Shedding light on the link between early life sun exposure and risk of multiple sclerosis: results from the EnvIMS Study.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Lower levels of sun exposure in childhood have been suggested to be associated with increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). In this paper we extend previous work, using two novel analytical strategies. METHODS:Data collected in the Environmental risk factors In MS (EnvIMS) study, a case-control study with MS cases and population-based controls from Canada, Italy and Norway, were used. Participants reported on sun exposure behaviours for 5-year age intervals from birth; we focused on the first three age intervals (≤15 years). We compared two life course epidemiology conceptual models, the critical period and the accumulation model. We also used latent class analysis to estimate MS risk for different latent sun exposure behaviour groups. RESULTS:The analyses included 2251 cases

SUBMITTER: Magalhaes S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6693814 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature