The first 10 years with multiple sclerosis: the longitudinal course of daily functioning

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease affecting daily functioning.
• Understanding the long-term trajectory of functional decline is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the course of daily functioning in multiple sclerosis patients over a decade following diagnosis.
• To differentiate functional changes based on MS onset type (relapse-onset vs. non-relapse onset).

Main Methods:

• A prospective follow-up study of 156 patients with multiple sclerosis.
• Systematic assessments at diagnosis, 6 months, 1, 2, 3, 6, and 10 years.
• Utilized the Expanded Disability Status Scale, Functional Independence Measure, and SF-36 for functional assessment.

Main Results:

• Significant worsening in neurological disability and physical functioning, varying by MS onset type.
• Cognitive and social functioning declined significantly and at an accelerated rate in both relapse-onset (RO) and non-relapse onset (NRO) groups.
• SF-36 scores for mental health, role physical, and general health showed minimal changes.

Conclusions:

• Over the first 10 years post-diagnosis, multiple sclerosis patients exhibit a more pronounced decline in physical functioning compared to cognitive and social functioning.
• No significant time-related decline was observed in mental health, social role limitations, or general health over the study period.