The social epidemiology of disease with particular emphasis on multiple sclerosis

A particular conceptual perspective in the epidemiology of disease is discussed and evaluated: (1) that epidemiologic research is concerned with investigating the possible role played by biological and environmental factors in the etiology of disease but that the particular approach of the social epidemiologist is to concentrate on sociodemographic factors in the explanation; and (2) that a rich tradition of conceptual linkage already exists in epidemiologic research whereby sociologists working separately or in concert with epidemiologists, or physician epidemiologists concerned with details of social behavior and group relationships, have collected an analyzed sociodemographic data on the etiology of all kinds of disease conditions, inclusive of multiple sclerosis (MS). This paper is divided into four subsections which give an indication of its focus: (1) epidemiology and social epidemiologic research; (2) sociodemographic factors in epidemiologic research; (3) contribution of sociology to the social epidemiology of disease; and (4) sociodemographic factors in epidemiologic research on MS. This latter subsection includes a review and critique of some of the most frequently investigated sociodemographic factors in MS research: age, sex, race and socioeconomic status. Although the etiology of MS remains a mystery, sufficient epidemiologic evidence exists to connect three of these four sociodemographic factors to the etiology and distribution of this disease.