Risk factors of multiple sclerosis in Aseer region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia A case-control study

Article Figures & Data

Table 1

Relationship of socio-demographic factors with multiple sclerosis.

Risk factor	Cases	Control	c2	OR (CI)	P-value
Gender
Male	32 (39.0)	54 (65.9)	11.8	3.01 (1.59:5.69)	0.001
Female	50 (61.0)	28 (34.1)	11.8	3.01 (1.59:5.69)	0.001
Body mass index
Non-obese	39 (47.5)	35 (42.6)	0.394	0.82 (0.44:1.52)	0.319
Obese	43 (52.5)	47 (57.4)	0.394	0.82 (0.44:1.52)	0.319
Marital status
Married	58 (70.7)	48 (58.5)	2.66	0.58 (0.30:1.11)	0.07
Single	24 (29.3)	34 (41.5)	2.66	0.58 (0.30:1.11)	0.07
Left handedness
Yes	4 (4.9)	20 (24.4)	^*	6.29 [2.04:19.35]	<0.05
No	78 (95.1)	62 (75.6)

Table 2

Association of environmental risk factors with multiple sclerosis.

Variables	Cases	Control	χ²	OR [95% CI]	P-value
Low sunlight exposure (<15 min/ day)
Yes	64 (78.0)	34 (41.5)	22.8	2.02 [2.53: 9.9]	0.000
No	18 (22.0)	48 (58.5)	22.8	2.02 [2.53: 9.9]	0.000
Cigarette Smoking
Yes	14 (17.1)	29 (35.4)	7.1	2.68 [1.27: 5.52]	0.008
No	68 (82.9)	53 (64.6)	7.1	2.68 [1.27: 5.52]	0.008
Animal exposure
Yes	4 (4.9)	3 (3.7)	^*	1.3 [0.29: 6.2]	0.699
No	78 (95.1)	79 (96.3)	^*	1.3 [0.29: 6.2]	0.699

Table 3

Relationship of family history and autoimmune diseases with multiple sclerosis.

Risk Factor	Cases	Controls	χ²	OR [95% CI]	P-value
Parental consanguinity
Yes	40 (48.8)	25 (30.5)	5.734	2.17 [1.14: 4.11]	0.017
No	42 (51.2)	57 (69.5)	5.734	2.17 [1.14: 4.11]	0.017
Family history
Yes	4 (4.9)	0 (0.0)	^*	2.1 [1.7: 2.4]	0.06
No	78 (95.1)	82 (100)	^*	2.1 [1.7: 2.4]	0.06
Previous Vitamin D deficiency
Yes	50 (61.0)	46 (56.1)	0.4	1.2 [0.65: 2.27]	0.52
No	32 (39.0)	36 (43.9)	0.4	1.2 [0.65: 2.27]	0.52
Autoimmune disease Type 1 Diabetes
Yes	10 (12.2)	2 (2.4)	^*	5.56 [1.18: 26.2]	0.03
No	72 (87.8)	80 (97.6)	^*	5.56 [1.18: 26.2]	0.03
Psoriasis
Yes	11 (13.4)	4 (4.9 )	^*	3.02 [0.92: 9.92]	0.01
No	71 (86.6)	87 (95.1)	^*	3.02 [0.92: 9.92]	0.01
Celiac disease
Yes	11 (13.4)	1 (1.2)	^*	12.5 [1.58: 99.6]	0.003
No	71 (86.6)	81 (98.8)	^*	12.5 [1.58: 99.6]	0.003

Table 4

Association of childhood risk factors with multiple sclerosis.

Childhood factor	Cases	Controls	χ²	P-value	Odds ratio [95%CI]
Only fed breast milk
Yes	72 (87.8)	82 (100)	^*	0.001	0.46 [0.39: 0.55]
No	10 (13.0)	0 (0.0)	^*	0.001	0.46 [0.39: 0.55]
Complete childhood vaccination
Yes	56 (71.8)	34 (41.5)	14.9	0.000	3.59 [1.85: 6.95]
No	22 (28.2)	48 (58.5)	14.9	0.000	3.59 [1.85: 6.95]
Chicken pox
Yes	23 (28.0)	2 (2.4)	^*	<0.01	15.59 [3.55: 68.7]
No	59 (72.0)	80 (97.6)	^*	<0.01	15.59 [3.55: 68.7]

Table 5

Multiple logistic regression analysis for risk factors of multiple sclerosis.

Variables	Cases	Controls	Sig.	AOR	95% CI
Variables	Cases	Controls	Sig.	AOR	Lower	Upper
Chicken pox infection in childhood
Yes	23 (28.0)	2 (2.4)	<0.001	0.045	Reference
No	59 (72.0)	80 (97.6)			0.015	0.135
Sun exposure <15 mins.
Yes	64 (78.0)	34 (41.5)	<0.05		Reference
No	18 (22.0)	48 (58.5)	<0.05	0.271	0.121	0.609