Paulus Stefan Rommer1, Kerstin Eichstädt2, David Ellenberger3, Peter Flachenecker4, Tim Friede3, Judith Haas5, Christoph Kleinschnitz6, Dieter Pöhlau7, Otto Rienhoff8, Alexander Stahmann2, Uwe Klaus Zettl9. 1. Department of Neurology, Neuroimmunological Section, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany/Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. 2. MS Forschungs- und Projektentwicklungs-gGmbH, Hannover, Germany. 3. Department of Medical Statistics, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. 4. Neurological Rehabilitation Center Quellenhof, Bad Wildbad, Germany. 5. MS-Center, Jewish Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany. 6. Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany. 7. Department of Neurology, German Red Cross-Kamillus-Clinic, Asbach, Germany. 8. Department of Medical Informatics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. 9. Department of Neurology, Neuroimmunological Section, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disease. Over time, symptoms accumulate leading to increased disability of patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to analyze the prevalence of symptoms and symptomatic treatment patterns in a nationwide MS registry. METHODS: Data sets from 35,755 patients were analyzed. RESULTS: More than two-thirds of patients were women with a mean age of 46.1 (±12.8) years. Median Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) was 3.0. The most frequently reported symptoms were fatigue, spasticity, and voiding disorders. In patients with short disease duration, fatigue was reported most frequently. Symptomatic treatment was most common for spasticity and depression, whereas fatigue was treated only in a third of affected patients. Almost a fifth of patients with EDSS ⩽ 3.5 and neuropsychological symptoms had retired from work. CONCLUSION: Whereas treatment for spasticity and depression is common in our cohort, sexual dysfunction, dysphagia, cognitive dysfunction, and fatigue are treated to a far lesser extent. The need for psychological support, physical, and occupational therapy has to be recognized as neuropsychological symptoms have a great impact on retirement at an early stage. Overall symptomatic treatment rates for the most common symptoms have increased over the last years (p < 0.001).
BACKGROUND:Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disease. Over time, symptoms accumulate leading to increased disability of patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to analyze the prevalence of symptoms and symptomatic treatment patterns in a nationwide MS registry. METHODS: Data sets from 35,755 patients were analyzed. RESULTS: More than two-thirds of patients were women with a mean age of 46.1 (±12.8) years. Median Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) was 3.0. The most frequently reported symptoms were fatigue, spasticity, and voiding disorders. In patients with short disease duration, fatigue was reported most frequently. Symptomatic treatment was most common for spasticity and depression, whereas fatigue was treated only in a third of affected patients. Almost a fifth of patients with EDSS ⩽ 3.5 and neuropsychological symptoms had retired from work. CONCLUSION: Whereas treatment for spasticity and depression is common in our cohort, sexual dysfunction, dysphagia, cognitive dysfunction, and fatigue are treated to a far lesser extent. The need for psychological support, physical, and occupational therapy has to be recognized as neuropsychological symptoms have a great impact on retirement at an early stage. Overall symptomatic treatment rates for the most common symptoms have increased over the last years (p < 0.001).
Authors: Peter Flachenecker; Anna Karoline Bures; Angeli Gawlik; Ann-Christin Weiland; Sarah Kuld; Klaus Gusowski; René Streber; Klaus Pfeifer; Alexander Tallner Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-06-24 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Lisa-Marie Ohle; David Ellenberger; Peter Flachenecker; Tim Friede; Judith Haas; Kerstin Hellwig; Tina Parciak; Clemens Warnke; Friedemann Paul; Uwe K Zettl; Alexander Stahmann Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2021-06-25 Impact factor: 4.379