Previous research indicates higher multiple sclerosis (MS) incidence and prevalence in Puerto Rico (PR) compared to other Caribbean and Latin American nations.
  • This study aims to update epidemiologic trends for MS in PR between 2017 and 2020, comparing them with earlier data from 2013-2016.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide updated epidemiological data on multiple sclerosis (MS) incidence and prevalence in Puerto Rico.
  • To compare recent MS rates (2017-2020) with historical data (2013-2016).

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Puerto Rico Multiple Sclerosis (PRMS) Foundation registry data for newly diagnosed MS cases from January 2017 to December 2020.
  • Included 568 adult MS patients (406 female, 162 male) residing in PR who met the 2017 revised McDonald criteria.
  • Estimated age- and sex-standardized incidence rates.

Main Results:

  • A total of 568 new MS cases were diagnosed between 2017-2020.
  • The 2020 cumulative MS prevalence reached 95.3/100,000, an increase from previous reports.
  • Age- and sex-standardized MS incidence decreased slightly from 6.5/100,000 in 2017 to 6.3/100,000 in 2020, with rates declining in females but increasing in males.

Conclusions:

  • MS incidence and prevalence rates in Puerto Rico are among the highest in the Caribbean and Latin America.
  • A notable peak in MS incidence occurred post-Hurricane María (2018), with a subsequent decline during the initial COVID-19 pandemic year (2020).
  • Further research is warranted to explore potential causal links between these natural events and observed fluctuations in MS incidence.
Keywords:
Caribbean, Hispanic/LatinoEpidemiologyIncidenceMultiple sclerosisPrevalencePuerto Rico

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