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Makkawi S, Maglan A, Khojah O, Allaf F, Alamoudi S, Ahmed ME, Alsharif R, Altayeb M, Alharthi A, Abulaban A, Al Malik Y. Patterns of multiple sclerosis presentation to the emergency department. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1395822. [PMID: 38737348 PMCID: PMC11082281 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1395822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are no strangers to the emergency department (ED) due to the relapsing and progressive nature of the disease and the associated complications. This study aimed to identify patterns of ED visits among patients diagnosed with MS, the underlying causes of these visits, and the factors associated with these visits. Methods This was a single center retrospective cohort study which utilized a non-probability consecutive sampling technique to include all patients diagnosed with MS (471 patients) from March 2016 to October 2021 in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. ED visits were categorized as directly related to MS, indirectly related to MS, or unrelated to MS. Results One in four people with MS visited the ED at least once with a total of 280 ED visits. Most ED visits were ones directly related to MS 43.6%, closely followed by unrelated to MS 41.1%, and then indirectly-related MS visits 15.4%. The most common presenting symptoms in directly-related MS visits were weakness 56.6% and numbness/tingling 56.6% followed by gait impairment 29.5%. Indirectly related to MS or unrelated to MS ED visits were commonly due to neurological 17.7% and gastrointestinal 17.1% causes. Using disease modifying therapy (DMT) was significantly associated with no ED visits (p < 0.001). The use of high-efficacy DMTs was significantly associated with no ED visits than using moderate efficacy DMT (p < 0.001). The use of B-cell depleting therapy (ocrelizumab and rituximab) was significantly associated with no visits to the ED than using any other DMT (p < 0.001). Evidence of brain atrophy on imaging was significantly associated with patients who presented to the ED ≥3 times (p = 0.006, UOR = 3.92). Conclusion Due to the nature of the disease, many MS patients find themselves visiting the ED due to MS related and unrelated issues. These patients are not only required to be treated by neurologists but also by multiple disciplines. The use of high-efficacy DMTs and B-cell depleting therapy may reduce the total frequency of ED visits. Special attention should be paid to patients who have evidence of brain atrophy on imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seraj Makkawi
- College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Neurosciences, Ministry of the National Guard-Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alaa Maglan
- College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Neurosciences, Ministry of the National Guard-Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Osama Khojah
- College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Neurosciences, Ministry of the National Guard-Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faris Allaf
- College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saeed Alamoudi
- College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Fellowship and Residency Training Program, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Eldigire Ahmed
- College of Basic Sciences and Health Professions, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rawaf Alsharif
- Department of Neurology, Ministry of the National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Meral Altayeb
- College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Surgery, Ministry of the National Guard-Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrhman Alharthi
- Department of Neurosciences, Ministry of the National Guard-Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad Abulaban
- Department of Neurology, Ministry of the National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yaser Al Malik
- Department of Neurology, Ministry of the National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Graf J, Ng HS, Zhu F, Zhao Y, Wijnands JMA, Evans C, Fisk JD, Marrie RA, Tremlett H. Disease-modifying drugs, multiple sclerosis and infection-related healthcare use in British Columbia, Canada: a population-based study. LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. AMERICAS 2024; 29:100667. [PMID: 38269206 PMCID: PMC10806332 DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2023.100667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Background Much remains unknown surrounding the disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) used to treat multiple sclerosis and infection-related healthcare use in the 'real-world' setting. We examined if DMD exposure was associated with altered infection-related healthcare use. Methods We assessed if DMD (versus no) exposure was associated with altered infection-related hospitalizations, physician claims, and prescriptions filled in British Columbia, Canada (1996-2017). Healthcare use was assessed using negative binomial and proportional means regression models, reported as sex-/age-/comorbidity-/calendar year-/socioeconomic-adjusted rate and hazard ratios [aRR, aHR], with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]). Findings We identified 19,360 multiple sclerosis cases (13,940/19,360; 72.0% women; mean age at study start = 44.5 standard deviation, SD = 13.3; mean follow-up = 11.7 [SD = 7.3] years). Relative to unexposed periods, exposure to any DMD was associated with a lower infection-related rate of physician claims (aRR = 0.88; 95% CI:0.85-0.92) and hazard of hospitalization (aHR = 0.64; 95% CI:0.56-0.73), and a higher rate of infection-related prescriptions (aRR = 1.14; 95% CI:1.08-1.20). Exposure to any injectable or oral DMD was associated with a lower infection-related rate of physician claims (injectable aRR = 0.88; 95% CI:0.84-0.92, oral aRR = 0.83; 95% CI:0.77-0.90) and hazard of hospitalization (injectable aHR = 0.65; 95% CI:0.56-0.75, oral aHR = 0.54; 95% CI:0.38-0.77), whereas intravenous DMD exposure was not (aRR = 0.99; 95% CI:0.86-1.14, aHR = 0.73; 95% CI:0.49-1.09). Exposure to any injectable or intravenous DMD was associated with a higher rate of infection-related prescriptions (injectable aRR = 1.15; 95% CI:1.08-1.22, intravenous = 1.34; 95% CI:1.15-1.56), whereas oral DMDs were not (aRR = 0.98; 95% CI:0.91-1.05). Interpretation DMD exposure for the treatment of MS was associated with differences in infection-related healthcare use. While infection-related hospitalizations and physician visits were lower, prescription fills were higher. How these differences in infection-related healthcare use affect outcomes in persons with multiple sclerosis warrants consideration. Funding Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); German Research Foundation (DFG).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Graf
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology and the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Huah Shin Ng
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology and the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Feng Zhu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology and the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Yinshan Zhao
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology and the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - José MA. Wijnands
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology and the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Charity Evans
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - John D. Fisk
- Nova Scotia Health Authority and the Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, and Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Ruth Ann Marrie
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Helen Tremlett
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology and the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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