Abstract Details

Title Effects of cigarette smoking and smoking cessation on Multiple Sclerosis severity: a cross-sectional study

Topic General Neurology

Presentation(s) P4 - Poster Session 4 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 7-008

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking and smoking cessation on MS severity.

Background Cigarette smoking is a well-established risk factor associated with a more severe Multiple Sclerosis (MS) course. However, how does smoking cessation affect MS severity has not yet been clarified.

Design/Methods

MS patients were recruited in the Novara Hospital (Italy) in 2011-2013. Cigarette smoking history was evaluated with the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition lifestyle questionnaire and was estimated the lifetime cigarette smoking load expressed in pack year. Ever smokers were categorized into two groups (low smoke load versus high smoke load), according to the median value of the lifetime smoking load distribution.

Severity of MS was assessed through the Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS). Age- and gender-adjusted logistic regression models were estimated comparing the upper versus lower tertiles of the MSSS distribution.

Results MS patients group included 351 patients, 190 ever - (92 current-, 98 former-) and 161 never-cigarette smokers. Sex ratio (M/F) was 0.49 and relapsing-remitting form accounted for 76%. Ever-smokers had median MSSS (3.21) higher than never-smokers (2.33) (p=0.02), and almost two times more likely to fall in the upper MSSS tertile (p=0.024). Whereas, current smokers had no statistically significant difference in median MSSS (3.14) compared with former smokers (3.25). Moreover, we did not find the difference in median MSSS of ever smokers with low (3.44) compared high (3.10) smoke load (p=0.98).

Conclusions The results of our study confirmed the fact that cigarette smoking is associated with more severe disease course in comparison with never smoking. But lower lifetime cigarette smoking load and smoking cessation had no significant effect on MS severity.

Authors/Disclosures
Andrei Ivashynka, MD, PhD (Hospital Moriggia Pelascini) PRESENTER	Dr. Ivashynka has nothing to disclose.
Sandra D'Alfonso	No disclosure on file
Massimiliano Copetti	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Aliona Cucovici (University of Foggia)	Dr. Cucovici has nothing to disclose.
Maurizio Leone, MD	Dr. Leone has nothing to disclose.

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