Multiple sclerosis in New Zealand Māori.
The prevalence of MS in New Zealand in 2006 was 73.2 (age standardized per 100,000) while for those with indigenous Māori ancestry it was 3.6 times lower at 20.6. Earlier regional surveys (1968-2001) all reported much lower, or zero, prevalence for Māori than European. There was no evidence for differences in MS between those with and without Māori ancestry in either clinical features or latitude, confirming that Māori ancestry does not produce the reported increase in prevalence with latitude. It is likely that prevalence is increasing in low risk Māori; however, MS prognosis is independent of Māori ancestry.
University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand john.pearson@otago.ac.nz.
John F
JF
Pearson
University of Otago/New Zealand Brain Research Institute, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Sridhar
S
Alla
University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Glynnis
G
Clarke
Menzies Research Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
Bruce V
BV
Taylor
University of Otago/New Zealand Brain Research Institute, Christchurch, New Zealand/Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
David H
DH
Miller
University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Ann
A
Richardson
University of Otago/New Zealand Brain Research Institute, Christchurch, New Zealand/Christchurch Public Hospital, New Zealand.
Deborah F
DF
Mason
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
Multiple sclerosis; Māori; clinical symptoms; indigenous; latitude gradient; prevalence