Highlights
- •5-year follow up BICAMS testing was performed on 50 people with multiple sclerosis who participated in the original Irish BICAMS validation study.
- •The cohort demonstrated stability the SDMT and improvement on the CVLT-II and the BVMT-R.
- •NEDA status increased likelihood of stability on the SDMT.
Abstract
Introduction
Cognitive impairment is common in multiple sclerosis at all stages of the condition.
The natural history of cognition in multiple sclerosis has been considered to be deterioration
of cognitive functioning over time. The development of the Brief International Cognitive
Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis(BICAMS) has allowed standardization of a screening
tool for cognitive impairment which can be easily performed in the neurology clinic.
Cross-sectional and validation studies using BICAMS have been widely reported, however
minimal longitudinal assessment of cognition using BICAMS has taken place to date.
Objectives
The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of cognitive impairment
at a five-year interval in participants of an original BICAMS validation study. We
will also evaluate change of the BICAMS subtests over time.
Materials and methods
Participants of the original BICAMS validation study were invited to participate in
the study. Demographic and clinical details were collected. BICAMS subtests, anxiety,
depression and fatigue questionnaires were completed.
Results
Fifty out of the original 67 participants completed BICAMS five years post original
assessment. The prevalence of cognitive impairment in this cohort with a mean age
of 49 and a median EDSS of 2.5 (EDSS of 2.0 at initial BICAMS testing) remained stable
five years following initial BICAMS screening assessment, X2(1)=0.36, p=.548. There was no significant difference in SDMT scores between 2014 and 2019 t(48) = 1.08,
p=.15. There was an improvement in CVLT-II, t(49)=-3.03; p=.004 and BVMT-R, t(49)=-3.38; p=.001.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates overall stability in the prevalence of cognitive impairment
as assessed by the BICAMS. The interval of five years between assessment reduces the
possibility of practice effects, although familiarity with the testing protocol may
exert an influence.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 16, 2021
Accepted:
September 5,
2021
Received in revised form:
August 23,
2021
Received:
June 27,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
