Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2025
The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test MSPT: An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
The Prevalence of Comorbidities and Their Association With Disability Progression in Individuals With Multiple
Marco Aurélio Gralha de Caneda1, Camila Batista Oliveira Silva2, Maria Cecília Aragon de Vecino3
1From the Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Background:
Comorbidities negatively impact the course of multiple sclerosis (MS). Identifying them is essential, as they represent potentially modifiable prognostic factors that can adversely influence the disease course. However, comorbidity prevalence remains underexplored in certain populations, including in individuals in Brazil.
Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, we describe the frequency of comorbidities and their correlation with MS disability progression in a Brazilian population by reviewing the medical records of patients from a single MS center in Brazil. Preexisting comorbidities and those present at the time of MS diagnosis were screened. We assessed the prevalence of comorbidities, their prevalence ratios (PR) and the association between them, their number, and the confirmed disability worsening (CDW) that emerged during the follow-up visits.
Results:
Comorbidities were present in 68.9% of individuals. The most prevalent comorbidities included cardiovascular diseases (19.3%), migraine (13.3%), psychiatric disorders (12.4%), smoking (12.4%), autoimmune diseases (12.0%), respiratory diseases (10.3%), and neoplasms (5.6%). Patients with 1 comorbidity and those with multiple comorbidities (≥ 3) had a significant PR for CDW (2.67, P = .01; 1.25, P = .03, respectively). Cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases presented significant PR for CDW (2.28, P = .03; 4.2, P = .004, respectively).
Conclusions:
Comorbidities are more prevalent among Brazilian individuals with MS than in the general population and are associated with disease progression. Identifying and managing them may mitigate their adverse effects on disease course.
Related Concept Videos
01:08Prevalence and Incidence
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health...
01:18Factors Affecting Illness
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness,...
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
01:25Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD:
01:20COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
01:15Parkinson's Disease: Overview