[Meteorological variables do not explain the North-South gradient in mortality from multiple sclerosis in Spain].
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether weather conditions explain the North-South gradient in multiple sclerosis (MS) mortality described in Spain.


METHODS
The age-adjusted MS mortality rate by Spanish provinces from 1975 to 1998 was correlated with several climatic variables.


RESULTS
MS mortality was negatively correlated with minimum, average and maximum temperatures, the mean number of hours of sunshine, and the mean number of sunny days. A positive correlation was found with the average amount of rain. Most correlations disappeared after adjusting by latitude. However, MS mortality was associated with latitude after adjusting by climatic factors.


CONCLUSIONS
The North-South gradient in MS mortality in Spain cannot be fully explained by weather differences. Therefore, other hypotheses are required to explain this association.
Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, España.
Paula
P
Guerrero-Alonso
Dolores
D
Prieto-Salceda
Javier
J
Llorca
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008685:Meteorological Concepts; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000401:mortality*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology