Table 1.
Characteristics of NAKO baseline participants and distribution of childhood and adolescence factors by MS status
| Variable |
Persons without MSa (n = 203415) |
Persons with MSa (n = 858) |
|---|---|---|
| Birth year | ||
| < 1955 | 45610 (22.4%) | 125 (14.6%) |
| 1955–1964 | 50907 (25.0%) | 256 (29.8%) |
| 1965–1974 | 55916 (27.5%) | 278 (32.4%) |
| 1975–1984 | 25551 (12.6%) | 136 (15.9%) |
| ≥ 1985 | 25431 (12.5%) | 63 (7.3%) |
| Sex | ||
| Female | 102494 (50.4%) | 579 (67.5%) |
| Male | 100921 (49.6%) | 279 (32.5%) |
| Age at diagnosis (Mean (SDa)) | NA | 36.3 (11.1) |
| Education | ||
| Low | 5107 (2.8%) | 20 (2.6%) |
| Medium | 146116 (79.0%) | 606 (77.4%) |
| High | 33716 (18.2%) | 157 (20.1%) |
| Missing | 18476 | 75 |
| Migration background | ||
| No | 168796 (83.0%) | 743 (86.6%) |
| Yes | 34576 (17.0%) | 115 (13.4%) |
| Missing | 43 | 0 |
| Number of siblings | ||
| Only child | 30926 (18.0%) | 130 (18.5%) |
| 1-2 sibling(s) | 107814 (62.7%) | 437 (62.3%) |
| ≥ 3 siblings | 33335 (19.4%) | 134 (19.1%) |
| Missing | 31340 | 157 |
| Premature birth (> 4 weeks before due date) | ||
| No | 156024 (95.7%) | 639 (95.5%) |
| Yes | 7001 (4.3%) | 30 (4.5%) |
| Missing | 40390 | 189 |
| Cesarean section | ||
| No | 155208 (94.4%) | 629 (94.2%) |
| Yes | 9292 (5.6%) | 39 (5.8%) |
| Missing | 38915 | 190 |
| Birth weight | ||
| Low | 17531 (12.6%) | 87 (14.8%) |
| Average | 103066 (74.3%) | 421 (71.6%) |
| High | 18030 (13.0%) | 80 (13.6%) |
| Missing | 64788 | 270 |
| Ever breastfed | ||
| No | 29536 (25.7%) | 167 (34.6%) |
| Yes, ≤ 4 months | 45024 (39.1%) | 180 (37.3%) |
| Yes, > 4 months | 40532 (35.2%) | 135 (28.0%) |
| Missing | 88323 | 376 |
| Contact with pets and/or livestock during childhood | ||
| No | 87293 (50.8%) | 348 (49.8%) |
| Yes | 84668 (49.2%) | 351 (50.2%) |
| Missing | 31454 | 159 |
| Attended daycare | ||
| No | 47393 (28.6%) | 196 (29.2%) |
| Yes, 1st attendance at age 3-6 years | 79977 (48.3%) | 336 (50.1%) |
| Yes, 1st attendance at age 1- < 3 year(s) | 28172 (17.0%) | 98 (14.6%) |
| Yes, 1st attendance at age < 1 year | 10143 (6.1%) | 41 (6.1%) |
| Missing | 37730 | 187 |
| Weight at the age of 10 years compared to peers | ||
| Lower | 43328 (26.6%) | 156 (23.5%) |
| Average | 95681 (58.7%) | 387 (58.2%) |
| Higher | 24064 (14.8%) | 122 (18.3%) |
| Missing | 40342 | 193 |
| BMIa at the age of 18 years (kg/m2) | ||
| Underweight (< 18.5) | 18283 (12.7%) | 91 (15.7%) |
| Normal weight (18.5 - < 25) | 108757 (75.8%) | 398 (68.7%) |
| Overweight (25 - < 30) | 13558 (9.4%) | 68 (11.7%) |
| Obesity (≥ 30) | 2884 (2.0%) | 22 (3.8%) |
| Missing | 59933 | 279 |
| Childhood Traumab (Mean (SD)) | 7 (2.7) | 7 (3.0) |
| Missing | 32174 | 161 |
aMS Multiple Sclerosis, SD Standard deviation, BMI Body Mass Index
bAssessed with the Childhood Trauma Screener (5 – 25 points)