SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS DISEASE IN CHAHARMAHAL VA BAKHTIARI PROVINCE IN 20-YEAR PERIOD

Background and aims: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease of the central nervous system characterized by inflammation, demyelization and axonal damage. The aim of this study was to estimate the amount of spatial prevalence of this disease in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 479 patients with definite diagnosis of MS according to the diagnostic factors of MC Donald WI from 1992 to the end of 2011 were enrolled into the study. The data regarding age, gender, the years of MS diagnosis, and the patients’ address were extracted from their medical files. After gathering of diseases information and location data, it was started to map geographical distribution in the towns and rural regions of the province through calculating the prevalence and standardizing the disease with respect to the population. Mapping was performed in Arc GIS software. For mapping of the disease prevalence, quantitie method was used. Results: Shahrekord (59.7%) and Kuhrang (1%) had the highest and lowest prevalence. In Bazoft, Miankouh, and Monj, no case of MS was observed. The disease prevalence tended to exist in east and northeast of the province. The rate of prevalence in Shahrekord and Lordegan was 87.95 (highest) and 11.84 (lowest) per one hundred thousand people, respectively. Conclusions: The distribution and prevalence of MS in eastern half of the province could be attributed to the presence of large cities such as Shahrekord, Borujen and Farokhshahre. It is likely that MS is a disease being mainly prevalent in urban regions. Moreover, regarding the lower prevalence of disease in cold region in this study, it is necessary to investigate of environmental, locational factors in addition to the population in the next studies.