Dataset Information

Non-parametric analysis of seasonality in birth and multiple sclerosis risk in second generation of migrants in Kuwait.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:There are inconsistent reports about multiple sclerosis (MS) risk among migrants from low to high MS risk geographical regions. This study assessed the overall MS incidence and evaluated seasonality in birth and subsequent MS risk later in the life in second generation of migrants born and lived in Kuwait. METHODS:We assessed the overall and gender-specific MS risk in second generation of migrants born and lived in Kuwait between January 1, 1950 and April 30, 2013. Data on migrants' MS patients diagnosed and registered in Kuwait National MS Registry were used. Hewitt's non-parametric test was carried out to evaluate the seasonality in migrants' MS births in comparison with the second generation migrants' births in general population. RESULTS:During the study period, an overall risk of migrants' MS births (per 100,000 non-Kuwaiti births in general population) was 23.8 (95% CI: 20.8 - 27.0). Gender-specific MS risk showed that non-Kuwaiti female had statistically significant (p?=?0.003) higher risk (28.6; 95% CI: 24.2 - 33.7) than non-Kuwaiti males (18.7; 95% CI: 15.1-23.0). The month-specific distribution of migrants' MS births compared with migrants' births in general population did not differ significantly (?2 goodness-of-fit test statistic?=?9.51, p?=?0.575). Hewitt's non-parametric test revealed an evidence of slight but statistically non-significant (p?=?0.090) increased tendency of migrants' MS births during September through February. CONCLUSIONS:The proportion of migrants' MS births (per 100,000 migrants' births in general population) over the study period was 23.8 (95% CI: 20.8 - 27.0), which was statistically significantly higher than the previously reported Kuwaiti national MS births (16.2; 95% CI: 15.1-17.4) in Kuwait. Non-parametric analysis showed slight but statistically non-significant increased tendency of migrants' MS births from September through February. Knowledge of MS risk factors and how and when they act among genetically vulnerable individuals from gestation to early adulthood will help design prevention strategies.

SUBMITTER: Akhtar S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4236647 | biostudies-other | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Non-parametric analysis of seasonality in birth and multiple sclerosis risk in second generation of migrants in Kuwait.

Akhtar Saeed S Alroughani Raed R Al-Shammari Ahmad A Al-Abkal Jarrah J Ayad Yasser Y

BMC neurology 20140826

<h4>Background</h4>There are inconsistent reports about multiple sclerosis (MS) risk among migrants from low to high MS risk geographical regions. This study assessed the overall MS incidence and evaluated seasonality in birth and subsequent MS risk later in the life in second generation of migrants born and lived in Kuwait.<h4>Methods</h4>We assessed the overall and gender-specific MS risk in second generation of migrants born and lived in Kuwait between January 1, 1950 and April 30, 2013. Data ...[more]

PMID: 25154872

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Project description:Immunological, genetic and environmental factors are believed to play important roles in the pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). There have been many studies on risk factors for MS but these have been mainly in Caucasian populations; robust studies in Arab populations remain relatively uncommon. This study therefore aimed to identify behavioral, socio-cultural, and demographic factors associated with development of MS in Kuwait, a high income Arab country, currently undergoing a demographic transition.In this case- control study, 195 Kuwaiti MS patients and 146 healthy age and sex-matched controls were recruited. Both groups of subjects were interviewed using a structured questionnaire, in relation to anthropometric, socio-cultural and demographic data, residence during the 1990/91 Gulf War and current and past medical history, including medications. We also clinically evaluated, and retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients to derive appropriate clinical information, including associated chronic medical illness requiring long-term treatment.On multiple logistic regression analysis after adjustment for potential confounders including age, gender and BMI, in all the subjects, a positive associations prevail with presence of MS and some sociocultural and demographic factors, which included non-Bedouin ethnicity (AOR 2, 95% CI 1.0-3.9, p 0.049), positive family history of MS (AOR 10.6, 95% CI 3.0-36.9), p < 0.001), and low daily sunlight exposure of < 15min/day (AOR 5.3, 95% CI 2.7-10.5 p < 0.001). In addition, while 41.8% of MS patients indicated at least one comorbidity, only 26.8% of the controls reported any associated physical illness, with the suggestion that presence of certain comorbidities might increase MS risk (AOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.7, p < 0.001). Other risk variables such as smoking status and mode of routine outdoor dressing were not significant in all the MS subjects taken as a whole, but demonstrated variably positive associations in the MS subgroup classified as those with established disease and those who were newly diagnosed and drug naïve.This study suggests that a positive family history of MS and presence of certain comorbidities appeared to be associated with an increased risk of developing MS. In contrast, relatively increased amount of daily sunlight exposure and Bedouin ethnicity appear to somewhat be protective. It is speculated that the relationship of sunlight exposure with MS might be due to vitamin D availability, and is deserving of further study.

Dataset Information

Non-parametric analysis of seasonality in birth and multiple sclerosis risk in second generation of migrants in Kuwait.

Publications

Non-parametric analysis of seasonality in birth and multiple sclerosis risk in second generation of migrants in Kuwait.

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