Table 1

Background characteristics of the study population exposed and unexposed to childhood abuse

Exposed
n=14 477
Unexposed
n=63 520
Age at study baseline;* mean (SD)29 (5)30 (5)
Missing; n (%)0 (0)1 (<1)
Observation years;† median (IQR)13 (4)13 (4)
Adverse socioeconomic status‡; n (%)2349 (16)5787 (9)
Missing; n (%)187 (1)686 (1)
 Low household income; n (%)1578 (11)3942 (6)
 Maternal short education; n (%)514 (4)1036 (2)
 Non-cohabiting mother; n (%)582 (4)1192 (2)
Ever smoker; n (%)8785 (61)30 745 (48)
Missing; n (%)207 (1)933 (2)
BMI ≥25; n (%)4963 (34)18 717 (30)
Missing; n (%)561 (4)2140 (3)
Depression at study baseline (pregnancy); n (%)2573 (18)4732 (8)
Missing; n (%)105 (<1)447 (<1)
Age at end of study§; mean (SD)42 (6)43 (5)
Missing; n (%)0 (0)1 (<1)
Age at MS diagnosis; mean (SD)36 (6)36 (5)
Missing; n (%)0 (0)0 (0)
Age at MS onset; mean (SD)33 (7)33 (6)
Missing; n (%)0 (0)0 (0)
Type of MS; n (%)
RRMS71 (100)219 (95)
PPMS0 (0)4 (2)
Uncertain0 (0)6 (3)
  • *Study baseline is the year the women were enrolled in the MoBa study, and when the information on exposure were acquired.

  • †Observation years in the time-to-event analysis are calculated from enrollment in MoBa.

  • ‡Adverse socioeconomic status is one of the following: non-cohabiting mother, short education <9 years or low household income (<60% of study population median in the given enrolment year).

  • §Age in 2018 among participants who did not experience the event (censored).

  • BMI, body mass index; MoBa, The Norwegian mother, father and Child cohort study; MS, multiple sclerosis; PPMS, primary progressive MS; RRMS, relapsing remitting MS.