Health Inequities in Manitoba: Is the Socioeconomic Gap

Health Inequities in Manitoba: Is the Socioeconomic Gap in Health Widening or Narrowing Over Time?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Definition
Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
Its effects are diverse, and may include problems in balance, vision, communication, memory, and
movement, as well as more general symptoms such as pain and fatigue. The course of disease varies
between people. Some may have long periods of remission between active episodes, while others
may have progression of symptoms from the time of onset, and still others may have an initial period
of relapses and remissions followed by a progressive course. MS is treatable through a variety of
modalities, which have a variable impact on the progress of the disease; however, a cure for MS is not
yet available.
MS six–year period prevalence has been calculated as the age– and sex–adjusted number of cases of
MS per 100,000 population aged 16 or older in a six–year period. In this report, we identified cases of
MS meeting the following criteria: at least three hospital visits, three physician visits, or a combination
of these where each visit included a diagnosis code for MS within a period of six years. ICD codes for MS
are included in the Glossary.
Time Period Six–year period prevalence per 100,000
T1: 1984/85–1989/90 245.58
T2: 1990/91–1995/96 252.06
T3: 1996/97–2001/02 278.21
T4: 2002/03–2007/08 275.65
Key Findings: Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Manitoba overall rates:
• From the first time period T1 (1984/85–1989/90) to the last time period T4 (2002/03–2007/08), the
prevalence of diagnosed MS in Manitoba increased gradually overall, from 246 to 276 per 100,000
aged 16 and older.
Rates by neighbourhood income quintile over time:
Rural:
• Comparing T1 to T4, the prevalence of diagnosed MS among rural residents increased in all
neighbourhood income quintiles. The greatest increase in prevalence was in the R5 quintile, followed
by R2 and R3.
• R1 (lowest neighbourhood income quintile) had the lowest prevalence across all time periods.
Manitoba Centre for Health Policy 105