Exposure to parental smoking (ParS) has long been a concern for various health implications, and recent research sheds light on its potential association with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) in later life. This comprehensive study, presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress 2024, delves into the impact of past exposure to ParS, including maternal smoking during pregnancy (MSDP), on the risk of MS among adults in different populations.

Study Overview

Dr. Caterina Ferri and her team from S. Anna University Hospital in Ferrara, Italy, conducted a multi-national study to explore the link between parental smoking and the risk of developing MS. The study analysed data from three diverse populations:

• Canadian Participants: 1,565 individuals
• Italian Participants: 2,040 individuals
• Norwegian Participants: 2,674 individuals

Key Findings

The study’s findings varied across the three populations, highlighting the complexity of the association between parental smoking and MS risk.

Norwegian Population

Among the Norwegian participants, researchers found significant associations:

• Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy (MSDP): Odds Ratio (OR) of 1.38; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) of 1.12 to 1.71
• Maternal Smoking (MaS): OR of 1.39; 95% CI of 1.17 to 1.65

These results indicate a clear association between maternal smoking, both during and after pregnancy, and an increased risk of MS.

Canadian Population

In the Canadian cohort, the study observed a trend towards increased risk:

• Paternal Smoking (PaS): Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) of 1.21; 95% CI of 0.97 to 1.51

While the association was not statistically significant, there was an observable trend suggesting a potential link between paternal smoking and MS risk.

Italian Population

The Italian participants did not show a significant association between any form of parental smoking and MS risk. This indicates that the impact of ParS on MS may vary significantly across different populations and contexts.

Confounding Factors

Dr. Ferri emphasised the challenges in investigating this field due to numerous confounding factors. One major issue is that children of smokers are more likely to become smokers themselves, which independently increases the risk of developing MS. Therefore, it is crucial to adjust results to avoid drawing inaccurate conclusions.

Implications for Future Research

The study highlights the need for further research to understand the intricate relationship between parental smoking and MS risk fully. With varied results across different populations, future studies should aim to account for confounding variables and explore additional environmental and genetic factors that may contribute to this association.

This study presented at EAN 2024 underscores the potential link between parental smoking and an increased risk of MS, particularly in the Norwegian population. However, the findings also reveal significant variability across different countries, indicating the complexity of this relationship and the necessity for further research.

Source: PracticeUpdate