150820 Physical complaints and quality of life in elderly patients with multiple sclerosis

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Joerg Klewer, MD PhD , Faculty of Public Health and Nursing Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, Zwickau, Germany
Sabine Twork, MD PhD , Department of Health Sciences/Public Health, Dresden Medical School, Dresden, Germany
Dieter Pöhlau, MD PhD , Department of Neurology, Kamillus Klinik Asbach, Asbach, Germany
Joachim Kugler, MD PhD , Department of Health Sciences/Public Health, Dresden Medical School, Dresden, Germany
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common non-traumatic neurological disease of the central nervous system. Progress in medical therapy has increased life expectancy in MS patients. This lead to an increasing number of elderly people suffering from MS, but little is known about the specific problems of this patient group. In collaboration with the German Multiple Sclerosis Association, a representative sample of 4012 German MS patients participated by working on a mailed anonymous questionnaire. The questions were related to demographic data, impairments, therapeutical course, illness related costs and quality of life (SF-36). Altogether 391 of these patients were of age 65 years or older (average age: 70.4 years, 65% females). In general, elderly MS patients suffered significantly from chronic progressive courses of MS and reported increased physical impairments, especially in mobility and urinary tract dysfunctions. Speech disturbances were significantly less frequent. Elderly MS patients received primarily medical care from neurologists and general practitioners. More than 61% of the investigated patients spent 50-500€ monthly to cope with MS related problems. Subjective quality of life (SF-36) impaired in all dimensions, especially in bodily function and bodily role. The results indicate, that elderly MS patients suffer more frequently from chronic progressive courses of MS, and that they experience impairments in mobility. Health care professionals should take notice of this MS patient group not known only some years ago. Therefore they should consider increasing independence and quality of life, to avoid nursing home admissions and additional costs for the health care system.

Learning Objectives:
After the presentation the participants should be informed about characteristics of the course of multiple sclerosis (MS), physical impairments, and quality of life reported by elderly MS patients. Due to the progress in medical therapy for MS and increasing life expectancy, the group of elderly MS patients increases to a greater extent. Our results point to the increased physical impairments, and reduced quality of life in elderly MS patients. Furthermore, the elderly MS patients are forced to spent considerable amount of money to ease the illness related burdens, even in a health care, which covers most of the costs by statutory health insurances. Therefore it is very important to discuss this problem on the APHA Meeting with other public health experts, to develop programs to improve the situation of elderly MS patients

Keywords: Chronic Diseases, Quality of Life

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.