title: The physical anthropometry, lifestyle habits and blood pressure of people presenting with a first clinical demyelinating event compared to controls: the Ausimmune study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lifestyle factors prior to a first clinical demyelinating event (FCD), a disorder often preceding the development of clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS), have not previously been examined in detail. Past tobacco smoking has been consistently associated with MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a multicentre incident case-control study. Cases (n = 282) were aged 18-59 years with an FCD and resident within one of four Australian centres (from latitudes 27°S to 43°S), from 1 November 2003 to 31 December 2006. Controls (n = 558) were matched to cases on age, sex and study region, without CNS demyelination. Exposures measured included current and past tobacco and marijuana, alcohol and beverage use, physical activity patterns, blood pressure and physical anthropometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A history of smoking ever was associated with FCD risk (AOR 1.89 (95%CL 1.82, 3.52)). Marijuana use was not associated with FCD risk after adjusting for confounders such as smoking ever but the estimates were imprecise because of a low prevalence of use. Alcohol consumption was common and not associated with FCD risk. No case-control differences in blood pressure or physical anthropometry were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Past tobacco smoking was positively associated with a risk of FCD but most other lifestyle factors were not. Prevention efforts against type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease by increasing physical activity and reducing obesity are unlikely to alter MS incidence, and more targeted campaigns will be required.
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne-Louise
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ponsonby
authors.forename: Robyn M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dear
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van der Mei
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Caron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coulthard
authors.forename: Terence
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dwyer
authors.forename: Trevor J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kilpatrick
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: McMichael
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Pender
authors.forename: Patricia C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Valery
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000886:Anthropometry; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003069:Coffee; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003069:Coffee
keywords: Multiple sclerosis; demyelination; lifestyle; marijuana; obesity; tobacco