Motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis among immigrants to Britain.

Abstract

Hospital discharge rates for various immigrant groups resident in Greater London ahd the West Midlands were studied to compare the incidence of two diseases of the nervous system-motor neurone disease (MND) and multiple sclerosis (MS). For both these conditions immigrants from Europe, Ireland, America and from the old commonwealth countries of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand had discharge rates that were similar to those for people born in the United Kingdom. In contrast, immigrants from the new commonwealth countries of Asia, Africa, America (including the West Indies), and Europe (Gibraltar, Malta, and Gozo) had a greatly reduced risk of MS but a very similar risk of MND compared with those born in the United Kingdom. MS but not MND was rare among immigrants of Asian or African ethnic origin and uncommon among immigrants from the West Indies. Deaths attributed to MS and MND have also been studied. During a three-year period there were no deaths reported for MS among immigrants of Asian and African ethnic origin and 14 were expected. There were two deaths from MND among these immigrants and five were expected. Among the immigrants from the West Indies two deaths were attributed to MS and 13 were expected, and there were three deaths attributed to MND and four were expected. The contrast between MND and MS in hospital morbidity and mortality confirms that MS among immigrants to Britain is rare in those of Asian and African ethnic origin.

Motor neuron disease and multiple sclerosis among immigrants to England from the Indian subcontinent, the Caribbean, and east and west Africa.

“…West Indians had, therefore, about one fifth of the MS deaths expected at England and Wales rates confirming previous studies.' 2 …”

Epidemiology of Multiple Sclerosis

“…New Commonwealth immigrants to England provided a fine opportunity to find out whether immigrants to England from areas of the world where MS was uncommon kept their low risk when they came to a country (England) where the disease was common. Tables VI-XI show the result of this study which was undertaken with support from the MS Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [12,13]. The studies in Greater London and the West Midlands showed that the immigrants from Asia.…”

The risk of motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis is different in Estonians and Russians. Data from South Estonia

“…Analyses have revealed lower incidence of MND in the Japanese (0.69 per 100000) (Okumura et al, 1992) and in blacks (half the incidence of whites) (Lilienfield et al, 1989). It was also suspected that MND is less common among Indians and Pakistanis (Dean et al, 1977) and the assumption was then confirmed through the analysis of immigrants from these regions. Data demonstrated that MND is less common in these ethnic groups (Elian and Dean, 1993).…”