[Features of the clinical course of multiple sclerosis as a factor in persistent disability]

To study the effect of clinical factors on the disability of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients based on the data from the Republic of Tatarstan.

The study was based on the patient data from the regional register of patients with MS of the Republic of Tatarstan maintained at the Republican Clinical Diagnostic Center for Demyelinating Diseases of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tatarstan. Of the 2.673 patients with a confirmed MS diagnosis, 749 (28.0%) had disabilities, including 299 (11.2%) with disability group III, 267 (10.0%) with disability group II, and 183 (6.8%) with disability group I.

It has been established that the disability of MS patients depends on various clinical factors, such as the nosological form of MS, onset variants, values of the Extended Disability Rating Scale (EDSS) at the time of inclusion in the register, and the availability of treatment with multiple sclerosis disease-modifying drugs (MSDMD). Patients with secondary-progressive or primary-progressive MS, with slight symptoms at the onset of the disease, not receiving MSDMD treatment, and with baseline EDSS scores over 3 at the time of inclusion in the register have a higher risk of disability.

The obtained results demonstrate the importance of timely access to medical care and specific treatment for patients with MS to preserve their working capacity and active life and significantly delay severe health disorders. The persistent nature of disability in patients with MS and the high rate of disability in patients (more than ¼ of those with MS) indicates the relevance of further study of the factors influencing the occurrence and development of disability in this group of patients.