Multiple Sclerosis Mortality and Patterns of Comorbidity in the United States from 1990 to 2001

Vol. 26, No. 2, 2006

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Original Paper

Multiple Sclerosis Mortality and Patterns of Comorbidity in the United States from 1990 to 2001
Matthew D. Redelings^a, Lucie McCoy^a, Frank Sorvillo^{a, b}

^aLos Angeles County Department of Health Services, and
^bDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Calif., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Neuroepidemiology 2006;26:102-107 (DOI: 10.1159/000090444)

Key Words

Multiple sclerosis mortality
Vital Statistics

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative condition that can result in cognitive and physical disability and shortened life expectancy. However, population-based information is lacking regarding the mortality burden from MS in the United States. We investigated trends in MS mortality rates and examined important comorbidities in the United States from 1990 to 2001. MS deaths were matched by age, sex, and race/ethnicity with randomly selected deaths from other conditions for matched odds ratio comparisons. The overall age-adjusted mortality rate from MS was 1.44/100,000 population. MS mortality rates increased throughout the study period. MS mortality rates were higher in whites than in any other racial/ethnic group, followed by Blacks, Hispanics, American Indians/Alaska Natives, and Asians and Pacific Islanders. Observed mortality rates were more than 10 times lower in Asians and Pacific Islanders than in whites. The odds of pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia/influenza being reported on the death certificate were higher in MS deaths than in matched controls.

Author Contacts

Matthew D. Redelings
7934 Caminito Dia 3
San Diego, CA 92122 (USA)
Tel. +1 858 342 4960, Fax +1 213 250 2594
E-Mail mredelings@ladhs.org

Article Information

Published online: December 21, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 4, Number of References : 46

Medline Abstract (ID 16374035)

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