Latitudinal variation in MS incidence in Scotland

James Joseph McDonald; Belinda Weller; Martin O'Neil; Chrissie Waters; Jonathan O'Riordan

doi:10.1016/j.msard.2019.04.032

Latitudinal variation in MS incidence in Scotland

, James Joseph McDonald (Lead / Corresponding author), Belinda Weller, Martin O'Neil, Chrissie Waters, Jonathan O'Riordan

Systems Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aims: To explore the effect of latitude on incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Scotland.

Methods: MS case data (2010–2015) was ascertained from the Scottish Multiple Sclerosis Register. Patient's postcode at diagnosis was linked to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). Geographical data from SIMD was converted into latitude and longitude and patients were grouped by latitude band. A linear regression analysis was then performed. MS Cumulative Incidence was compared to population density calculated from SIMD.

Results: Latitude was associated with MS Incidence rate. Using a linear regression analysis (r ² = 0.22, p = 0.03), the data predicted an increase in the average MS Incidence of 1.31 cases/100,000 person years per increase in degree latitude. MS Cumulative Incidence rates rise with increasing northern latitude up until 59° north.

Conclusions: We found an increasing incidence of MS with latitude without any relationship to population in Scotland. The reasons for this are likely to be multifactorial.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	116-122
Number of pages	7
Journal	Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
Volume	32
Early online date	30 Apr 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2019.04.032
Publication status	Published - 1 Jul 2019

Keywords

Geography
Incidence Rate
Latitude
Multiple sclerosis
Scotland
Scottish MS Register

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Neurology
Clinical Neurology

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@article{8d5bc4b0515d4ea099e92f98c2b26260,

title = "Latitudinal variation in MS incidence in Scotland",

abstract = " Aims: To explore the effect of latitude on incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Scotland.Methods: MS case data (2010–2015) was ascertained from the Scottish Multiple Sclerosis Register. Patient's postcode at diagnosis was linked to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). Geographical data from SIMD was converted into latitude and longitude and patients were grouped by latitude band. A linear regression analysis was then performed. MS Cumulative Incidence was compared to population density calculated from SIMD.Results: Latitude was associated with MS Incidence rate. Using a linear regression analysis (r 2 = 0.22, p = 0.03), the data predicted an increase in the average MS Incidence of 1.31 cases/100,000 person years per increase in degree latitude. MS Cumulative Incidence rates rise with increasing northern latitude up until 59° north.Conclusions: We found an increasing incidence of MS with latitude without any relationship to population in Scotland. The reasons for this are likely to be multifactorial. ",

keywords = "Geography, Incidence Rate, Latitude, Multiple sclerosis, Scotland, Scottish MS Register",

author = "McDonald, {James Joseph} and Belinda Weller and Martin O'Neil and Chrissie Waters and Jonathan O'Riordan",

year = "2019",

month = jul,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.msard.2019.04.032",

language = "English",

volume = "32",

pages = "116--122",

journal = "Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders",

issn = "2211-0348",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Latitudinal variation in MS incidence in Scotland

AU - McDonald, James Joseph

AU - Weller, Belinda

AU - O'Neil, Martin

AU - Waters, Chrissie

AU - O'Riordan, Jonathan

PY - 2019/7/1

Y1 - 2019/7/1

N2 - Aims: To explore the effect of latitude on incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Scotland.Methods: MS case data (2010–2015) was ascertained from the Scottish Multiple Sclerosis Register. Patient's postcode at diagnosis was linked to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). Geographical data from SIMD was converted into latitude and longitude and patients were grouped by latitude band. A linear regression analysis was then performed. MS Cumulative Incidence was compared to population density calculated from SIMD.Results: Latitude was associated with MS Incidence rate. Using a linear regression analysis (r 2 = 0.22, p = 0.03), the data predicted an increase in the average MS Incidence of 1.31 cases/100,000 person years per increase in degree latitude. MS Cumulative Incidence rates rise with increasing northern latitude up until 59° north.Conclusions: We found an increasing incidence of MS with latitude without any relationship to population in Scotland. The reasons for this are likely to be multifactorial.

AB - Aims: To explore the effect of latitude on incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Scotland.Methods: MS case data (2010–2015) was ascertained from the Scottish Multiple Sclerosis Register. Patient's postcode at diagnosis was linked to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). Geographical data from SIMD was converted into latitude and longitude and patients were grouped by latitude band. A linear regression analysis was then performed. MS Cumulative Incidence was compared to population density calculated from SIMD.Results: Latitude was associated with MS Incidence rate. Using a linear regression analysis (r 2 = 0.22, p = 0.03), the data predicted an increase in the average MS Incidence of 1.31 cases/100,000 person years per increase in degree latitude. MS Cumulative Incidence rates rise with increasing northern latitude up until 59° north.Conclusions: We found an increasing incidence of MS with latitude without any relationship to population in Scotland. The reasons for this are likely to be multifactorial.

KW - Geography

KW - Incidence Rate

KW - Latitude

KW - Multiple sclerosis

KW - Scotland

KW - Scottish MS Register

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U2 - 10.1016/j.msard.2019.04.032

DO - 10.1016/j.msard.2019.04.032

M3 - Article

C2 - 31112929

AN - SCOPUS:85065702465

SN - 2211-0348

VL - 32

SP - 116

EP - 122

JO - Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders

JF - Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders

ER -

Latitudinal variation in MS incidence in Scotland

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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