MS world first in NZ study

New Zealand has become the first country in the world to fully research the incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) over an entire country.

A jointly funded report by the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Health Research Council, released today, says that close to 3000 people have been clinically identified as having MS (or 71.9 per 100,000 people), with a further 1200 potentially with the condition.

The $500,000 report, which took nearly two years to compile, shows that the prevalence of MS is significantly related to regions of the country -- increasing from 50.8 people per 100,000 in Northland to 134.6 people per 100,000 in Southland.

Worldwide, MS becomes more common the further away from the equator you are.

MS is an auto-immune disease where the body produces a misdirected immune system attack on the central nervous system. There is no known cure.

The symptoms of MS usually appear and disappear unpredictably and they vary from person to person. Common symptoms include: weak or uncoordinated limbs, impaired balance, urinary dysfunction and vision problems as well as fatigue.

MS affects women at a rate three times that of men and is most often diagnosed in the late 20s to early 30s.

MSNZ national director Graham Billings said New Zealand's geographic spread, small population and consistent health services meant the study was possible.

It would become the ground work for a number of other studies into MS and trying to understand the disease, he said.

The cause of MS is still not known. However, researchers are closer to finding the answer and think that both the genetic and environmental factors are important.

"The real problem is there doesn't appear to be a single silver bullet. It's clearly possible that geographic location has something to do with it, and possibly a link to exposure to sunlight and vitamin D. And clearly there is some element of genetic background. Scotland has the highest incidence in the world," Mr Billings said.

Aspects of the results will be presented to the International MS Federation conference in Canada later this year.

Regional data of people with MS (followed by per 100,000):
Northland 82 (50.8)
Auckland 732 (59)
Waikato 177 (46.4)
Bay of Plenty 132 (50)
Gisborne 20 (46.7)
Hawkes Bay 82 (54.3)
Taranaki 72 (66.8)
Manawatu-Wanganui 120 (54)
Wellington 383 (86.2)
Nelson-Tasman 75 (77.7)
Marlborough 42 (86.8)
Canterbury 557 (103)
West Coast 40 (119.2)
Otago 234 (119.3)
Southland 148 (134.6).

People in NZ with MS:
male 720 or 24.86 percent, female 2176 or 75.14 percent.

NZPA