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October 18, 2022; 99 (16) Research Article

Association of Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence With Sociodemographic, Health Systems, and Lifestyle Factors on a National and Regional Level

Soonmyung Hwang, Maria A. Garcia-Dominguez, View ORCID ProfileKathryn C. Fitzgerald, Deanna R. Saylor
First published August 24, 2022, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000200962
Soonmyung Hwang
From the Department of Neurology (S.H., K.C.F., D.R.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore; Department of Biostatistics (M.A.G.-D.), Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; and of Internal Medicine (D.R.S.), University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia.
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Maria A. Garcia-Dominguez
From the Department of Neurology (S.H., K.C.F., D.R.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore; Department of Biostatistics (M.A.G.-D.), Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; and of Internal Medicine (D.R.S.), University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia.
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Kathryn C. Fitzgerald
From the Department of Neurology (S.H., K.C.F., D.R.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore; Department of Biostatistics (M.A.G.-D.), Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; and of Internal Medicine (D.R.S.), University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia.
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  • ORCID record for Kathryn C. Fitzgerald
Deanna R. Saylor
From the Department of Neurology (S.H., K.C.F., D.R.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore; Department of Biostatistics (M.A.G.-D.), Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; and of Internal Medicine (D.R.S.), University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia.
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Association of Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence With Sociodemographic, Health Systems, and Lifestyle Factors on a National and Regional Level
Soonmyung Hwang, Maria A. Garcia-Dominguez, Kathryn C. Fitzgerald, Deanna R. Saylor
Neurology Oct 2022, 99 (16) e1813-e1823; DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000200962

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Abstract

Background and Objectives Multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence varies widely by country and world region, variation that is often attributed to latitude and its association with vitamin D exposure. Given that increasing latitude is also associated with higher national wealth, this study investigated associations between MS prevalence and other factors driving regional differences, with a focus on sociodemographic, health systems, and lifestyle factors on a national and regional level.

Methods Using data from multilateral organizations and scientific literature, an ecological study was conducted to evaluate associations between age- and sex-adjusted MS prevalence and prespecified sociodemographic (gross domestic product [GDP] per capita and gross national income [GNI] per capita), health systems (current health expenditure per capita and by percentage of GDP, universal health coverage [UHC] index, and medical doctors per capita), neurology-specific (MRI unit density and neurologists per capita), and lifestyle (obesity and tobacco use) factors. National, regional, and income-stratified data were aggregated and employed in relevant univariable and multivariable regression models. Stepwise variable selection techniques identified independent predictors of MS prevalence.

Results Univariable regression analyses showed significant associations at the national level for all investigated factors, except obesity prevalence and tobacco use. Latitude was significantly associated with MS prevalence in all world regions (β = 0.16–2.16), whereas the UHC index was significantly associated in 5 of 6 world regions (β = 0.18–3.17). MS prevalence was significantly associated with all factors except lifestyle factors and MRI unit density in high-income countries, but no associations were observed in low-income countries. Latitude was associated with MS prevalence for all income strata except low-income countries (β = 0.55–1.62). In multivariable analyses, current health expenditure per capita (β = 0.083, 95% CI 0.048–0.12, p < 0.01) and latitude (β = 1.05, 95% CI 0.63–1.47, p < 0.01) remained significantly associated with MS prevalence.

Discussion Health expenditure per capita is strongly associated with national MS prevalence, suggesting that theories that attribute variations in MS prevalence primarily to latitude effects on vitamin D are incomplete. Health care access significantly contributes to the global variations in MS prevalence, especially since national wealth rises with latitude and likely results in significant underestimation of MS prevalence in countries with lower health expenditure.

Glossary

EBV=
Epstein-Barr virus;
GBD=
Global Burden of Disease;
GDP=
gross domestic product;
GNI=
gross national income;
MS=
multiple sclerosis;
VIF=
variable inflation factors

Footnotes

  • Go to Neurology.org/N for full disclosures. Funding information and disclosures deemed relevant by the authors, if any, are provided at the end of the article.

  • Submitted and externally peer reviewed. The handling editor was Olga Ciccarelli, MD, PhD, FRCP.

  • Received January 10, 2022.
  • Accepted in final form May 25, 2022.
  • © 2022 American Academy of Neurology
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  • Reader Response: Association of Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence With Sociodemographic, Health Systems, and Lifestyle Factors on a National and Regional Level
    • Jagannadha Avasarala, Professor of Neurology, U of Kentucky Medical Center
    Submitted September 27, 2022
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