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Updated: Jun 13, 2025
A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
Stable excess mortality in a multiple sclerosis cohort diagnosed 1970-2010
M-L Sumelahti1, A Verkko1, V Kytö2
1Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
Background And Purpose:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with excess mortality. The use of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) has recently been associated with survival benefits.
Methods:
A regional MS database was linked with national registries. People with MS (pwMS) diagnosed in 1971-2010 were included and followed up until the end of the year 2019. Five matched controls were acquired for every person with MS. DMTs included in the analyses were interferon and glatiramer acetate.
Results:
Median follow-up time of the 1795 pwMS was 20.0 years (range 0.1-48.7 years). Survival did not differ between decades of diagnosis (p = 0.20). Amongst pwMS, male sex (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.41-2.06), higher age at diagnosis (aHR 1.83; 95% CI 1.65-2.03 per 10-year increment) and primary progressive disease course (aHR 1.29; 95% CI 1.04-1.60) were independently associated with poorer survival. DMT use was associated with better survival (p < 0.0001) and better survival during follow-up (aHR 0.56; 95% CI 0.38-0.81). Compared to matched controls, median life expectancy was 8-9 years shorter in pwMS with survival diverging from controls during the first decade after diagnosis, more clearly in men than women.
Conclusion:
Despite DMT use being associated with better survival, relative life expectancy of pwMS did not change over five decades in Western Finland. Male sex was an independent risk factor for death amongst pwMS, but excess mortality was higher in women. More work and methods are needed to improve survival in pwMS.
Insights
Disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) improve survival for people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). However, relative life expectancy for pwMS has not improved over five decades, with male sex being a risk factor for death.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Epidemiology
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is linked to increased mortality rates.
- Disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) show potential for improving survival in MS patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term survival trends of people with MS (pwMS) in relation to diagnosis decade and DMT use.
- To identify factors influencing mortality among pwMS.
Main Methods:
- A regional MS database was linked with national registries for comprehensive data.
- 1795 pwMS diagnosed between 1971-2010 were followed until 2019, with five matched controls per patient.
- Interferon and glatiramer acetate were the DMTs analyzed.
Main Results:
- Survival did not significantly differ across diagnosis decades.
- Male sex, higher age at diagnosis, and primary progressive MS course were associated with poorer survival.
- DMT use was significantly associated with better survival (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Despite DMT benefits, the relative life expectancy for pwMS has not improved over five decades in Western Finland.
- Male sex is an independent risk factor for mortality, though excess mortality is higher in women.
- Further research and improved methods are needed to enhance survival rates for pwMS.
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