Association of lifestyle, psychological, and biological risk factors with multiple sclerosis: A case-control study
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associations between lifestyle, psychological, and biological risk factors and the presence of multiple sclerosis (MS).
Patients and methods: A cross-sectional, observational, case-control study was conducted including 278 patients (105 males, 173 females; median age: 33 years; range, 16 to 61 years) with MS and 291 age-, sex-, and region-matched healthy controls (100 males, 191 females; median age: 33 years; range, 19 to 63 years) between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2022. Multiple sclerosis diagnoses were based on national clinical guidelines. Risk factors assessed included smoking (active and passive), alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form), vitamin D levels, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serostatus, body mass index, perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9). Data were collected using structured interviews and validated scales. Logistic regression (univariate and multivariate) was performed to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for MS risk, with additional interaction and sex-stratified analyses.
Results: Patients with MS had significantly higher rates of vitamin D deficiency (59.7% vs. 43.0%), EBV seropositivity (93.5% vs. 82.8%), physical inactivity (69.4% vs. 32.3%), high stress (41.4% vs. 29.2%), severe anxiety (27.0% vs.…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case-control, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 278 participants or records.
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