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Environmental risk factors in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: a case–control study

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Abstract

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) has unknown risk factors. The aim of this study was to identify the environmental risk factors for NMOSD. A case–control study was conducted in Tehran from 2015 to 2016 among 100 patients with NMOSD. Sex-matched healthy controls (n = 400) were selected through random digit dialing (RDD). Logistic regression was used to estimate unadjusted and adjusted ORs (odds ratio) at 95% confidence intervals (CI) via SPSS. Compared with the control population, in NMOSD patients, the adjusted OR for low dairy consumption per week was (OR = 18.09; 95% CI 6.91, 47.37), following low sea food intake (OR = 13.91; 95% CI 6.13, 31.57) and low fruit and vegetable consumption (OR = 6.23; 95% CI 3.07, 12.62). The lower heavy physical activity (OR: 16.11, 95% CI 7.03, 36.91) among patients had risen the risk of NMOSD. A past history of head trauma was considered a risk for NMOSD (OR: 8.39, 95% CI 4.97, 14.16). The association between NMOSD and intentional abortion only among females (OR: 7.42, 95% CI 2.81, 19.55) was detected. This study indicates significant associations between dietary habits, life style, history of head trauma and intentional abortion in female and the later diagnosis of NMOSD.

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Funding

Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Sharareh Eskandarieh

  2. MS Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Sharareh Eskandarieh, Amir Reza Azimi, Abdorreza Naser Moghadasi & Mohammad Ali Sahraian

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Saharnaz Nedjat

  4. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran

    Ibrahim Abdollahpour

  5. Department of Neurology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

    Nasrin Asgari

Authors
  1. Sharareh Eskandarieh
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  2. Saharnaz Nedjat
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  3. Ibrahim Abdollahpour
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  4. Amir Reza Azimi
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  5. Abdorreza Naser Moghadasi
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  6. Nasrin Asgari
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  7. Mohammad Ali Sahraian
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Correspondence to Mohammad Ali Sahraian.

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Eskandarieh, S., Nedjat, S., Abdollahpour, I. et al. Environmental risk factors in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: a case–control study. Acta Neurol Belg 118, 277–287 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13760-018-0900-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13760-018-0900-5

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