Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in First Nations People of Alberta

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is reported to be uncommon among North American aboriginals despite frequent intermarriage with people of European ancestry, but few population-based studies have been conducted. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of MS among First Nations a...

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Published in:Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques
Main Authors: Svenson, Lawrence W., Warren, Sharon, Warren, Kenneth G., Metz, Luanne M., Patten, Scott B., Schopflocher, Donald P.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2007
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0317167100006004
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0317167100006004
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spelling crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0317167100006004 2024-10-06T13:48:38+00:00 Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in First Nations People of Alberta Svenson, Lawrence W. Warren, Sharon Warren, Kenneth G. Metz, Luanne M. Patten, Scott B. Schopflocher, Donald P. 2007 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0317167100006004 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0317167100006004 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques volume 34, issue 2, page 175-180 ISSN 0317-1671 2057-0155 journal-article 2007 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0317167100006004 2024-09-11T04:03:28Z Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is reported to be uncommon among North American aboriginals despite frequent intermarriage with people of European ancestry, but few population-based studies have been conducted. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of MS among First Nations aboriginal people in Alberta, Canada compared to the general population. Methods: All hospital in-patient and physician fee-for-service records between 1994 and 2002 where a diagnosis of MS was mentioned were extracted from government health databases in the province of Alberta. First Nations people can be identified since the federal government (Health Canada) pays health care insurance premiums on their behalf. Multiple Sclerosis prevalence per 100,000 population for both First Nations people and the general population of Alberta were calculated for each year during this time span. Results: Among First Nations in Alberta, MS prevalence was 56.3 per 100,000 in 1994 and 99.9 per 100,000 in 2002, an increase of 43.6%. In 2002 prevalence was 158.1 and 38.0 for females and males respectively, a female to male ratio of 4.2:1. Multiple Sclerosis prevalence among the general population of Alberta was 262.6 per 100,000 in 1994 and 335.0 per 100,000 in 2002, an increase of 21.6%. In 2002 prevalence was 481.5 and 187.5 for females and males respectively, a female to male ratio of 2.6:1. Peak prevalence for both First Nations and general population females in 2002 was age 50-59, also 50-59 for both First Nations and general population males. Conclusion: While MS prevalence in First Nations people is lower than in the general population of Alberta, it is not rare by worldwide standards. Article in Journal/Newspaper First Nations Cambridge University Press Canada Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques 34 2 175 180
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language English
description Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is reported to be uncommon among North American aboriginals despite frequent intermarriage with people of European ancestry, but few population-based studies have been conducted. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of MS among First Nations aboriginal people in Alberta, Canada compared to the general population. Methods: All hospital in-patient and physician fee-for-service records between 1994 and 2002 where a diagnosis of MS was mentioned were extracted from government health databases in the province of Alberta. First Nations people can be identified since the federal government (Health Canada) pays health care insurance premiums on their behalf. Multiple Sclerosis prevalence per 100,000 population for both First Nations people and the general population of Alberta were calculated for each year during this time span. Results: Among First Nations in Alberta, MS prevalence was 56.3 per 100,000 in 1994 and 99.9 per 100,000 in 2002, an increase of 43.6%. In 2002 prevalence was 158.1 and 38.0 for females and males respectively, a female to male ratio of 4.2:1. Multiple Sclerosis prevalence among the general population of Alberta was 262.6 per 100,000 in 1994 and 335.0 per 100,000 in 2002, an increase of 21.6%. In 2002 prevalence was 481.5 and 187.5 for females and males respectively, a female to male ratio of 2.6:1. Peak prevalence for both First Nations and general population females in 2002 was age 50-59, also 50-59 for both First Nations and general population males. Conclusion: While MS prevalence in First Nations people is lower than in the general population of Alberta, it is not rare by worldwide standards.
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Svenson, Lawrence W.
Warren, Sharon
Warren, Kenneth G.
Metz, Luanne M.
Patten, Scott B.
Schopflocher, Donald P.
spellingShingle Svenson, Lawrence W.
Warren, Sharon
Warren, Kenneth G.
Metz, Luanne M.
Patten, Scott B.
Schopflocher, Donald P.
Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in First Nations People of Alberta
author_facet Svenson, Lawrence W.
Warren, Sharon
Warren, Kenneth G.
Metz, Luanne M.
Patten, Scott B.
Schopflocher, Donald P.
author_sort Svenson, Lawrence W.
title Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in First Nations People of Alberta
title_short Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in First Nations People of Alberta
title_full Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in First Nations People of Alberta
title_fullStr Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in First Nations People of Alberta
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in First Nations People of Alberta
title_sort prevalence of multiple sclerosis in first nations people of alberta
publisher Cambridge University Press (CUP)
publishDate 2007
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0317167100006004
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0317167100006004
geographic Canada
geographic_facet Canada
genre First Nations
genre_facet First Nations
op_source Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques
volume 34, issue 2, page 175-180
ISSN 0317-1671 2057-0155
op_rights https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms
op_doi https://doi.org/10.1017/s0317167100006004
container_title Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques
container_volume 34
container_issue 2
container_start_page 175
op_container_end_page 180
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