title: The risk of multiple sclerosis in the U.S.A. in relation to sociogeographic features: a factor-analytic study.
abstract: The multiple sclerosis (MS) case-control ratio by state originating from the U.S. veteran series from World War II (Kurtzke Neurology 1979; 29: 1228-1235) was geographically compared with 46 sociogeographic variables from the period 1935-1958. Latitude was, by far, the variable most closely associated with MS in univariate testing. Multivariate analysis by factor analysis revealed that the MS rate was associated with 2 independent settings ("factors"). The first one was defined mainly socioeconomically and was characterized by indicators of higher affluence; better nutrition with a higher meat consumption in particular, and a higher sanitary level were the prominent features. The second MS-related bundle comprised characteristics of a colder climate along with further dietary variables (i.e. a diet low in fish and high in dairy products). The findings suggest a possible interaction of both socioeconomic and geoclimatic features in the etiology of MS; sanitation, diet and climate being of particular interest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Academic Teaching Hospital, Darmstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002980:Climate; D004032:Diet; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012307:Risk Factors; D012499:Sanitation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology