Comorbidities in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis in Croatia

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder.
• Comorbidities significantly impact the management of MS.
• Understanding comorbidity prevalence is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence of comorbidities in a Croatian MS patient cohort.
• To identify common comorbidities associated with MS.
• To explore demographic and disease-related factors influencing comorbidity burden.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, cross-sectional study.
• 101 consecutive MS patients recruited from a tertiary healthcare center.
• Data collected via medical interviews, including comorbidities and disease duration.

Main Results:

• 33% of patients had no comorbidities; 33% had one.
• Depression (24.75%), hypertension (12.87%), and hyperlipidemia (6.93%) were most common.
• Comorbidity count correlated positively with MS duration (p=0.037), and was higher in women and older patients.

Conclusions:

• Comorbidities are prevalent in Croatian MS patients.
• Comorbidity assessment is essential for comprehensive MS management.
• Tailored management strategies are needed to address the impact of comorbidities on patient well-being and quality of life.