The characteristic symptoms in 95% of patients are attacks, with significant long-term sequelae: 36% will have permanent motor disability 42%, visual impairment and 23% will be confined to a wheelchair. Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an idiopathic autoimmune disease that is characterised by the presence of inflammatory lesions that affect different structures in the central nervous system, although predominantly the optic nerve and the spinal cord. The homogenisation of criteria and the use of similar diagnostic techniques and standardisation methods must be implemented for the correct study of the epidemiology of NMOSD. Although Latin American studies are scarce, the findings described are associated with their ethnic mix. Finally, epidemiological variables, such as belonging to the black race, being of older age at onset and being female, are associated with a worse functional prognosis.ĬONCLUSIONS Epidemiological data on NMOSD vary from one study to another, largely due to discrepancies in the methodological designs. The Latin American population has particular epidemiological characteristics linked to its racial and genetic mix. The frequency increases in parallel to age, with a peak incidence/prevalence in the 40-59 age range. However, in general terms, NMOSD is distributed worldwide with an incidence/prevalence that is higher in women than in men, and in Asian and African-American countries than in Western countries. The methodology used in the studies varies essentially in the application of different diagnostic criteria, sources of records, antibody detection techniques and standardisation methods. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION This epidemiological review on neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) focuses on describing the methodologies employed in studies conducted under the 2015 NMOSD criteria and the studies conducted in Spain and Latin America, as well as examining factors related to the prognosis of the disease.
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