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Table 4 Overview of studies on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis risk factors in sub-Sahara Africa

From: Epidemiology of neurodegenerative diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

Author, year of publication

Country/setting

Design/year

Population characteristics

Diagnostic criteria/tools

Prevalence

Risk factors

Comments

Wall [130],1972

Zimbabwe

Retrospective

13 (men 10) consecutive patients; age 24–55 y.

Clinical (no ENMG)

NA

NA

6 participants had sensory changes

Hospital-based

1967-1971

Osuntokun [126], 1974

Nigeria

Retrospective

92 patients with MND ALS 73; PMA 10, SMA 9

ENMG/Muscle biopsy/

21/100,000

NA

Mean age at onset: 39 y

Mean duration of disease exceeded 15 y in 8% of participants

Hospital-based

1958 -1973

4 patients with ALS had poliomyelitis in childhood.

Osuntokun [19], 1987

Nigeria

Cross-sectional

18954 participants (men 9282); 58% <20 y and 11% > 50 y

Screening questionnaire developed by the authors

MND: 15/100,000

NA

 

Community-based

1985

Cosnett [125], 1989

South Africa Hospital-based

Retrospective Cases collected during 9.5 y.

59 blacks (mean age 47.4 y.); 16 whites and 2 coloured (mean age 54 y.) 9 Indians (mean age 54 y)

Clinical and ENMG in 45%

Blacks/white & coloured/Indians (per 100,000) 0.88/2 · 7/1.4

NA

Mean age of onset: 47 y (blacks) and 54 y (in whites and Indians)

29% of participants not followed up.

Ekenze [21], 2010

Nigeria

Retrospective

8440 admissions; 1249 (men 640) with neurological diseases, mean age 45 y.; 10 (men 4) with ALS

Not specified

800/100,000

NA

 

Hospital-based

2003-2007

Abdulla [127], 1997

Sudan

Retrospective:

28 (men 17) patients with MND; 19 (men 14) with ALS

Clinical and ENMG

NA

Family history of MND in 14%

Mean age of onset: 40 y

Hospital-based

1993-1995

Kengne [16], 2006

Cameroon

Retrospective

4041 neurologic consultations; 145 with neurodegenerative diseases 10 (men 8) with ALS; mean age 50.9 y.

Not provided

12% of all neurodegeneration 250/100,000 of all neurologic consultation

 

4 selected degenerative brain diseases: Dementia, PD, ALS and chorea

Hospital-based

1993-2001

Imam [131], 2004

Nigeria

Retrospective

16 (men 15) participants; age 16-60 y.

El Escorial diagnostic criteria for ALS, no ENMG

NA

NA

 

Hospital-based

1980-99

Adam [129], 1992

Kenya

Retrospective

47(men 35) participants with MND;

Clinical (ENMG in 1/3 of participants)

NA

NA

Duration of disease: 5 m to 4 y.

Hospital-based

1978-88

Age 13-80 y

18 had ALS

Tekle-Haimanot [122], 1990

Ethiopia

Cross-sectional

60820 participants (men 29412), 59% aged < 20 y

Screening questionnaire and neurological exam

5/100,000

NA

A population survey of neurological diseases

Community-based

1986-88

3 (2 men) had MND

Harries [132], 1955

Ethiopia

Case series

2(all males) participants

Clinical (no ENMG)

NA

NA

 

Age 26 and 30 y

Hospital-based

1954

Jacquin-cotton [123], 1970

Senegal

Retrospective

6100 participants with neurological disorders

Clinical (No ENMG)

290/100,000

 

A study of patients with paraplegia in a neurological unit

Hospital-based

1960-1969

18 (16 men) participants with ALS, age 25-70 y

Piquemal [124], 1982

Ivory coast

Retrospective

4000 participants with neurological disorders

Clinical (no ENMG)

750/100,000

NA

Duration of disease: 3 m to 5 y.

Hospital-based

1971-80

30 (men 22) participants had ALS, 50% aged <40 y

Collomb [133], 1968

Senegal

Retrospective

18 (17 men) participants with ALS, age 25-70 y

Clinical (no ENMG)

NA

NA

Duration of disease: 4 m to 13 y

Hospital-based

1960-68

Sene [128], 2004

Senegal Hospital-

Retrospective

33 (19 men) participants with ALS;

El Escorial

  

Definite ALS: 57%,

Probable: 30%, Possible ALS: 9%

Suspect ALS: 3% age at onset 14–67 y.

(ENMG in half of the patients)

 

based

1999-2000

    

Duration of disease: 6 m to 5 y.

  1. ALS: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; ENMG: Electroneuromyography; MND: Motor Neuron Disease; NA: Not available; PMA: Progressive muscular atrophy; SMA: Spinal Muscular Atrophy; y: years; m: months.