Early respiratory evaluation should be carried out systematically in patients with multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pulmonology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease affecting the central nervous system.
• Respiratory complications are recognized but often underdiagnosed in MS patients.
• Early detection of respiratory dysfunction is vital for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate respiratory parameters in patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).
• To compare respiratory function between MS patients and healthy controls.
• To assess the utility of specific tests for early detection of respiratory impairment in MS.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 30 patients with MS and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls.
• Conducted neurological assessments and used the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).
• Measured respiratory muscle strength using manovacuometry (maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures) and peak expiratory flow (PEF).

Main Results:

• MS patients exhibited significantly lower maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), and PEF compared to healthy controls.
• Respiratory impairment was observed even in MS patients with low functional disability (low EDSS scores).
• A correlation between MS and reduced respiratory function was established.

Conclusions:

• Respiratory impairment, including reduced MIP, MEP, and PEF, is prevalent in multiple sclerosis patients.
• Manovacuometry and PEF are reliable tools for the early detection of respiratory issues in MS.
• Systematic respiratory function testing in MS patients can facilitate timely respiratory rehabilitation and improve outcomes.