Epidemiologic survey of multiple sclerosis in the Bucharest city and suburban area

Epidemiologic survey over a restricted area of Romanian territory, i.e. the city of Bucharest with a population of 1,934,052 and a surface of 605 km2, established the following values for the MS parameters studied. On January 5, 1977 the prevalence rate for "probable" and "possible" cases was 46.4 per 100,000 inhabitants and for "probable" cases alone (with certain clinical diagnosis) 41.3 per 100,000. The specific 20- to 60-year age adjusted prevalence rate was 79.4 per 100,000. The incidence rate over the 1969--1976 period was 1.78 per 100,000. The prevalence and incidence rates in this survey are similar to those reported for two other large urban centers of Romania (population over 100,000 each), Romania being therefore situated in a geographical area of "high risk" for MS. The 0.61 per 100,000 nationwide and the 0.65 per 100,000 Bucharest mortality rates are lower than those reported in other geographical areas of "high risk" for MS.