Highlights
- •One or more neurological comorbid disease was present in 17.1% of MS patients.
- •The 21-year survival rate from time of diagnosis was 90.5%.
- •The survival rate was grater compared in other studies.
- •Only the prevalence of epilepsy was increased in MS compared to the general population.
Abstract
Objective
There is increasing interest in the survival of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS itself
may decrease life expectancy; however, several other comorbid diseases may also influence
survival.
We aimed to evaluate frequency of other neurological conditions and survival in the
population-based Finnish Northern Ostrobothnia MS cohort.
Methods
The frequencies of neurological comorbid diseases and their associations with gender,
clinical course, disability level (EDSS) and duration of MS were evaluated in population
based cohort of 491 patients with clinically definite MS that was diagnosed between
1990 and 2010. The survival rate of the patients was also analysed.
Results
One or more neurological comorbid disease was present in 17.1% of patients (n=84). The prevalence of epilepsy in MS patients was 4.7%, which is greater than that
in the general population. Migraine was significantly more common in women with a
benign MS course when compared to other types of MS (p=0.046). A significant association between peripheral nervous system disorders and
primary progressive MS was found (p=0.027). The 21-year survival rate from time of diagnosis was 90.5%. Stroke decreased
the 21-year survival rate of the patients (p=0.003). An association between stroke prevalence and the duration of MS disease was
also detected (p=0.023).
Conclusions
This is the first report of multifaceted neurological comorbidities in MS patients.
Neurological comorbidity is rather common in MS. However, only the prevalence of epilepsy
was increased in MS patients compared to the general population. An association between
peripheral nervous system disorders and primary progressive MS was also found. The
21-year survival rate was greater in the present population based cohort compared
in other studies, but stroke seems to decrease the survival rate in MS patients.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 22, 2013
Accepted:
June 17,
2013
Received in revised form:
June 13,
2013
Received:
March 6,
2013
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
