Multiple Sclerosis
Volume 16, Issue 9, 2010, Pages 1079-1082

High risk of MS in Iranian immigrants in Gothenburg, Sweden (Article)

Ahlgren C.* , Lycke J. , Odén A. , Andersen O.
  • a Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
  • b Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
  • c Institute of Mathematical Statistics, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
  • d Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract

Background: In this study we investigated the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) in migrants who had moved from Iran to Gothenburg, Sweden. Methods: Patients born in Iran were retrieved from a population-based cohort, which included 534 MS and clinically isolated syndrome patients, born 1959-1990, aged 10-39 years at disease onset in Gothenburg. The expected versus observed number of migrants from Iran was calculated. Results: The MS risk in the Iranian migrants in Gothenburg was several times higher than in Isfahan, Iran (hazard ratio 3.88, 95% confidence interval 2.17-6.40). Compared with the general population of Gothenburg, the observed number of 17 Iranian patients was higher than the expected value of 9.89 (hazard ratio 1.72, 95% confidence interval 1.00-2.75). Conclusion: Migration from a medium-risk to a high-risk area may increase the MS risk to that of the high-risk area.

Author Keywords

Migration multiple sclerosis Sweden Iran Epidemiology Prevalence

Index Keywords

immigrant multiple sclerosis Magnetic Resonance Imaging human risk assessment Asian continental ancestry group Iran Young Adult Sweden Humans Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female Risk Factors high risk population Article major clinical study adult cohort analysis Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77956308053&doi=10.1177%2f1352458510376777&partnerID=40&md5=078fa55c39efdb7ebcbdeec2e95297b9
DOI: 10.1177/1352458510376777
ISSN: 13524585
Cited by: 23
Original Language: English