Contributions
Abstract: EP1791
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Therapy - disease modifying - 32 Others
Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disease with several symptomatic and disease modifying treatment options. As it is a disabling disease and none of these treatments warrants relief in all patients, some of them tend to resort to complementary and alternative medicines (CAM). CAM are those therapies that are not currently considered an integral part of conventional allopathic medical practice. They may lack biomedical explanations but as they become better researched. Different surveys in North America and Europe show a variable use of them, but there are not studies performed in neither Latin America nor Spain.
Objective: To set the frequency and describe the use of CAM use in a Hispanic population with MS.
Methods: An anonymous survey was performed in January 2017 in a Hispanic population with MS that participate in patient groups of the social network Facebook (closed groups Esclerosis Múltiple and Amig@s con Esclerosis Multiple). Data obtained were age, sex, residence country, educational level, progressive or relapsing-remitting disease, current treatment, disability, and questions about use of CAM. A multivariate anaylisis was performed in order to identify predictors of use of CAM.
Results: 463 patients answered the survey. Average age was 41 (SD 9.73), Mean years of disease 9 (SD 7.4), 78% females. Most frequent residency countries were Spain, Mexico and Argentina. Relapsing - remitting had forms 59% and progressive forms 20%. Estimated disability showed 64% of fully ambulatory, 29% walked with assistance, and 7% restricted to wheelchair or bed. CAM were used in 51% of patients, of which 12% stopped immunomodulatory treatment to continue only with CAM, and 34% never told their doctor that they used CAM. Most frequent CAM were dietary supplements and acupuncture. 82% noted some benefit, most frequent symptomatic relief. 6% reported any adverse event related to CAM. Multivariate analysis identified as predictors of CAM use higher level of education p 0.0008, OR 1.8 (CI 1.28 - 2.54); country of residence Venezuela p 0.036, OR 1.26 (IC 1.01 - 1.56); and fully ambulatory 0.002, OR for restricted to bed 0.57 (IC 0.39 - 0.81).
Discussion: CAM utilization in this Hispanic sample seems to be significant, with an important number o patients stopping their treatment or not consulting with their doctors. Treating physicians should be aware of this problem and discuss with their patients.
Disclosure: No conflict of interest to declare.
Abstract: EP1791
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Therapy - disease modifying - 32 Others
Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disease with several symptomatic and disease modifying treatment options. As it is a disabling disease and none of these treatments warrants relief in all patients, some of them tend to resort to complementary and alternative medicines (CAM). CAM are those therapies that are not currently considered an integral part of conventional allopathic medical practice. They may lack biomedical explanations but as they become better researched. Different surveys in North America and Europe show a variable use of them, but there are not studies performed in neither Latin America nor Spain.
Objective: To set the frequency and describe the use of CAM use in a Hispanic population with MS.
Methods: An anonymous survey was performed in January 2017 in a Hispanic population with MS that participate in patient groups of the social network Facebook (closed groups Esclerosis Múltiple and Amig@s con Esclerosis Multiple). Data obtained were age, sex, residence country, educational level, progressive or relapsing-remitting disease, current treatment, disability, and questions about use of CAM. A multivariate anaylisis was performed in order to identify predictors of use of CAM.
Results: 463 patients answered the survey. Average age was 41 (SD 9.73), Mean years of disease 9 (SD 7.4), 78% females. Most frequent residency countries were Spain, Mexico and Argentina. Relapsing - remitting had forms 59% and progressive forms 20%. Estimated disability showed 64% of fully ambulatory, 29% walked with assistance, and 7% restricted to wheelchair or bed. CAM were used in 51% of patients, of which 12% stopped immunomodulatory treatment to continue only with CAM, and 34% never told their doctor that they used CAM. Most frequent CAM were dietary supplements and acupuncture. 82% noted some benefit, most frequent symptomatic relief. 6% reported any adverse event related to CAM. Multivariate analysis identified as predictors of CAM use higher level of education p 0.0008, OR 1.8 (CI 1.28 - 2.54); country of residence Venezuela p 0.036, OR 1.26 (IC 1.01 - 1.56); and fully ambulatory 0.002, OR for restricted to bed 0.57 (IC 0.39 - 0.81).
Discussion: CAM utilization in this Hispanic sample seems to be significant, with an important number o patients stopping their treatment or not consulting with their doctors. Treating physicians should be aware of this problem and discuss with their patients.
Disclosure: No conflict of interest to declare.