title: Incidence of Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders in Asian Populations of British Columbia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Global variation in the incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) is generally ascribed to differences in genetic and environmental risk factors. Here we investigate temporal trends in the incidence of MS and related disorders in British Columbia, Canada, from 1986 to 2010, focusing particularly on the Asian ethnic subpopulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal database was screened to identify newly diagnosed cases of MS and related disorders, including neuromyelitis optica and clinically isolated syndromes. Age-standardized, sex-specific mean annual incidence was calculated for the Asian and non-Asian population of British Columbia for 5-year intervals from 1986 to 2010. Temporal changes and cohort differences in incidence rates and demographic characteristics were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During this period, the incidence of MS and related disorders in the non-Asian population remained relatively unchanged, from 10.41 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.87-10.97) to 9.91 (95% CI: 9.46-10.39) per 100,000 (p=0.167). In contrast, incidence in the Asian population doubled during the same period. This increase was driven by a precipitous rise in the incidence of MS in females from 0.71 (95% CI: 0.01-1.50) to 2.08 (95% CI: 1.43-2.91) per 100,000 (p=0.004), including both Canadian-born and immigrant Asians. The incidence of neuromyelitis optica did not change significantly during this period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of MS may be increasing among females in the Asian ethnic population of British Columbia.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Medical Genetics,University of British Columbia,Vancouver,Canada.
authors.forename: Joshua D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Medical Genetics,University of British Columbia,Vancouver,Canada.
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guimond
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Medical Genetics,University of British Columbia,Vancouver,Canada.
authors.forename: Irene M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Medical Genetics,University of British Columbia,Vancouver,Canada.
authors.forename: Carles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vilariño-Güell
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology,Huashan Hospital,Institutes of Brain Science and State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology,Shanghai Medical College,Fudan University,Shanghai,China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Ying
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: 3Faculty of Medicine,Division of Neurology,University of British Columbia,Vancouver,Canada.
authors.forename: Anthony L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Traboulsee
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Medical Genetics,University of British Columbia,Vancouver,Canada.
authors.forename: A Dessa
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Sadovnick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016208:Databases, Factual; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Incidence; Multiple sclerosis; Neuromyelitis optica