PM2.5 levels strongly associate with multiple sclerosis prevalence in the Province of Padua,Veneto Region,North-East Italy

Abstract

Background:

Incidence and prevalence trends of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the Province of Padua, North-East Italy, suggest that environmental factors may be associated with increased MS risk.

Objective:

To investigate the association of PM2.5 with MS prevalence in one of the most polluted geographical area of Italy.

Methods:

In total, 1435 Italian MS patients residing in the Province of Padua were enrolled. The province surface was classified into urban areas, isolated villages, industrialized places, and countryside. Satellite-derived dust-free and sea salt-free PM2.5 concentrations (annual average 1998–2015, μg/m³) allowed the identification of 18 classes of territorial sections with statistically evaluable numbers of inhabitants. Possible correlations between residential locality types, PM2.5 concentrations, and MS prevalence were investigated.

Results:

MS prevalence was significantly (p < 0.0001) higher in urban areas (ranging from 219 in Padua City to 169/100,000 in other urban areas) compared to isolated villages (116/100,000) or rural domains (109/100,000) and strongly correlated with the annual average concentration of PM2.5 (r = 0.81, p < 0.001). Regression analysis further associated MS cases with PM.2.5 average concentration (β = 0.11, p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

In the Province of Padua, MS prevalence is strongly associated with PM2.5 exposure suggesting that air pollutants may be one of the possible environmental risk factors for MS.

Keywords

Multiple sclerosis epidemiology prevalence PM2.5 air pollution

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