Recorded diagnosis-based incidence and point prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Azerbaijan between 2013 and 2022: Estimates from a national referral center registry

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to estimate the diagnosis-based incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Azerbaijan between 2013 and 2022 and the recorded point prevalence as of December 31, 2022, using data from the centralized registry of the national referral center and to evaluate differences according to age, sex, and place of residence.

Patients and methods: This registry-based observational study included residents of Azerbaijan who were assessed for suspected MS or reconfirmation of a previous diagnosis between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2022. Diagnosis or reconfirmation was based on the national clinical protocol aligned with the 2010 and 2017 McDonald criteria. Newly diagnosed patients were included in the recorded diagnosis-based incidence analyses, whereas surviving patients with confirmed or reconfirmed MS on December 31, 2022, were included in the recorded point prevalence analyses. Crude, age-specific, and age-standardized rates were calculated using official population denominators and the world and European standard populations.

Results: Among 2,006 assessed individuals, MS was confirmed or reconfirmed in 1,796 patients; 1,411 (mean age: 34.47 years; range, 15 to 66 years) were newly diagnosed, and 1,753 (mean age: 41.53 years; range, 18 to 73 years) were alive on December 31, 2022. Females accounted for 65.7% of confirmed cases, with a female-to-male ratio of 1.92:1, and 66.4% were urban residents. The mean annual crude recorded diagnosis-based incidence was 1.44 per 100,000 person-years. Recorded incidence peaked at 35 to 39 years. World- and European-standardized recorded incidence rates were 1.33 and 1.22 per 100,000 person-years, respectively; corresponding standardized recorded point prevalence rates were 15.47 and 16.50 per 100,000 persons.

Conclusion: These referral center-based recorded estimates indicate a relatively low recorded MS burden in Azerbaijan, with female predominance and higher recorded rates among urban residents. Since the registry was not population-based and incomplete ascertainment may have influenced the estimates, particularly in rural or underserved areas, these findings should be interpreted as a baseline for strengthening MS surveillance and improving equitable diagnostic access.

Cite this article as: Aliyev R, Mammadbayli A, Shiraliyeva R. Recorded diagnosis-based incidence and point prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Azerbaijan between 2013 and 2022: Estimates from a national referral center registry. Turk J Neurol 2026;32(3):207-219. https://doi.org/10.55697/tnd.2026.749.

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

R.A., A.M., R.S.: Idea/ concept, design, analysis and/or interpretation, references and fundings, materialb; R.A., R.S.: Control/ supervision, critical review; A.M., R.S.: Data collection and/or processing; R.A., A.M.: Literature review; R.A.: Writing the article.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.

The authors declare that artificial intelligence (AI) tools were not used, or were used solely for language editing, and had no role in data analysis, interpretation, or the formulation of conclusions. All scientific content, data interpretation, and conclusions are the sole responsibility of the authors. The authors further confirm that AI tools were not used to generate, fabricate, or ‘hallucinate’ references, and that all references have been carefully verified for accuracy.

The authors thank the staff of the Neurology Center of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan for their assistance with patient assessment, registry documentation, and data collection.