Daiana Bezzini1, Elisa Gualdani2, Matilde Razzanelli2, Mario Alberto Battaglia3,4, Rosa Cortese5, Paolo Francesconi2, Monica Ulivelli5. 1. Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. daiana.bezzini@unisi.it. 2. Agenzia Regionale Di Sanità Della Toscana, Florence, Italy. 3. Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. 4. Research Department, Italian Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Genoa, Italy. 5. Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, Policlinico Le Scotte, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Chronic comorbidities are common in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), thus worsening their prognosis and quality of life, and increasing disease burden. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of common comorbidities in PwMS in Tuscany (Central Italy) and to compare it with the general population. METHODS: The prevalence of comorbidities, including diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hypertension, stroke, heart failure (HF), cardiac infarction and ischemic heart disease (IHD), was assessed in PwMS and in general population resident in Tuscany, aged > 20 years, using administrative data. RESULTS: In total, we identified 8,274 PwMS. Among them, 34% had at least one comorbidity, with hypertension being the most common (28.5%). Comparing PwMS with the general population, PwMS had a higher frequency of hypertension and stroke when considering the whole group, and of diabetes, COPD, and IHD when considering sex and age subgroups. This increased risk was especially evident in the young and intermediate age groups, where multiple sclerosis may play an important role as risk factor for some comorbidities. In PwMS, as well as in the general population, prevalence of chronic diseases was higher in males and increased with age. CONCLUSIONS: Comorbidities frequently coexist with multiple sclerosis and they may have an impact on this complex disease, from the health, clinical, and socioeconomic points of view. Therefore, a routine screening of chronic comorbidities should be a crucial step in clinical practice, as well as the promotion of healthy lifestyles to prevent the onset and to reduce their burden.
OBJECTIVE: Chronic comorbidities are common in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), thus worsening their prognosis and quality of life, and increasing disease burden. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of common comorbidities in PwMS in Tuscany (Central Italy) and to compare it with the general population. METHODS: The prevalence of comorbidities, including diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hypertension, stroke, heart failure (HF), cardiac infarction and ischemic heart disease (IHD), was assessed in PwMS and in general population resident in Tuscany, aged > 20 years, using administrative data. RESULTS: In total, we identified 8,274 PwMS. Among them, 34% had at least one comorbidity, with hypertension being the most common (28.5%). Comparing PwMS with the general population, PwMS had a higher frequency of hypertension and stroke when considering the whole group, and of diabetes, COPD, and IHD when considering sex and age subgroups. This increased risk was especially evident in the young and intermediate age groups, where multiple sclerosis may play an important role as risk factor for some comorbidities. In PwMS, as well as in the general population, prevalence of chronic diseases was higher in males and increased with age. CONCLUSIONS: Comorbidities frequently coexist with multiple sclerosis and they may have an impact on this complex disease, from the health, clinical, and socioeconomic points of view. Therefore, a routine screening of chronic comorbidities should be a crucial step in clinical practice, as well as the promotion of healthy lifestyles to prevent the onset and to reduce their burden.
Authors: Gorana Capkun; Frank Dahlke; Raquel Lahoz; Beth Nordstrom; Hugh H Tilson; Gary Cutter; Dorina Bischof; Alan Moore; Jason Simeone; Kathy Fraeman; Fabrice Bancken; Yvonne Geissbühler; Michael Wagner; Stanley Cohan Journal: Mult Scler Relat Disord Date: 2015-08-18 Impact factor: 4.339
Authors: Daiana Bezzini; L Policardo; F Profili; G Meucci; M Ulivelli; S Bartalini; P Francesconi; M A Battaglia Journal: Neurol Sci Date: 2018-08-08 Impact factor: 3.307
Authors: Ruth Ann Marrie; Scott Patten; Helen Tremlett; Lawrence W Svenson; Christina Wolfson; B Nancy Yu; Lawrence Elliott; Joanne Profetto-McGrath; Sharon Warren; Stella Leung; Nathalie Jette; Virender Bhan; John D Fisk Journal: Mult Scler Relat Disord Date: 2016-05-11 Impact factor: 4.339
Authors: Douglas S Goodin; Michael Corwin; David Kaufman; Howard Golub; Shoshana Reshef; Mark J Rametta; Volker Knappertz; Gary Cutter; Dirk Pleimes Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-08-21 Impact factor: 3.240