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The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test MSPT: An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
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Does a modifiable risk factor score predict disability worsening in people with multiple sclerosis?
Claudia H Marck, Zoe Aitken1, Steve Simpson2
1Disability and Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Australia.
Summary
Lifestyle risk factors like poor diet and inactivity are common in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. However, these SNAP (Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol, Physical activity, Body mass index) factors did not predict future disability worsening in this study.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Chronic Disease Management
- Public Health
Background:
- Lifestyle risk factors, including smoking, hazardous alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, unhealthy body mass index, and poor diet (SNAP factors), are linked to chronic diseases.
- In multiple sclerosis (MS), these SNAP factors are associated with disability in cross-sectional studies, but longitudinal data are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if a combined SNAP risk score predicts disability worsening in individuals with MS.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal, self-reported data from 1225 people with MS, collected 2.5 years apart.
- Linear regression models adjusted for confounding factors.
- Disability worsening measured by the patient-derived Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score.
Main Results:
- The majority of participants (62%) had two or more SNAP risk factors.
- Insufficient fruit and vegetable intake (83%), unhealthy BMI (42%), and physical inactivity (33%) were most prevalent.
- While some SNAP factors at follow-up correlated with disability at follow-up, the baseline SNAP score did not predict disability worsening over the 2.5-year study period.
Conclusions:
- Common SNAP risk factors are associated with disability cross-sectionally in MS but do not prospectively predict worsening.
- Further research with longer follow-up periods, objective measures, and interventions is needed to understand the impact of modifying risk factors on MS outcomes.
