From: A matched case-control study of risk factors associated with multiple sclerosis in Kuwait
Characteristics | MS patients (N1 = 110) | Controls (N2 = 110) |
---|---|---|
n1 (%) | n2 (%) | |
BMI | ||
< 25 | 50 (50.0) | 54 (52.4) |
25–29.9 | 28 (28.0) | 28 (27.2) |
≥ 30 | 22 (22.0) | 21 (20.4) |
Education level at MS diagnosis (≤ high school vs. > high school level) | 29 (26.4) | 19 (17.3) |
Birth order (1st/2nd or more) | 24 (21.8) | 26 (23.6) |
Parents’ relationship | ||
Unrelated | 80 (72.7) | 73 (66.4) |
First degree cousins | 22 (20.0) | 21 (19.1) |
Second degree cousins | 8 (7.3) | 16 (14.5) |
Presence during Gulf war (yes/no) | 59 (53.6) | 71 (64.5) |
Family history of MS (yes/no) | 33 (30.0) | 13 (11.8) |
Tobacco smoking (yes/no) | 18 (16.4) | 12 (10.9) |
Childhood exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (yes/no) | 47 (42.7) | 56 (50.9) |
Regular passive smoking (yes/no) | 67 (62.0) | 69 (62.7) |
Tonsillectomy before MS onset (yes/no) | 10 (9.1) | 9 (8.2) |
Appendectomy before MS onset (yes/no) | 9 (8.2) | 3 (2.7) |
Receiving Influenza vaccine before MS onset (yes/no) | 18 (16.4) | 32 (29.1) |
Self-reported vitamin D deficiency (yes/no) | 83 (75.5) | 76 (69.1) |