Contributions
Abstract: P732
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Comorbidity
Background: Comorbidities in MS patients may result in adverse effects, such as delayed diagnosis and accelerated disability progression. Few studies have examined the prevalence of comorbidities at key time points with the aim to assess changes over time.
Objectives: We compared the prevalence of comorbidities of people with MS to the general Australian population at MS symptom onset and the current age to assess whether comorbidities were more or less prevalent prior to MS onset and whether there were changes during the disease course.
Methods: The presence of 30 comorbidities were assessed in 2016 using 1,519 participants of the Australian Multiple Sclerosis Longitudinal Study. Participants were also asked whether the comorbidity was present prior to the age of MS onset. This data was compared to the general population using the 2014-15 National Health Survey data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were calculated (crude, age-and-sex adjusted, sex and MS onset-type stratified).
Results: Compared to the general population and after age and sex adjustment, people with MS were significantly more likely to have depression, anxiety, high cholesterol, psoriasis, cancer, migraine and anaemia before MS symptom onset, with the strongest associations seen for cancer and anaemia (PR>2.00). At the current age, the PR increased for most of the comorbidities, with the strongest associations observed for anaemia and cancer (PR >5.00), and migraines, depression, and anxiety (PR>3.00). No increased PR was observed for heart diseases and type 1 diabetes, and no significant differences were seen by MS onset type (test for interaction, p>0.16).
Conclusions: We found that prior to MS symptom onset, many comorbidities were already more prevalent compared to the general population and at the current age this number increased and the magnitude of effect was strengthened. These findings highlight the vital need for the prevention and optimal management of comorbidities.
Disclosure: Lara Marie Pangan Lo: nothing to disclose
Bruce V. Taylor: nothing to disclose
Ingrid van der Mei: nothing to disclose
Abstract: P732
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Comorbidity
Background: Comorbidities in MS patients may result in adverse effects, such as delayed diagnosis and accelerated disability progression. Few studies have examined the prevalence of comorbidities at key time points with the aim to assess changes over time.
Objectives: We compared the prevalence of comorbidities of people with MS to the general Australian population at MS symptom onset and the current age to assess whether comorbidities were more or less prevalent prior to MS onset and whether there were changes during the disease course.
Methods: The presence of 30 comorbidities were assessed in 2016 using 1,519 participants of the Australian Multiple Sclerosis Longitudinal Study. Participants were also asked whether the comorbidity was present prior to the age of MS onset. This data was compared to the general population using the 2014-15 National Health Survey data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were calculated (crude, age-and-sex adjusted, sex and MS onset-type stratified).
Results: Compared to the general population and after age and sex adjustment, people with MS were significantly more likely to have depression, anxiety, high cholesterol, psoriasis, cancer, migraine and anaemia before MS symptom onset, with the strongest associations seen for cancer and anaemia (PR>2.00). At the current age, the PR increased for most of the comorbidities, with the strongest associations observed for anaemia and cancer (PR >5.00), and migraines, depression, and anxiety (PR>3.00). No increased PR was observed for heart diseases and type 1 diabetes, and no significant differences were seen by MS onset type (test for interaction, p>0.16).
Conclusions: We found that prior to MS symptom onset, many comorbidities were already more prevalent compared to the general population and at the current age this number increased and the magnitude of effect was strengthened. These findings highlight the vital need for the prevention and optimal management of comorbidities.
Disclosure: Lara Marie Pangan Lo: nothing to disclose
Bruce V. Taylor: nothing to disclose
Ingrid van der Mei: nothing to disclose