Epidemiological investigations into multiple sclerosis in Southern Hesse I.

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Abstract
An epidemiological field-survey on multiple sclerosis (MS) was carried out in the southern part of the state of Hesse (West Germany). Of 472 patients primarily ascertained, 75% could finally be accepted as definite or probable MS cases. Cross-checking of the 3 sources for case-finding (practitioners and specialists, neurological hospital, MS society) revealed that case-finding in all and especially that of definite and probable MS cases was rather complete. The overall prevalence rate was 58.3, the annual incidence 2.15 and the mortality rate 2.0/100,000. Male patients showed a faster course than females. The prevalence in immigrants who mostly originated from Mediterranean countries was significantly lower (14.3/100,000) than the prevalence in the German population (63.1/100,000).