2008 Year in Review
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WC Participation in MS Study - Surprisingly Low |
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WHITESIDE COUNTY PARTICIPATION IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS STUDY IS SURPRISINGLY LOW. ROCKFORD MEDICAL SCHOOL RESEARCHERS SEEK PERSONS WITH MS TO TEST WHETHER THE DISEASE IS ELEVATED IN THE AREA; WILL STUDY SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS WITH MS DISTRIBUTION. Twenty-nine persons living in Whiteside County have registered so far in the Health Systems Research study of MS Prevalence. The level is surprisingly low says lead researcher Joel Cowen. The rate of 49.0 per 100,000 is very low says Cowen. Two prior studies in the Morrison area indicated an elevated level. I hope that individuals who have taken part in previous studies will sign up again. Whiteside County is especially important to our research. All residents of NW IL with multiple sclerosis (MS) are being asked to participate in a state-funded study to determine the number of area persons with the disease. MS results when the immune system attacks myelin, the protective insulation surrounding nerve fibers of the central nervous system affecting coordination, balance and vision. Previous research by Health Systems Research has indicated that some portions of NW Illinois may have elevated rates of MS. The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford is one of a handful of research centers studying the epidemiology of MS. Study participants must: - Be 18 or older - Have lived in Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Henry, Jo Daviess, La Salle, Lee, Ogle, Rock Island, Stephenson, Whiteside or Winnebago County on July 1, 2008. - Have been diagnosed with MS by a health professional. To take part in the study, or to obtain further information individuals may: - Enroll at the study web site College of Medicine at Rockford. - Call Health Systems Research toll-free at 1-800-854-4461 or 1-815-395-5639 in the Rockford area for a participant form. Joel Cowen, Assistant Dean for Health Systems Research stresses the importance of full participation. “Unless almost everyone with MS takes part, we will not be able to accurately calculate the presence of MS.” Cowen says that they will link demographic, socioeconomic and environmental factors to the distribution of MS to see whether certain characteristics may be associated with MS. By studying a large region, researchers expect to find that some areas may be higher than others. The analysis will take place at the zip code level, looking at areas within each county. Names of study participants will be kept confidential, says Cowen. Reports will reflect all participants, but no individual information will be shown.
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