Medical comorbidity in adults newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis

Comorbidities are common in individuals newly diagnosed patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), according to a new study in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. The study was done by analyzing data from 230 adults with new MS or CIS diagnoses. The research was led by former research study assistant—and current University of Washington School of Medicine medical student—Sydney J. Pattison. Also on the research team were Postdoctoral Fellow Erin Mistretta, and Professors Dawn Ehde and Kevin Alschuler from the UW Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, as well as Anna Katz, PhD, from the University of Michigan.

According to the study, common comorbidities within one year of diagnosis included increased mental health conditions, which were related to higher fatigue in patients; neurological conditions, which were related to reduced exercise, and musculoskeletal conditions, which were related to more pain interference. The study also identified demographic associations, including links between older age and hypertension and between race and heart condition. Early treatment strategies should be investigated further to improve patient outcomes and manage disease progression.