Author/Authors :
POOROLAJAL, Jalal Modeling of Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center - Dept. of Epidemiology & Biostatistics - School of Public Health - Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran , MAZDEH, Mehrdokht Dept. of Neurology - School of Medicine - Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran , SAATCHI, Mohammad Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , TALEBI GHANE, Elaheh Dept. of Biostatistics - School of Paramedical Sciences - Student’s Research Committee - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , BIDERAFSH, Azam Dept. of Social Medicine - School of Medicine - Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran , LOTFI, Bahar Dept. of Epidemiology & Biostatistics - School of Public Health - Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran , FERYADRES, Mohammad Dept. of Epidemiology & Biostatistics - School of Public Health - Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran , PAJOHI, Khabat Dept. of Epidemiology & Biostatistics - School of Public Health - Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Abstract :
Background: Hamadan Province is one of the high-risk regions in Iran for Multiple sclerosis (MS). A majority of the epidemiological studies conducted in Iran addressing MS are descriptive. This study was conducted to assess MS and its associated risk factors in Hamadan Province, the west of Iran.
Methods: This case-control study compared 100 patients with MS (case group) and 100 patients with acute infectious diseases (control group) from September 2013 to March 2014. A checklist was used to assess the demographic, medi-cal, and family history of the patients. The Friedman-Rosenman questionnaire was also used to assess personality type. Statistical analysis was performed using logistic regression model with Stata 11 software program.
Results: The adjusted odds ratio (OR) estimate of MS was 4.37 (95% CI: 2.33, 8.20) for females compared to males; 0.15 (95% CI: 0.06, 0.43) for people aged above 50 years compared to aged 14 to 29 years; 0.44 (95% CI: 0.21, 0.91) for overweight or obese people compared to normal weights. Crude or indicated a significant association between the occurrence of MS and exclusive breast feeding, season of birth, and smoking. However, the association was not statistically significant after adjustment for other covariates.
Conclusion: The risk of MS is significantly lower in male gender, obese/overweight, and old people. Furthermore, non-smoking, non-exclusive breast-feeding, and born in autumn may increase the risk of MS but need further investi-gation. However, long-term large prospective cohort studies are needed to investigate the true effect of the potential risk factors on MS.
Keywords :
Multiple sclerosis , Risk factors , Case-control study , Iran
