Epidemiological study of multiple sclerosis in Israel: Part III Multiple sclerosis and socio-economic status

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The socio-economic level was estimated in 241 patients with multiple sclerosis and 917 matched controls in an Israeli population. The size of Israel''s population permits collection of data from the nation as a whole. Indices of socio-economic level included occupation and education of the respondents and the head of a respondent''s household as well as a self-rating scale. The socio-economic indices of the patients as compared with controls showed no significant differences. Analysis of subgroups suggested that the European immigrants to Israel had a higher socio-economic status than Afro-Asian immigrants. Since multiple sclerosis is 5 to 10 times more prevalent in Europeans than Afro-Asians in Israel a relationship is suggested. The influence of urbanization was also indicated. In urban areas those from higher socio-economic strata seemed more susceptible to multiple sclerosis whereas in rural areas those from lower socio-economic levels seemed more susceptible to the disease. If a relationship does exist between socio-economic status and susceptibility to multiple sclerosis, it is of a complex nature.