Table 2.

Comparison of the demographic parameters between asymptomatic first-degree family members and those first-degree family members with an existing diagnosis of multiple sclerosis at GEMS study enrollment.

Demographic Parameter	MS n=113	Asymptomatic n=1583	p-value	p-value Adjusted *
Age at enrollment: year, Mean (SD) 1	39.2 (7.5)	33.8 (8.5)	<0.0001	N/A
European descent, non-Hispanic: n (%)	103 (95%)	1458 (96%)	0.86	N/A
Female: n (%)	96 (85%) 2	1248 (79%)	0.12	0.14
Smoking, current: n (%)	16 (14%)	122 (8%)	0.015	0.01
IM: n (%)	31 (27%)	394 (25%)	0.55	0.39
% first-degree relatives with MS: Mean (SD)	23% (12%)	26% (12%)	0.25	N/A
BMI at age 18: Mean (SD)	23.1 (5.3)	22.7 (4.2)	0.39	N/A

Abbreviation: IM, history of infectious mononucleosis; % first-degree relatives with MS: percentage of a subject's total number of first-degree relatives with MS; BMI, body mass index; N/A: not applicable.

^*Adjusted for age since MS subjects in the GEMS study have a higher mean age at enrollment than asymptomatic subjects.

Note 1: Age at GEMS study enrollment is not the same as the age at MS diagnosis.

Note 2: Among the GEMS subjects with MS, the female to male ratio is 5.6 to 1.