Time between the first symptom, diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis in a Brazilian cohort. The impact of early diagnosis

IF 2.9 3区医学 Q2 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

Multiple sclerosis and related disorders Pub Date : 2024-11-19 DOI:10.1016/j.msard.2024.106178

Jéssica Resende Vaz de Melo , Lucas Alexandre Santos Marzano , Rodrigo Kleinpaul , Juliana Santiago-Amaral

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosis can be challenging, especially in populations where the disease is rare. In Brazil, the average prevalence is 14/100,000 inhabitants, lower than the worldwide. Early treatment initiation can markedly reduce disease activity and accumulation of disability. Therefore, delayed diagnosis and access to disease modifying therapy (DMT) can have a negative impact on the course of MS.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to estimate the mean time between the first relapse, the diagnosis of MS and initiation of treatment in a cohort of Brazilian MS patients.

Material and method

We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of MS patients who met the 2017 McDonald diagnostic criteria followed in a MS reference center in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. We assessed demographic and clinical data with focus on time to first symptom, time to diagnosis and treatment begging. The last Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was collected to access disability.

The program GraphPad Prism 8.4.3. was used for the statistical analysis.

Results

Data of 66 patients were analyzed, 77 % (51) were women. The mean age of the first symptom, diagnosis and DMT initiation was, respectively, 30,06 (± 12,43), 35,2 (± 13,59) and 36,10 (± 13,89) years. In 32 (46,38 %) patients the diagnosis was early (<1 year of disease), in 18 (26,09 %) between 1 and 5 years and in 19 (27,54 %) after to five years. Once the diagnosis was established, 65,5 % had access to DMT within 6 months and 79,71 % in the first year.

Patients with diagnosis in the two first years had their first symptom at a younger age (p < 0.05). Comparing these two groups, patients with an earlier diagnosis presented less disability (EDSS: 3,5 vs 1,5; p < 0.05).

Conclusion

MS diagnosis can be challenging especially in low prevalence population of diseased and developing countries. Our study demonstrated the importance of early recognition of MS and its precocious intervention, impacting in reducing of disability a long term

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来源期刊

Multiple sclerosis and related disorders CLINICAL NEUROLOGY-

CiteScore

5.80

自引率

20.00%

发文量

814

审稿时长

66 days

期刊介绍： Multiple Sclerosis is an area of ever expanding research and escalating publications. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders is a wide ranging international journal supported by key researchers from all neuroscience domains that focus on MS and associated disease of the central nervous system. The primary aim of this new journal is the rapid publication of high quality original research in the field. Important secondary aims will be timely updates and editorials on important scientific and clinical care advances, controversies in the field, and invited opinion articles from current thought leaders on topical issues. One section of the journal will focus on teaching, written to enhance the practice of community and academic neurologists involved in the care of MS patients. Summaries of key articles written for a lay audience will be provided as an on-line resource. A team of four chief editors is supported by leading section editors who will commission and appraise original and review articles concerning: clinical neurology, neuroimaging, neuropathology, neuroepidemiology, therapeutics, genetics / transcriptomics, experimental models, neuroimmunology, biomarkers, neuropsychology, neurorehabilitation, measurement scales, teaching, neuroethics and lay communication.