A national case-control study investigating demographic and environmental factors associated with NMOSD.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Risk factors for aquaporin-4 (AQP4+) antibody neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are not well-established.

Objective

To investigate demographic and environmental factors associated with NMOSD using a validated questionnaire and case-control design.

Methods

We enrolled patients with AQP4 + NMOSD through six Canadian Multiple Sclerosis Clinics. Participants completed the validated Environmental Risk Factors in Multiple Sclerosis Study (EnvIMS) questionnaire. Their responses were compared to those of 956 unaffected controls from the Canadian arm of EnvIMS. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) for the association between each variable and NMOSD using logistic regression and Firth's procedure for rare events.

Results

In 122 participants (87.7% fema

SUBMITTER: Rotstein DL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10152218 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature