Reasons for Hospital Admission in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis

Health care utilization is higher in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) than in the general population. However, there are limited data on the reasons for their hospital admissions. Our primary objective is to analyze the reasons for the hospitalization of individuals with MS with the goal of identifying preventable causes.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of a cohort of adults with a confirmed diagnosis of MS admitted to Duke University Hospital between January 2018 and January 2020. This yielded a cohort of 210 individuals. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

The most common reason for admission was urinary tract infection (UTI; 10.3%). The average length of stay was 6.1 days for the individuals with MS vs 5.5 days for the general population. The 30-day readmission rates were 14.9% and 15.5%, respectively. A significant number of admitted patients were not on any disease-modifying therapy (DMT), and no difference in median age was identified between those with a DMT vs those without.

Length of stay and readmission rates were similar to those of the general population in this contemporary cohort. Given the prevalence of bladder dysfunction in MS, it is not surprising that a UTI was the most common reason for admission. Actively addressing management of and techniques for bladder dysfunction may decrease the admission rate for individuals with MS. Though we now have more treatment options for MS, many individuals with the highest health care utilization are not on a DMT. Future research is needed to identify the factors that can be addressed to support these patients and reduce preventable hospitalizations.