Survival and clinical features in Hispanic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients

Amyotroph Lateral Scler. 2011 May;12(3):199-205. doi: 10.3109/17482968.2010.550302. Epub 2011 Feb 23.

Abstract

The demography, survival, and motor phenotypes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients have been rarely described in Hispanic countries. The clinical characteristics and survival of a series of Mexican ALS patients are described. Mexican patients with definite ALS were included in a five-year retrospective longitudinal study. Their demographic and clinical features, cumulative survival rates, and independent predictive factors for survival were analysed. Sixty-one definite ALS patients were included. The median follow-up period was 35 months (range 12-108 months). Males were predominant (1.8: 1), the mean age at onset was 47.5 ± 10.5 years, and the median interval from onset to diagnosis was 12 months. Spinal onset occurred in 66% of patients. Upper motor neuron phenotype was predominant in 53% of patients. The overall mean survival from onset was 68.6 months, and from diagnosis was 57.8 months. Longer survival was determined in patients aged ≤ 40 years (54.7 months) compared with other age groups (p = 0.006). In conclusion, the clinical heterogeneity, male predominance, and survival rates in our sample are consistent with those of other studies. Patients in this series had a younger age at onset and a clear trend toward longer survival compared with those of other population studies.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / epidemiology
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / ethnology*
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / mortality*
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / physiopathology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mexico / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Rate