Epidemiological features of multiple sclerosis in the republic of Bashkortostan

Aim. To conduct a retrospective study of the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) and use of "drugs that change the course of multiple sclerosis" in the Republic of Bashkortostan (RB) for 2014–2018.

Materials and methods. The analysis of the prevalence of MS in the Republic of Bashkortostan according to annual reports of neurological service of outpatient and inpatient hospitals of cities and districts of the Republic of Bashkortostan for 2014–2018 years. The data on dispensary examination of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of MS as well as those received from Medical Information and Analytical Center (MIAC) were analyzed.

Results. The prevalence of MS in Bashkortostan during the study period ranged from 47.9 to 61.9 cases per 100 thousand of the population that was recorded mostly in the Central and Eastern regions of the Republic. According to gender features, women predominated in relation to men – about 2:1. The mean age of patients ranged from 42.21 ± 0.61 years to 47.6 ± 10.83 years. The majority of patients (71.8 %), who were prescribed the drugs that change the course of multiple sclerosis, had a remitting form of the disease and 28.2 % had a secondary progressive form. Pathogenetic therapy of MS for the analyzed period of 2014-2018 was used for all MS patients on the basis of preferential drug provision.

Conclusion. Improvement of the quality of care, rendered to MS patients, is closely related to early diagnosis of the disease, the optimization of pharmacotherapy on the basis of modern approaches to the treatment of various forms of this disease according to clinical guidelines and standard management of MS patients. The solution of this problem requires systemic organizational approaches and formation of specialized service for MS patients.