Association of body mass index with progression and prediction of multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Background/Aim: Multiple sclerosis is a disease whose aetiology involves multifactorial interactions among genetic and environmental factors. Obesity is one of the most important environmental factors conducive to the onset and progression of the disease. The aim of the study was to determine the value of body mass index (BMI) in a population of patients with multiple sclerosis compared to the general population, in order to assess the relation between the BMI and physical disability in patients with multiple sclerosis and the influence of the BMI on the course and progression of the disease. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 100 patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (experimental group) and 50 healthy people (control group). In order to determine the degree of physical disability, the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was used. Clinical and demographic data and values of the BMI in both studied groups were collected. Statistical analysis included the descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-square test, analysis of variance, correlation and regression analysis. Results: Mean body weight and BMI were significantly higher in the control group (p< 0.05). There was no significant correlation between EDSS and BMI (p = 0.574). There was a correlation between the course of MS and the fact whether BMI was abnormal or normal (p = 0.031). Conclusion: BMI is an environmental factor that significantly correlates with the progression and prediction of multiple sclerosis, but not to the degree of physical disability.

Clinical Profile and the Extent of Disability in Multiple Sclerosis Patients in Madinah, Saudi Arabia

“…Zamzam et al also showed that higher-BMI patients had higher EDSS scores (95% CI 0.17-0.21). These findings were contrary to those of Tadić et al, who found no evidence of a significant association between BMI and EDSS score [ 28 , 30 ].…”

The role of body fat in multiple sclerosis susceptibility and severity: A Mendelian randomisation study

“…8,13 Our findings are also in line with observational studies that identified no link between NFM and disability progression in MS. 8 By contrast, our findings are in disagreement with the results of other observational studies that identified no evidence of an association between disability progression in MS and adiposity-related measures, with respect to BMI, FM or FP. 14,15 The lack of association in these studies is more likely due to the small sample size, which ranged from 27 to 150 participants, which reduces the power to detect the true effect.…”

“…Whereas some studies report evidence supporting the association between higher BMI, fat mass (FM), fat percentage (FP) and disability progression in MS, 8,13 other studies have identified no evidence of an association between disability progression in MS and BMI, FM or FP. 14,15 The MR approach is an epidemiological technique that utilises genetic variants as proxies to investigate the causal role of a modifiable exposure on an outcome of interest. 16 Therefore, MR studies are less prone to bias from confounders, reverse causation and other biases that raise questions regarding the findings from observational studies.…”

“…Whereas some studies report evidence supporting the association between higher BMI, fat mass (FM), fat percentage (FP) and disability progression in MS, 8,13 other studies have identified no evidence of an association between disability progression in MS and BMI, FM or FP. 14,15…”