Multiple Sclerosis in Sharkia Governorate through Patients Attending Zagazig University Multiple Sclerosis Unit.

Background: Epidemiology of MS in Sharkia is not properly recognized. Clinical evaluation including demographic, laboratory and radiological features of MS patients will help to achieve better understanding of the distribution of disease for a good management that offers better quality of life. This clinical study aims at detection and evaluation of multiple sclerosis patients in Sharkia Governorate in Egypt. Methods: This was a retrospective, observational study undertaken in the period between January 2021 and July 2021 in the multiple sclerosis unit (MSU), outpatient clinics of the neurology department, Zagazig University Hospitals. Medical records of all patients were reviewed and data were identified and extracted. Any patient not from or living outside Sharkia Governorate had excluded. Results: The total number of patients recorded in MSU was 258 patients. Female to male ratio was 2.03:1. The mean age (± SD) of onset of the disease was 27 (± 4.3). Family history of MS was reported in 1.94% of patients. RRMS was the most common MS type in our study (77.1%). The overall are suffering from motor symptoms (22.48%), followed by the visual (20.5%) then sensory symptoms (17%). The mean (± SD) EDSS score of our patients was 2.17 (±1.87). Conclusion: This is the first MS register from Sharkia Governorate. The frequency of MS in Sharkia Governorate is 3.376 / 100,000 population. The most common type is RRMS, and the motor symptoms are the most frequent presenting symptoms. Our results are comparable to the results of other literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]