Epidemiologic variables in Multiple sclerosis patients in Zanjan

Introduction: After trauma, multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common cause of disability in ‎young adults. Epidemiologic findings provide health care managers with vast information.‎  Objective: Study was designed to determine some of the Epidemiologic variables in MS ‎Patients in Zanjan hospitals in ‎‏2007‏‎. ‎ Methods: In this descriptive study, all ‎‏96‏‎ MS patients were chosen and data were collected ‎by phone and a questionnaire consisted of demographic characteristics, history of MS in ‎family members, age of first admission, chief compliant, number and season of admission, ‎total cost of hospitalization and use of Avonex and Rebife at home.‎ Results: Mean age of samples was ‎‏33.5‏‎ years and duration of illness was ‎‏6.2‏‎ years. Majority ‎‎(‎‏66.6%‏‎) was female, married (‎‏77.8%‏‎), lived in Zanjan city (‎‏72.9%‏‎), owned house (‎‏74%‏‎), ‎unemployed (‎‏74%‏‎) and had familial history of MS (‎‏7.3%‏‎). The ratio of disease in women to men ‎was ‎‏2.7‏‎ to ‎‏1‏‎. Treatment cost in ‎‏46.9%‏‎ of samples was between ‎‏100-250‏‎ thousands Tomans and ‎‏34.4%‏‎ use medications such as Avonex and Rebife. ‎ Conclusion: MS is not uncommon in Zanjan. In order to improve the lives of these patients, ‎more comprehensive information regarding their clinical and demographic aspects are needed. ‎