The Catalonia MS Registry is a population-based surveillance tool to determine disease incidence, geographical distribution, time trends and survival studies. It is continously updated and in provides useful data that contributes to decision-making in health policy and resource allocation.
The Registry started in January 2009 after completing a three month pilot phase. It is a multicentric initiative based on the collaboration of several hospitals specialized in the management of MS and representative of different regions throughout Catalonia. New MS cases are notified on-line using an specific software with secure access. The diagnosis validity is high due to the systems automatic diagnostic criteria application. Information completeness is assured by the periodical evaluation by the staff of the registry and feedback to collaborating centers. The Registry ensures fulfilment of actual requirements in patients data confidentiality.