Motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis among immigrants to Britain.

Abstract

Hospital discharge rates for various immigrant groups resident in Greater London and the West Midlands were studied to compare the incidence of 2 diseases of the nervous system, motor neuron disease (MND) and multiple sclerosis (MS). For both these conditions immigrants from Europe, Ireland, America and from the old commonwealth countries of Canada, Australia and New Zealand had discharge rates that were similar to those for people born in the United Kingdom. Immigrants from the new commonwealth countries of Asia, Africa, America (including the West Indies) and Europe (Gibraltar, Malta, and Gozo) had a greatly reduced risk of MS but a very similar risk of MND compared with those born in the United Kingdom. MS but not MND was rare among immigrants of Asian or African ethnic origin and uncommon among immigrants from the West Indies. Deaths attributed to MS and MND were also studied. During a 3 yr period there were no deaths reported for MS among immigrants of Asian and African ethnic origin and 14 were expected. There were 2 deaths from MND among these immigrants and 5 were expected. Among the immigrants from the West Indies 2 deaths were attributed to MS and 13 were expected; there were 3 deaths attributed to MND and 4 were expected. The contrast between MND and MS in hospital morbidity and mortality confirms that MS among immigrants to Britain is rare in those of Asian and African ethnic origin.