Diagnostic delay of multiple sclerosis: prevalence, determinants and consequences.
Mult Scler 2023;
29:1437-1451. [PMID:
37840276 PMCID:
PMC10580682 DOI:
10.1177/13524585231197076]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Early diagnosis and treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are associated with better outcomes; however, diagnostic delays remain a major problem.
OBJECTIVE
Describe the prevalence, determinants and consequences of delayed diagnoses.
METHODS
This single-centre ambispective study analysed 146 adult relapsing-remitting MS patients (2016-2021) for frequency and determinants of diagnostic delays and their associations with clinical, cognitive, imaging and biochemical measures.
RESULTS
Diagnostic delays were identified in 77 patients (52.7%), including 42 (28.7%) physician-dependent cases and 35 (24.0%) patient-dependent cases. Diagnosis was delayed in 22 (15.1%) patients because of misdiagnosis by a neurologist. A longer diagnostic delay was associated with trends towards greater Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores (B = 0.03; p = 0.034) and greater z-score of the blood neurofilament light chain (B = 0.35; p = 0.031) at the time of diagnosis. Compared with patients diagnosed at their first clinical relapse, patients with a history of >1 relapse at diagnosis (n = 63; 43.2%) had a trend towards greater EDSS scores (B = 0.06; p = 0.006) and number of total (B = 0.13; p = 0.040) and periventricular (B = 0.06; p = 0.039) brain lesions.
CONCLUSION
Diagnostic delays in MS are common, often determined by early misdiagnosis and associated with greater disease burden.
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