[Electromyographic diagnosis of 772 patients in the Móstoles Hospital]

There are few references in the literature to demographic data of the disorders most frequently studied by electromyography. Our objective was to obtain a demographic description of the patients usually sent to us for electromyographic studies.

Descriptive and analytical assessment was done of 914 electromyographic diagnoses seen in a sample of 722 patients sent to Mostoles Hospital, referral centre of Health District VIII of the Community of Madrid with an estimated population of 407,836 inhabitants, for conventional electroneurographic and electromyographic studies between May 1995 and February 1996. We recorded data regarding electromyographic diagnosis, localization, intensity, whether the study was for diagnostic purposes or follow-up, medical centre referring the patient, medical speciality sending the patient, clinical impression, age and sex.

The commonest pathology seen was carpal trapping of the median nerve, both in men and in women (three times more frequent in women). There was an estimated incidence of 136 cases per year per 100,000 women and 36 cases per year per 100,000 men (most frequent in patients aged 20-70, with a maximum frequency in those in their fifties). There was marked right sided predominance. The commonest pathology in men was polyneuropathy, with an estimated incidence of 80 cases per 100,000 men and 72 cases per 100,000 women. This was the commonest diagnosis in the patients aged over 70. Mononeuropathy of the legs was most commonly seen in men and in the first twenty years of life.