Open AccessPREDICTION OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS COURSE: RESULTS OF PROSPECTIVE STUDY
Author(s) -
O. D. Shulga
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
aktualʹnì problemi sučasnoï medicini: vìsnik ukraïnsʹkoï medičnoï stomatologìčnoï akademì
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2077-1126
pISSN - 2077-1096
DOI - 10.31718/2077-1096.20.1.126
Subject(s) - multiple sclerosis , medicine , prospective cohort study , correlation , pearson product moment correlation coefficient , physical therapy , statistics , mathematics , geometry , psychiatry
Background: The course of multiple sclerosis is variable and unpredictable. Despite considerable efforts and research over the decades, one of the major challenges for both neurologists and patients is still to determine the prognosis of multiple sclerosis as well as the factors and markers affecting its progression. Prospective studies can partially contribute to assessment of the factors predetermining the prognosis of the course of multiple sclerosis.
Objective: To evaluate the factors affecting the course of multiple sclerosis according to a 5-year prospective dynamic observation.
Materials and methods: 175 patients with multiple sclerosis were examined over a 5-year follow-up period. The methodology employed was as follows: statistical analysis by using Microsoft Excel for Windows and SPSS; standard descriptive statistics; calculation of Pearson's chi-square for categorical analysis; single-factor analysis of variance. The magnitude and directivity of the correlation dependence were estimated using the Spearman non-parametric correlation coefficient.
Results: 175 patients with multiple sclerosis (123 women and 52 men) were examined over a 5-year follow-up period. Mean age of patients at the onset of multiple sclerosis was 28.46 ± 9.13 years; mean age at the time of diagnosis of the disease was 31.77 ± 9.28 years; the mean length of the disease was 15.48 ± 7.69 years prior the start of the observation. At the time of the patients’ status assessment in 2013, the Expanded Disability Status Scale value was 3.83 ± 1.68 scores and 4.21 ± 1.83 scores in 5 years. The degree of functional disability according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale baseline was statistically significant (p = 0.02). A single-factor analysis of variance showed that sex (p <0.007) was of the highest significance for the degree of difference by the Expanded Disability Status Scale.
Conclusions: According to results obtained, we can suggest the most influential factor for a patient's disability due to multiple sclerosis is sex. Men may develop multiple sclerosis at younger age, the disease in men progresses faster, thus, the degree of functional disability is higher compared with women.