Trends in prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in the Israeli Jewish and Arab populations.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

There is a worldwide trend of increasing prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS). A previous epidemiological survey conducted a quarter-century ago showed a substantially lower prevalence of MS among Israeli Arabs compared to Israeli Jews. We aimed to explore trends in MS prevalence and incidence among Israel's diverse populations over the past decade.

METHODS

This population-based study utilizes the Clalit Health Services (CHS) database. CHS is Israel's largest healthcare organization, providing mandatory and universally funded healthcare to about half of the Israeli population. We used a previously validated algorithm to identify people with MS in the CHS database and analyzed trends in prevalence and incidence, stratified by sex and ethnicity.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MS in Israel per 100,000 people increased from 65 in 2010 to 95 in 2021. The annual incidence rate per 100,000 people rose from 3.6 in 2010 to 5.2 in 2021. Throughout the past decade, MS prevalence remained higher among Israeli Jews than Israeli Arabs. However, during the study period, MS incidence among Israeli Arab females increased steeply, reaching a rate comparable to that of Israeli Jewish females.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in Israel are increasing. A sharp rise in MS incidence among Israeli Arab females was observed, possibly linked to lifestyle changes, such as urbanization, decreasing birth rates, and rising childhood obesity.