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High frequency of adverse health behaviors in multiple sclerosis

¹ Department of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
² Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
³ Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
⁴ Division of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

	Abstract

Background

Health behaviors influence chronic disease risks in the general population, and may influence health outcomes independently of comorbid diseases. Health behaviors receive less attention in multiple sclerosis (MS) than in the general population. We assessed health behaviors among participants in the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) Registry and the demographic characteristics associated with particular health behaviors.

Methods

In October 2006, we surveyed NARCOMS participants regarding smoking using questions from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey; physical activity using questions from the PEPI study, alcohol use using the AUDIT-C; and height and weight. To determine the independent demographic predictors of health behaviors, we used multivariable logistic regression, either binary or polytomous as appropriate.

Results

Of 8983 responders, 4867 (54.2%) ever smoked; 1542 (17.3%) currently smoked. On the basis of the AUDIT-C, 1632 (18.2%) were at risk for alcohol abuse or dependence. A quarter of participants were obese (n = 2269), and 2780 (31.3%) were overweight. Fewer than 25% of participants reported moderate or heavy leisure-time physical activity. Generally, lower socioeconomic status was associated with a higher frequency of adverse health behaviors accounting for other demographic factors. With increasing levels of disability, the reported intensity of physical activity was lower, and the frequency of overweight or obesity was higher.

Conclusions

Patients with MS exhibit frequent adverse health behaviors, increasing the risk of other chronic diseases. Further research is needed to determine how these behaviors influence disability progression, quality of life, and other MS-related outcomes.

Key Words: epidemiology, multiple sclerosis, obesity, smoking

First published on October 9, 2008, doi:10.1177/1352458508096680

Multiple Sclerosis 2009;15:105.

A more recent version of this article appeared on January 1, 2009


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