Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: This study aimed to determine the seasonal features of the debut and clinical course of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).This study examined 105 patients with RRMS aged 18 to 49 years.A clinical and neurological examination was conducted, which included the collection of complaints, anamnesis of the disease (including clarification of the month of disease onset and last exacerbation, as well as the use of disease-modifying therapy), information about the patient's life, and a neurological examination with an EDSS score.The study showed that most patients surveyed (23.8%) had their RRMS debut in March.The most common months for the first symptoms of the disease were March (23.8%),February (16.2%) and May (12.4%), indicating a tendency for the disease to debut in spring (41.0%overall).The frequency of exacerbations in the last year was 48.6% (95% CI 39.0 -58.1) among all subjects.Most exacerbations were observed in spring (34.3%), with a peak in April (12.4%).Patients taking disease-modifying therapy had the lowest exacerbation rate of 8.5% (95% CI 0.53 -16.49), while among those not taking such therapy, it was 81.0% (95% CI 70.95 -91.12), exceeding (p<0.001) the exacerbation rate in patients taking disease-modifying therapy by 72.5% (95% CI 55. 3 -83.5).There was also a statistically significant association between the month of diagnosis and the number of exacerbations in the last year (rs=0.21;p=0.032).According to the results obtained, most often, multiple sclerosis (MS) among patients in the general sample began to develop in the spring.At the same time, the diagnosis was made more often in autumn.It was found that a significantly higher frequency of exacerbations was observed in the spring months.Taking disease-modifying therapy substantially reduces the risk of exacerbations.
Authors: O. V. Somilo, O. I. Kalbus
Institution: Dnipro State Medical University
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4387237456