The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on multiple sclerosis patients: One year later

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Nowadays, Covid-19 pandemic seriously impact in general population mental status and quality of life. It is uncertain how these situation affect Multiple Sclerosis patients. Objectives: Analyze impact of Covid-19 pandemic in the quality of life in patients of a monographic Multiple Sclerosis Unit in a Spanish third level Hospital after one year Methods: Descriptive prospective study which analyzes changes in employment status, smoking habit, patient report outcomes (PROs) and Covid-19 incidence. Demographic variables (sex, age, employment status, smoking habit), and clinical (disease duration, EDSS, Covid-19 symptoms and PROs) were analyzed. Results: 100 patients Multiple Sclerosis. Median age 42.2 (SD 8.8). 74 % women. Disease duration 11 years (1 - 37). EDSS 2 (0 - 7.5). 31 % was smoking in first evaluation. 83.3 % will not change after one year. In first assesment 47 % has an employment;1 % sick leave, 29 % inactive because disability;8 % pensioner, 9 % unemployement, 6 % another situation. In second evaluation 89.8 % does not change. 90.8 % have not Covid symptoms after one year and 3.1 % has infected SARS-Cov-2. 36 patients completed PROs in first evaluation and 25 in both. First MFIS median 34.8 (SD 17.13) physical 17.2 (SD 8.76), cognitive 15.75 (SD 9.25). Final MFIS median 38.4 (SD 17.38) physical 17.2 (SD 8.66), cognitive 17.56 (SD 10.3). Initial BDI 13.66 (SD 9.43);final BDI 11.21 (SD 9). Initial EuroQol 0.73 (SD 0.23);final 0.76 (SD 0.19). Conclusion: It does not seem that pandemic situation would have a negative impact about depression or anxiety in our patients. However, we observe a change in fatigue (physical and cognitive). It would be because of increase of sedentary life or the recently described “pandemic fatigue”.