Research from IJMSC September 2024

Here's the latest multidisciplinary multiple sclerosis (MS) research from the International Journal of MS Care.

This study from Brazil found a high prevalence of preexisting conditions like cardiovascular issues, migraines, psychiatric disorders, autoimmune diseases, and respiratory pathologies in individuals with MS. The presence of these comorbidities was linked to a higher risk of disability progression, emphasizing the need for early identification and management to improve patient outcomes. Factors such as local environment, health care access, and demographic variations may influence comorbidity rates and MS progression in different populations.

A study from the University of North Carolina Hospitals Neurology Clinic examined factors impacting the timely initiation of DMT in patients with a new diagnosis of MS or those transitioning care providers. Delays in starting DMT were primarily due to requirements for baseline imaging, lab work, and specialist referrals for complex cases. Despite high rates of DMT discussion and prescription, the average time to obtain medication approval was about nine weeks, highlighting barriers such as prior authorization processes and financial challenges.

This case report from Iran shows that an occupation-based intervention can be used for individuals with MS. Using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, the 9-Hole Peg Test, Expanded Disability Status Scale, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Fatigue Severity Scale as outcome measures, both participants had improvements in occupational performance, occupational satisfaction, and hand dexterity.

How do people with MS, especially those who use assistive devices (AD), perceive their risk of interpersonal victimization due to their disability? This study from the University of Washington found that individuals with a history of trauma and more severe physical disabilities perceived a higher risk of being targeted, with AD use amplifying this perception. Participants from racial or ethnic minority groups who used ADs reported the greatest sense of vulnerability, which was linked to a reduced feeling of control in their daily activities. Although most participants did not feel significantly at risk, a notable minority experienced heightened fears of serious crimes like assault.

This exploratory study examined the effectiveness of monthly telecoaching for individuals with MS following inpatient multidisciplinary rehabilitation (MDR). Results indicated that 1-on-1 telephone coaching helped maintain long-term improvements in health-related quality of life, particularly for patients with neuropsychological goals, compared to a control group without telecoaching. The telephone intervention was more effective than web-based coaching, suggesting that personalized support played a key role in sustaining the benefits of rehabilitation.

Come back next month for more research from the IJMSC community or check out our website for the latest at any time.