Incidence and prevalence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in an HMO of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

The incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) ranges from 1.7 to 2.3 per 100,000 persons worldwide. Few epidemiological studies have been published in Latin America. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence and prevalence of ALS in an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) of Buenos Aires, capital city of Argentina. The population studied was affiliates of the Italian Hospital Medical Care Program, whose distribution across age and gender strata is similar to the population of Buenos Aires. Cases were detected from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2010. Incidence density (ID) and prevalence for ALS were estimated for the whole period and at 31 December 2010, respectively. During the seven-year study period, the crude ID estimated was 3.17 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI 2.24-4.48) and the age-adjusted ID for the Buenos Aires population was 2.23 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI 1.45-3.01). Point prevalence at 31 December 2010 was 8.86 per 100,000 persons (95% CI 4.05-13.68). Mean age at diagnosis was 72.29 years (SD 8.5). In conclusion, estimated age-adjusted ID and prevalence of ALS were similar to the incidence and prevalence rates found in other geographical areas.

Variation in worldwide incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a meta-analysis

“…For the remaining six articles, a graphical reading of the figure of age-specific incidence was performed to obtain rates 4 , 33 , 35 , 52 , 53 , 59 . The demographic structure of the study population was fully available in 25 cases, 6 , 8 , 10–14 , 37 , 38 , 40 , 41 , 43–50 , 55 , 57 , 58 , 61 , 64 , 65 and in four additional studies the number of subjects for the youngest age groups (0-18) was re-calculated based on national census data 3 , 42 , 51 , 66 . For the other studies ( n = 12), the structure of the population under study was retrieved from national demographic databases 4 , 33–36 , 52–54 , 56 , 59 , 62 , 63 …”

Global Prevalence and Incidence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

“…Average annual crude incidences reported were 0.26 per 100,000 person-years in Ecuador, 42 to 1.40 per 100,000 person-years in Colombia, 43 and 3.17 per 100,000 person-years in Argentina. 44 There were 3 prevalence studies, 1 each, from Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil. Point prevalence was 4.90 per 100,000 in Colombia, 43 5.00 per 100,000 in Brazil, 45 to 8.86 per 100,000 in Argentina.…”

“…Point prevalence was 4.90 per 100,000 in Colombia, 43 5.00 per 100,000 in Brazil, 45 to 8.86 per 100,000 in Argentina. 44 Studies used records from hospitals, clinics, neurologists, and ALS organizations.…”

Prevalence, Incidence, and Clinical-Epidemiological Characterization of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Antioquia: Colombia

“…Thus, it is difficult to compare our results with the ones from other studies in the same geographic region. A recent study from Argentina, with data collected in the period from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2010, reported a crude incidence of 3.17/100,000, and the point prevalence of 8.86/100,000 (95% CI 4.05-13.68) [21]; which is the highest reported prevalence of ALS in Latin America. Apart from this Argentinian study, we report a higher ALS prevalence than other studies including Latin America people.…”

“…In an American study using capture-recapture method, only considering patients with definite ALS, the estimated prevalence was set 4.7 and 5.0/100,000 in 2012 and 2013 respectively [16], results very similar to ours. Prevalence in Latin America countries ranges from 0.9 to 8.86/100,000 inhabitants [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. However, there are significant methodological differences (e.g., some studies used a different diagnostic category for cases se-lection).…”