Smoking is associated with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis,
investigators reported after analyzing date from the Nurses' Health
Study (NHS) and the Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II). The NHS
enrolled 121,700 women aged 30 to 55 years at baseline in 1976, while
the NHS II enrolled 116,671 women aged 25 to 42 years at baseline in
1989. Smoking history was evaluated at baseline and updated on biennial questionnaires. A total of 315 bases of definite or probable MS were
documents .during 18 and six years of follow-up in the NHS and NHS II,
respectively. Compared with women who never smoked, relative incidence
rates of MS were higher among current smokers (1.6; 95 percent
confidence interval [Cl], 1.2-2.1) and past smokers (1.2; Cl, 0.9-1.6)
after adjustment for age, latitude, and ancestry. The relative incidence
rate increased with cumulative smoking exposure. "Although the
biologic basis for the link between smoking and MS remains to be eluci
dated, these results suggest that smoking may increase the risk of
developing MS," the researchers concluded (Hernan MA, et al. Am J
Epidemiol 2001:154;69-74).
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