BMI, related factors closely linked with functional disability in MS patients

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — BMI was significantly associated with functional disability in patients with MS, as were additional variables related to BMI, according to a study presented at ACTRIMS Forum.

“We know that (being) overweight and obesity are pandemic diseases in Mexico, the United States and all over the world,” Claudia N. Esparza Hernandez, of the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education in Mexico, said in the presentation, “and it has an impact on a lot of diseases, including multiple sclerosis.”

Esparza Hernandez and colleagues sought to identify whether BMI is linked with functional disability in MS patients and whether other variables, such as waist and hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, a patient’s medical history and additional factors inherent to the disease, may be associated with a higher degree of functional disability.
They conducted an observational, cross-sectional study and enrolled 54 patients (40 women, 14 men, mean age 36.81 years), of whom 26 were of normal weight (control group) and 28 were overweight or obese (study group), as defined by a BMI greater than or equal to 25. Investigators used the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) to evaluate functional disability.

According to study results, an abnormally elevated BMI held statistical significance in association with functional disability (OR =11.31; 95% CI, 3.30-45.58; P < 0.001). In addition, only physical activity and waist and hip circumference were independently associated with functional impairment; most notably, lack of physical activity (95% CI, 1,093-14,492; P = 0.036) and greater waist circumference (95% CI, 1,177-1,927; P = 0.001) correlated with a higher risk for developing functional disability and smaller hip circumference was linked with a lower risk for functional disability (95% CI, 0.648-0.929; P = 0.047).

“Our conclusion was that BMI has a close association with functional disability, but there are other variables that have a greater influence on increased or decreased risk,” Esparza Hernandez said.