Abstract Details

Title Disability Progression in MS is Independent of Lifestyle Behavior and Stress

Topic Multiple Sclerosis

Presentation(s) MS and CNS Inflammatory Disease Posters (7:00 AM-5:00 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 248

Objective

To determine if there are significant differences between multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with benign disease and those with severe disease pertaining to lifestyle, behavior and stress

Background

It is generally believed that lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep, and stress may have an impact on the disease course of MS relapse rate and disease progression. Many studies of lifestyle factors do not evaluate differences between these factors and disease activity and do not consider the relationship between childhood/young adulthood and current quality of life. In this study, we surveyed progressive and benign MS patients on topics concerning lifestyle in both childhood/young adulthood (YA) and after disease diagnosis.

Design/Methods We examined data from 100 patients seen at the Tisch MSRCNY. Data was collected using a de-identified patient survey covering general lifestyle, childhood, YA, diet, physical activity, stress, and disease history. We preselected patients from two subsets: progressive (N=50) and benign (N=50). The progressive group was defined as patients with EDSS ≥ 6 and the benign group was defined by classification by their treating neurologist and EDSS ≤ 2.5. The mean disease duration for both groups exceeded 20 years.

Results We could not identify a single lifestyle, dietary or pre-morbid stressor that was associated with a benign or severe outcome in MS. Once MS was established, patients with severe disease used significantly less alcohol than patients with benign disease. Other factors of significance included : patients with severe progressive disease were more likely to try diet modifications; Depression and use of anti-depressants occurred more often in patients with severe disease; and finally patients with progressive disease utilized physical therapy more than benign disease patients .

Conclusions Our study shows that disease prognosis is likely not affected by lifestyle issues. Patients with disability are more susceptible to depression are more likely to alter diet and engage in physical therapy.

Authors/Disclosures
Setse A. Bush (Tisch MS) PRESENTER	Miss Bush has nothing to disclose.
Madison Clague (Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York)	No disclosure on file
Michaela L. Malin (Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York)	Miss Malin has nothing to disclose.
Saud Sadiq, BS, FAAN (Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York)	Ms. Brewi has nothing to disclose.

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