Body mass index trajectories in pediatric multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Growth and Development
• Chronic Disease Epidemiology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease with a significant impact on pediatric populations.
• Understanding growth patterns in children with MS is crucial for early identification and management.
• Previous research has not fully characterized the growth trajectories of children who develop MS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the growth trajectories of children who develop multiple sclerosis (MS) with those of typically developing peers.
• To assess body mass index (BMI) z-scores in pediatric MS cases relative to matched controls and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) normative data.
• To investigate BMI differences in relation to the age of MS onset.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 40 pediatric MS patients and 120 typically developing controls, matched for age, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
• Collection of weight, height, and BMI data for all participants.
• Conversion of BMI values to z-scores using CDC reference data for comparison across cohorts and in relation to MS onset.

Main Results:

• Pediatric MS patients exhibited significantly higher BMI z-scores compared to both typically developing peers and CDC normative values.
• These significant BMI differences were observed starting from 4 years of age, predating clinical MS onset (median onset age 15 years).
• Height trajectories were comparable between the MS cohort, control group, and CDC standards.

Conclusions:

• Body mass index is markedly elevated in children with MS, beginning in early childhood, years prior to clinical disease manifestation.
• Pediatric MS patients are significantly more overweight at diagnosis than their typically developing counterparts.
• Elevated BMI trajectories may serve as an early indicator or risk factor in the development of pediatric multiple sclerosis.