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A Quantitative Analysis of Suspected Environmental Causes of MS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

Scott Sloka ,
Claudia Silva ,
William Pryse-Phillips ,
Scott Patten ,
Luanne Metz  and
V. Wee Yong
Scott Sloka*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Grand River Hospital, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Claudia Silva
Affiliation:
Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
William Pryse-Phillips
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Memorial University St John's, Newfoundland
Scott Patten
Affiliation:
Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta Departments of Clinical Neurosciences, Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
Luanne Metz
Affiliation:
Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
V. Wee Yong
Affiliation:
Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
*
Grand River Hospital, 835 King St W, Rm 554, 5th Floor Kaufman Bldg, Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 1G3, Canada. Email: p97jss@mun.ca
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Abstract:

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Background:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease with purported environmental causes. Consistent correlations have been found in various settings for latitude, smoking exposure, sunlight, and vitamin D deficiency. We analysed the contribution of various environmental factors to the risk of developing MS from a population perspective.

Methods:

We collated global data of MS prevalence from 54 studies over the previous ten years and calculated the degree of risk contributed by latitude, longitude, ultraviolet radiation (from NASA satellite data and formulae for available sunlight hours), population smoking rates (from WHO data), gender, study date, study demographics, and several socioeconomic factors. We report a very significant negative correlation between MS prevalence and available ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Results:

The lack of available UV radiation outweighs other factors by at least 20 fold (p<10∧-8) from single variate regression analysis. Multiple regression analysis revealed that latitude and longitude are also significant factors; smoking may also provide a very minimal role. The eight prevalence studies from Scandinavia produced prevalences that were lower than expected, given their global geospatial positioning.

Conclusions:

The available ultraviolet radiation is a significant environmental factor, moreso than all the other factors examined.

Résumé:

Résumé:Contexte:

La sclérose en plaques (SP) est une maladie considérée comme ayant des causes environnementales. Des corrélations concordantes ont été établies dans différents contextes pour la latitude, l'exposition au tabagisme, la lumière du soleil et le déficit en vitamine D. Nous avons analysé la contribution de différents facteurs environnementaux au risque de développer la SP à partir d'une perspective populationnelle.

Méthodes:

Nous avons colligé les données globales de 54 études sur la prévalence de la SP au cours des 10 années antérieures et nous avons calculé le degré de risque attribuable à la latitude, la longitude, la radiation ultraviolette (UV) (données obtenues par satellite de la NASA et adaptées selon les heures d'ensoleillement) les taux de tabagisme des populations (données de l'OMS), le sexe, la date de l'étude, les données démographiques de l'étude ainsi que plusieurs facteurs socioéconomiques. Nous rapportons une corrélation négative très significative entre la prévalence de la SP et la radiation UV.

Résultats:

Le manque de radiation UV a plus d'influence que les autres facteurs dans une proportion d'au moins 20 fois (p < 10∧-8) à l'analyse de régression univariée. L'analyse de régression multiple a montré que la latitude et la longitude sont également des facteurs significatifs et que le tabagisme peut jouer un rôle minime. Les huit études de prévalence scandinaves ont révélé des prévalences plus faibles que prévu étant donné la position géographique.

Conclusions:

La radiation UV disponible est un facteur environnemental significatif qui est plus important que tous les autres facteurs examinés.

Type
Original Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 38 , Issue 1 , January 2011 , pp. 98 - 105
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 2011

References

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