Sarah A Morrow1, Devon Conway2, Tom Fuchs3, Curtis Wojcik3, Mahmut Unverdi3, Faizan Yasin3, Jeta Pol3, Sveltlana Eckert3, David H Hojnacki3, Michael Dwyer4, Robert Zivadinov5, Bianca Weinstock-Guttman3, Ralph Hb Benedict3. 1. Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada/London Health Sciences Center, London, ON, Canada. 2. Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USAV. 3. Department of Neurology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY, USA. 4. Department of Neurology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY, USA. 5. Clinical Translational Science Institute, Department of Neurology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, and Center for Biomedical Imaging, State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cognition is affected by relapses in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), yet the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) does not readily detect cognitive changes. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to improve the detection of cognitive decline during relapses, by incorporating the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) into the cerebral Functional System Score (CFSS) of the EDSS. METHODS: This prospective study recruited PwMS from three dedicated MS centers. All subjects had EDSS, SDMT, and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) administered. Subjects experiencing a relapse were assigned to the relapse group (RG). Matched controls from the larger cohort were assigned to the stable group (SG). RG and SG subjects underwent the same evaluation at relapse and 3 months later. Our main outcomes were a modified CFSS (m-CFSS) and modified EDSS (m-EDSS), incorporating SDMT and FSS, accounting for cognitive performance and fatigue rating, during relapse. RESULTS: The full cohort included 592 subjects; 80 qualified for RG and 72 were matched to the SG. The m-CFSS was significantly higher than CFSS at baseline (median = 2 vs. median = 0, p < 0.001) and relapse (median = 2 vs. median = 1, p < 0.001). The m-EDSS was higher than EDSS (median 3.0 vs. 2.5, p = 0.02) at relapse, where 35 RG subjects (43.8%) had higher m-EDSS than EDSS at relapse. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that incorporating the SDMT and FSS improves the accuracy of the EDSS, by accounting for cognitive changes, during relapse activity.
BACKGROUND: Cognition is affected by relapses in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), yet the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) does not readily detect cognitive changes. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to improve the detection of cognitive decline during relapses, by incorporating the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) into the cerebral Functional System Score (CFSS) of the EDSS. METHODS: This prospective study recruited PwMS from three dedicated MS centers. All subjects had EDSS, SDMT, and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) administered. Subjects experiencing a relapse were assigned to the relapse group (RG). Matched controls from the larger cohort were assigned to the stable group (SG). RG and SG subjects underwent the same evaluation at relapse and 3 months later. Our main outcomes were a modified CFSS (m-CFSS) and modified EDSS (m-EDSS), incorporating SDMT and FSS, accounting for cognitive performance and fatigue rating, during relapse. RESULTS: The full cohort included 592 subjects; 80 qualified for RG and 72 were matched to the SG. The m-CFSS was significantly higher than CFSS at baseline (median = 2 vs. median = 0, p < 0.001) and relapse (median = 2 vs. median = 1, p < 0.001). The m-EDSS was higher than EDSS (median 3.0 vs. 2.5, p = 0.02) at relapse, where 35 RG subjects (43.8%) had higher m-EDSS than EDSS at relapse. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that incorporating the SDMT and FSS improves the accuracy of the EDSS, by accounting for cognitive changes, during relapse activity.
Entities:
Keywords:
Expanded Disability Status Scale; Multiple sclerosis; Symbol Digit Modalities Test; cognition; relapses
Authors: Dejan Jakimovski; Ralph H B Benedict; Bianca Weinstock-Guttman; Osman Ozel; Tom A Fuchs; Norah Lincoff; Niels Bergsland; Michael G Dwyer; Robert Zivadinov Journal: J Neurol Date: 2021-02-15 Impact factor: 4.849