Multiple sclerosis prevalence in Malaga, Southern Spain estimated by the capture–recapture method

Background: Although not definitively proven, there is commonly accepted to be a latitudinal gradient in the distribution of multiple sclerosis (MS), which is more frequent in temperate zones. The European Mediterranean countries are situated in a zone of median frequency, although ever increasing figures have been noted in the last decades.Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the current prevalence rate of MS in the province of Malaga, Southern Spain.Methods: The capture–recapture method (CRM) uses independent sources of data and permits the number of non-registered cases of a given disease to be estimated, and by doing so, to avoid ascertainment bias.Results: Use of this method showed the estimated prevalence rate of MS in the province of Malaga, Southern Spain, to be 125/105 (95% confidence interval: 102/105–169/105), higher than the figures published previously.Conclusions: Although we recognize that these data need to be confirmed in further studies and in other areas of the country u...