Multiple sclerosis, the most common demyelinating disorder of the brain and spinal cord, has not been a priority health condition for public health agencies. We lack basic epidemiologic data concerning the disease, particularly current prevalence estimates for many geographic regions in the U.S. and specific ethnic groups. Investigating community concerns about the potential association between environmental exposure(s) from hazardous wastes sites and MS is difficult due to the lack of published prevalence rates.
The Texas Department of Health (TDH) received funding from ATSDR to conduct a pilot study to determine age- and sex-specific MS prevalence rates for non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics, and African-Americans in 19 Texas counties. Local neurologists’ records will be our primary case ascertainment source. We will also evaluate the efficacy of case ascertainment from additional sources including general and family practitioners, death certificates, and citizen groups. This 19-county area (population 420,000) offers a unique opportunity to conduct this study because of the relatively isolated geographic location, the limited number of neurologists, and the race/ethnicity distribution of the population. Eight neurologists serve the entire study area and all have agreed to participate in the surveillance. The prevalence rates developed from this pilot will be used for other studies around hazardous waste sites in Texas where MS is a concern, including the re-analysis of the El Paso MS cluster investigation.
We will present preliminary surveillance data, discuss the methodological approaches used in the pilot study, and report on the efficacy of specific case ascertainment sources.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Epidemiology,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: N/A
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.