Conference paper
COMORBIDITIES IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS IN CROATIA
Marija Bošnjak Pašić
; Referral Center for Demyelinating Diseases of the Central Nervous System, Unit for Neuroimmunology of Central Nervous System, Clinical Department of Neurology, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia ; School of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Katarina Ivana Tudor
; Department of Neurology, Unit for Headaches, Neurogenic Pain and Spinal Disorders, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, School of Medicine,University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Filip Mustač
; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Fabijan Rajič
; Croatian Football Federation, Zagreb Football Association, Zagreb, Cr
Hanna Pašić
; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine (Medical Studies in English), Zagreb, Croatia (student)
Luka Vujević
; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine (Medical Studies in English), Zagreb, Croatia (student)
Helena Šarac
; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia ; Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Centre of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Branka Vidrih
; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Sisters of Mercy, Croatia ; Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Background: Comorbidities in multiple sclerosis (MS) have a big role in management of this chronic demyelinating neurodegenerative
disorder. The aim of this study was to evaluate comorbidities in patients with MS in Croatia.
Subjects and methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study carried out in an out-patient setting at a tertiary
healthcare centre over 10 months, which included 101 consecutive patients with MS (mean age 42.09 (range 19-77) years, 75
female, 26 male, EDSS score 3.1 (range 0.0- -42) years.
Thirty-six patients were treated with disease modifying therapies (DMTs). Information on comorbidities was obtained during the
medical interview. Data was analysed using software package IBM Corp. Released 2015. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows,
Version 23.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.
Results: 33% (n=34) patients did not have any comorbidities, and there is an equal number of patients (n=34, 33%) that just had
one comorbidity. 17.6% (n=18) of patients had two comorbidities, and 15.7% (n=16) three or more comorbidities. The most frequent
comorbidity was depression found in 25 (24.75%) patients (19 (18.8%) women, 6 (5.9%) men), followed by the hypertension in
12.87% (n=13). Hyperlipidemia and migraine were each found in 6.93% (n=7), and hypothyreosis and arrhythmia each in 3.96%
(n=4). The number of the comorbidities was found to significantly increase with the duration of MS (r=0.232, p=0.037). Women
were found to have significantly bigger numbers of comorbidities than men (t=-2.59, df=74, p<0.05). Older patients with MS were
found to have significantly more comorbidities (r=0.335, p<0.01).
Conclusions: This study gives insight into the presence of comorbidities in Croatian patients with MS. Connection with
comorbidities must be considered when managing patients with MS. Any other comorbidity in MS may also affect the condition of the
patient in general, and also their quality of life, and requires a tailored approach in management.
Keywords
multiple sclerosis (MS); comorbidities; Croatia; depression; vascular risk factors (VRFs); migraine
Hrčak ID:
271701
URI
Publication date:
19.10.2021.
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