The Relationship Between Cigarette Smoke and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Risk and Survival Time in a Population of ALS Subjects

Abstract

Previous epidemiologic research studies have investigated the association between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and cigarette (tobacco) exposure; however, their results have been inconsistent. In addition, there is limited information available on the association between cigarette (tobacco) exposure and ALS survival time. We assessed the association of cigarette (tobacco) exposure with ALS incidence and survival in a population of ALS subjects. We conducted epidemiological analysis on 125 ALS patients in accordance with the multi-center Clinical Research in ALS and Related Disorders (CReATE) Consortium Phenotype, Genotype and Biomarkers (PGB) in ALS and Related Disorders study. We found that cigarette (tobacco) exposure was not associated with ALS age of onset, risk, or survival in this population. The smoke exposed ALS patients had a higher mean age of onset (57.74) and median survival time in months (57.87) compared to the non-smoke exposed ALS patients mean age of onset (54.56) and median survival time in months (42.66). Cox proportional hazards models were used to further examine smoking habits and other patient variables. This prospective study did not provide substantial evidence of cigarette (tobacco) exposure being associated with ALS age of onset, risk, or survival time.