Natural History of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

Abstract

The North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) Registry is a database that contains information from over 35,000 patient volunteers on symptom severity in 11 domains commonly affected in multiple sclerosis (MS): mobility, hand function, vision, fatigue, cognition, bowel/bladder function, sensory, spasticity, pain, depression, and tremor/coordination. The Registry affords a unique opportunity to study the frequency and severity of domain-specific impairment in a contemporary, mostly treated MS cohort over the course of the disease. The objective of this work was to calculate symptom prevalence in each of the 11 domains for years 0 to 30 from symptom onset. The resulting "symptom prevalence tables" demonstrate that a majority of participants perceive at least some degree of impairment in most domains as early as the first year of disease. The severity of impairment increases with disease duration across all domains, but the patterns of disability accumulation differ. The symptom prevalence tables illustrate the magnitude of perceived impact of the disease and highlight the extent of unmet need in symptomatic management. The tables are easy to use and allow MS patients and their clinicians to compare an individual's own impairment in any of the 11 domains to that of NARCOMS participants with the same disease duration.

Effect of Self-Care Education on Social Adaptability in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

“…These effects in turn can cause maladaptive responses, such as tendency to be alone and isolated, dissatisfaction with others, and inability to communicate, anxiety, nervousness, and depression (11). A study on patients with MS showed that the patients experienced social and familial outcomes of the disease in 4 realms, familial relationships, social relationships, occupational disruption, and failure to meet living expenses (7).…”

Disability in multiple sclerosis

“…Analyses of prevalence of self-rated impairment in 11 neurologic domains as a function of disease duration in NARCOMS registrants is presented elsewhere. 29 While maximum ranks of PDDS, displayed in the DET, can help patients and clinicians to better understand disease prognosis, mean ranks (P-MSSS) are more appropriate as an outcome measure in trials and observational studies. For statistical purposes, mean ranks are superior to maximum ranks (cumulative frequency) because, unlike maximum ranks, mean ranks are standardized for differences in the disease duration profiles of the subpopulations.…”

Effectiveness and Tolerability of THC/CBD Oromucosal Spray for Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity in Italy: First Data from a Large Observational Study

“…Spasticity is among the most common consequences of MS-induced damage to the central nervous system and is present to some degree in about two-thirds of patients [6,7]. Especially in cases of moderate-to-severe MS spasticity - that is, whenever spasticity causes limitations to mobility, activities of daily living (e.g.…”