Multiple sclerosis in New Zealand

Sridhar Alla; Deborah F Mason

doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2013.09.009

Multiple sclerosis in New Zealand

J Clin Neurosci. 2014 Aug;21(8):1288-91. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2013.09.009. Epub 2013 Nov 4.

Authors

Sridhar Alla¹, Deborah F Mason²

Affiliations

¹ New Zealand Brain Research Institute, University of Otago, 66 Stewart Street, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand. Electronic address: allsr357@gmail.com.
² Department of Neurology, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.

PMID: 24503208
DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2013.09.009

Abstract

New Zealand (NZ) is a high risk country for multiple sclerosis (MS) with an overall age and sex standardised prevalence of 73.1 per 100,000 population. The age and sex standardised prevalence within the Māori population is substantially lower at 24.2 per 100,000 population. A latitudinal gradient exists with MS prevalence increasing threefold from the North (37°S) to the South (48°S) of NZ. Over 1600 (56.8%) persons with MS experience moderate to severe disability. Despite the high prevalence of MS and the significant degree of disability experienced by people with MS, the availability and prescribing guidelines for MS disease modifying treatments are more restrictive in NZ than in other developed nations.

Keywords: Disability; Genetic; Incidence; Latitude gradient; Multiple sclerosis; Prevalence; Socioeconomic impact.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Multiple Sclerosis / epidemiology*
Multiple Sclerosis / genetics
Multiple Sclerosis / therapy
New Zealand / epidemiology