Contributions
Abstract: P1006
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Epidemiology
Introduction: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) development and course involve both genetic and environmental factors.
Objectives and aim: The aim of this study was to compare MS patients living in Sicily and born in different Countries.
Methods: We used medical records to collect data from 94 foreign-born and 94, age- and sex-matched, native-born Italian patients. All subjects fulfilled current diagnostic criteria for MS. We evaluated clinical data at disease onset, diagnosis and follow-up through 3 comparisons: (1) foreign-born versus native-born Italian patients; (2) high-income Country-born patients (West-Europe and United States; n=159) versus low-income Country-born patients (East-Europe, South-America, Africa, Middle-East; n=29); (3) and a comparison among patients born in different geographical areas: Western Countries (West-Europe and United States; n=160), East-Europe (n=13), South-America (n=5), and Africa and Middle-East (n=10).
Results: We found no statistically significant relationship between place of birth and family history for autoimmune diseases, comorbidities, EDSS at onset and at follow-up, nor relapse rate. Time from onset to diagnosis was significantly longer in patients born in low-income Countries (100.2 months vs. 55.4 months; p=.004). Regarding clinical onset, we found significantly different patterns in spinal (p=.048) and cerebellar involvement (p=.017) between high-income and low-income Country-born patients. The comparison among patients born in different geographical areas showed significant differences in sovratentorial (p=.009), optic (p=.012), brain-stem (p=.010), cerebellar (p=.001), and spinal (p=.009) involvement.
Conclusion: We found similar anamnestic, laboratory, and radiological data in our cohorts of MS patients. However, we observed significant differences in clinical onset, which suggests that both socio-economic status and geographic factors in native Country could influence neurological system susceptibility to MS. The observed difference in time from onset to diagnosis may reflect indeed the still existing differences in Health Care Facilities among people born in different Countries.
Disclosure: No specific financial support was received for this study.
Abstract: P1006
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Epidemiology
Introduction: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) development and course involve both genetic and environmental factors.
Objectives and aim: The aim of this study was to compare MS patients living in Sicily and born in different Countries.
Methods: We used medical records to collect data from 94 foreign-born and 94, age- and sex-matched, native-born Italian patients. All subjects fulfilled current diagnostic criteria for MS. We evaluated clinical data at disease onset, diagnosis and follow-up through 3 comparisons: (1) foreign-born versus native-born Italian patients; (2) high-income Country-born patients (West-Europe and United States; n=159) versus low-income Country-born patients (East-Europe, South-America, Africa, Middle-East; n=29); (3) and a comparison among patients born in different geographical areas: Western Countries (West-Europe and United States; n=160), East-Europe (n=13), South-America (n=5), and Africa and Middle-East (n=10).
Results: We found no statistically significant relationship between place of birth and family history for autoimmune diseases, comorbidities, EDSS at onset and at follow-up, nor relapse rate. Time from onset to diagnosis was significantly longer in patients born in low-income Countries (100.2 months vs. 55.4 months; p=.004). Regarding clinical onset, we found significantly different patterns in spinal (p=.048) and cerebellar involvement (p=.017) between high-income and low-income Country-born patients. The comparison among patients born in different geographical areas showed significant differences in sovratentorial (p=.009), optic (p=.012), brain-stem (p=.010), cerebellar (p=.001), and spinal (p=.009) involvement.
Conclusion: We found similar anamnestic, laboratory, and radiological data in our cohorts of MS patients. However, we observed significant differences in clinical onset, which suggests that both socio-economic status and geographic factors in native Country could influence neurological system susceptibility to MS. The observed difference in time from onset to diagnosis may reflect indeed the still existing differences in Health Care Facilities among people born in different Countries.
Disclosure: No specific financial support was received for this study.