Month-of-birth-effect in multiple sclerosis in Austria

Abstract

Background: The month-of-birth-effect (MoBE) describes the finding that multiple sclerosis (MS) patients seem to have been born significantly more frequently in spring, with a rise in May, and significantly less often in autumn and winter with the fewest births in November. Objectives: To analyse if the MoBE can also be found in the Austrian MS population, and if so, whether the pattern is similar to the reported pattern in Canada, United Kingdom, and some Scandinavian countries. Methods: The data of 7886 MS patients in Austria were compared to all live births in Austria from 1940 to 2010, that is, 7.256545 data entries of the Austrian birth registry and analysed in detail. Results: Patterns observed in our MS cohort were not different from patterns in the general population, even when stratifying for gender. However, the noticeable and partly significant ups and downs over the examined years did not follow the distinct specific pattern with highest birth rates in spring and lowest birth rates in autumn that has been described previously for countries above the 49th latitude. Conclusion: After correcting for month-of-birth patterns in the general Austrian population, there is no evidence for the previously described MoBE in Austrian MS patients.

Prediction of Multiple sclerosis disease using machine learning classifiers: a comparative study

“…Cruz et al in the United Kingdom also founded that spring-born patients are at greater risk than autumn-born patients [ 45 ]. Walleczek et al study also found a significant rise in MS births in April and a decline in November [ 46 ]. On the other hand, our analysis opposed the results of some previous literature that reported autumn-born patients had a higher risk of MS than spring [ 1 , 47 ].…”

Vitamin D as a Risk Factor for Multiple Sclerosis: Immunoregulatory or Neuroprotective?

“…The seasonal fluctuations in VitD levels resulted in decreased VitD concentrations in utero , which may contribute the month-of birth effect in MS ( 57 ). While not all studies are in agreement, a large meta-analysis found that individuals born in the Spring have a significantly higher risks of developing MS compared to individuals born in the fall ( 58 – 60 ). Insufficient maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D during early pregnancy is associated with a 2-fold increased risk of MS in offspring ( 61 ).…”

Triggering multiple sclerosis at conception and early gestation: The variation in ultraviolet radiation is as important as its intensity

“…In 12,020 Swedish and 108 Icelandic MS patients no significant difference was seen between expected and observed MS births related to season or MOB [ 45 ]. After correcting for MOB patterns in the general population, there is no evidence for the previously described MOB effect in Austrian MS patients [ 46 ].…”