Cardiovascular risk estimated in individuals with multiple sclerosis: A case-control study.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Neurology
• Metabolic Diseases

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with a 1.5-fold higher mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) compared to the general population.
• Understanding and assessing CVD risk factors in MS patients is critical for proactive management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients using various cardiometabolic indexes.
• To identify factors associated with increased CVD risk in individuals with MS.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 57 MS patients and 57 matched healthy controls.
• Assessment included physical activity, smoking, anthropometrics, blood pressure, plasma biomarkers, and calculation of Framingham risk score (FRS) and other cardiovascular risk indexes.
• Clinical data such as disease course, duration, disability (EDSS), and treatment were also investigated.

Main Results:

• MS patients exhibited higher waist circumference (WC), body fat percentage (FM%), and Framingham risk score (FRS) compared to controls.
• A higher prevalence of dyslipidemia was observed in the MS group.
• Elevated levels of atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), Castelli risk indexes I (CRI-I) and II (CRI-II), and non-HDL-C were found in MS patients.

Conclusions:

• Multiple sclerosis patients, even with a controlled disease course, demonstrate a higher cardiovascular risk than healthy individuals.
• The study highlights the importance of using Framingham risk score (FRS) for CVD risk assessment in MS.
• Monitoring lipid markers such as Castelli risk indexes (CRI-I, CRI-II) and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is recommended for managing cardiovascular risk in MS patients.