Primal Health Databank: Study
| Entry No: | 0912 |
| Title: | Prenatal and perinatal factors and risk of multiple sclerosis. |
| Author(s): | Gardener H, Munger KL, et al. |
| Reference: | Epidemiology. 2009 Jul;20(4):611-8. doi: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e31819ed4b9. |
| Place of Study: | USA |
| Abstract: | The study population included participants in the Nurses' Health Studies--2 prospective cohorts that together comprise 238,381 female nurses, who self-reported exposure to prenatal and perinatal factors. In addition, 35,815 nurses' mothers participated by providing detailed information regarding experiences surrounding their daughter's birth. The following prenatal and perinatal factors were studied in relation to MS: fetal growth, birth season, preterm birth, mode of delivery, maternal weight gain, medical conditions, medication use, diethylstilbestrol exposure, prenatal health care, maternal activity level, maternal obstetric history, parental age, and prenatal and childhood passive smoke exposure.
The sample included 723 confirmed MS cases, including 383 with diagnosis after reporting prenatal and perinatal factors. Few associations were observed. These included an increased risk among women whose mothers reported late initiation of prenatal care (after the first trimester) (27 cases; rate ratio = 1.6 [95% confidence interval = 1.0-2.4]), diabetes during pregnancy (2 cases; 10 [2.5-42]), and maternal prepregnancy overweight/obesity (20 cases; 1.7 [1.0-2.7]). Results also suggested a possible increase in incident MS risk among women with prenatal diethylstilbestrol exposure (9 cases; 1.8 [0.93-3.5]).
CONCLUSIONS:
This study provides modest support for a role of prenatal factors in MS risk. The results should be interpreted cautiously due to the limited statistical power, potential for exposure misclassification, and possibility of chance findings. |
| Keyword(s): | multiple sclerosis |
| Discussion: | No discussion mentioned for this entry |
| See Also: | No related entries mentioned for this entry |
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