Incidence of multiple sclerosis in multiple racial and ethnic groups

Abstract

Our findings do not support the widely accepted assertion that blacks have a lower risk of MS than whites. A possible explanation for our findings is that people with darker skin tones have lower vitamin D levels and thereby an increased risk of MS, but this would not explain why Hispanics and Asians have a lower risk of MS than whites or why the higher risk of MS among blacks was found only among women.

Multiple sclerosis in US minority populations

“…In a retrospective cohort study of 496 patients newly diagnosed with MS, the incidence rate per 100,000 person-years was higher in African Americans (10.2) than in Caucasian Americans (6.9), Hispanic Americans (2.9), or Asian Americans (1.4). 7 Furthermore, African Americans had a 47% increased risk of MS, while Hispanic Americans had a 50% lower risk and Asian Americans had an 80% lower risk of MS compared with Caucasian Americans. 7 Likewise, a contemporary study of 2,691 Gulf War-era military veterans with MS found that the incidence rate per 100,000 was higher in African Americans (12.1) than in Caucasian Americans (9.3), Hispanic Americans (8.2), Asian Americans (3.3), or Native Americans (3.1).…”

“…7 Furthermore, African Americans had a 47% increased risk of MS, while Hispanic Americans had a 50% lower risk and Asian Americans had an 80% lower risk of MS compared with Caucasian Americans. 7 Likewise, a contemporary study of 2,691 Gulf War-era military veterans with MS found that the incidence rate per 100,000 was higher in African Americans (12.1) than in Caucasian Americans (9.3), Hispanic Americans (8.2), Asian Americans (3.3), or Native Americans (3.1). 8 These findings and support the increasing awareness of MS among other minority populations.…”

“…Although variations in the definitions for many of the ethnic minorities were presented in the literature, they have been standardized for the purpose of this review. Only 2 articles describe the incidence of adult-onset MS across several racial and ethnic groups within the United States, 7,8 while others have evaluated specific comparisons between 2 ethnic patient groups. 4,9,10 Among the studies reviewed, ethnic differences were noted in overall incidence of disease, characteristics at onset of MS including age at onset, length of diagnostic delays, and disability at diagnosis, as well as characteristics over the course of the disease.…”

Determining the use and value of social support in Telerehabiliation Interventions for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis: A narrative synthesis review

“…The sample populations were predominantly white, non-Hispanic in the studies, which reported data for ethnicity (n=4). The risk factors for MS vary across different ethnicities [48], and an underrepresentation of ethnic minorities in this synthesis would reduce the external validity of results to wider populations than were analysed. Furthermore, all included studies were conducted in the Western hemisphere; therefore this may limit the generalisability of the results to participants from this region.…”

Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation in multiple sclerosis

“…It is known that MS has variable prevalence rates in different ethnic groups [51] although cohort studies from China have shown that AHCT has a similar effect on the disease when compared with studies done on North American and European populations [52].…”