Multiple sclerosis course and clinical outcomes in patients with comorbid asthma: a survey study

Manouchehrinia, Ali; Edwards, Laura J.; Roshanisefat, Homayoun; Tench, Christopher R.; Constantinescu, Cris S.

Abstract

Objective: To determine if comorbid asthma is associated with accumulation of multiple sclerosis (MS)-related impairment and disability.

Method: We sent a comprehensive questionnaire to a cohort of patients with MS and examined the association between comorbid asthma and reaching Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores 4.0 and 6.0. Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29) scores were compared between patients with MS with and without comorbid asthma.

Results: 680 patients participated in our study of whom 88 (12.9%) had comorbid asthma. There was no difference in the prevalence of asthma between our MS cohort and the England general population (OR: 0.89, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.17). We did not observe a significant association between having asthma and the risk of reaching EDSS scores 4.0 and 6.0 (HR: 1.29, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.77, and HR: 1.33, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.89, respectively) after controlling for confounders. Patients with MS with asthma reported higher level of psychological impairments (coefficient: 2.29, 95% CI 0.1 to 4.49).

Conclusions: Asthma is a prevalent condition among patients with MS and it may contribute to the psychological impairment in MS. Although we did not observe significant association between comorbid asthma and physical disability in MS, it seems that the two conditions influence one another.

Citation

Manouchehrinia, A., Edwards, L. J., Roshanisefat, H., Tench, C. R., & Constantinescu, C. S. (2015). Multiple sclerosis course and clinical outcomes in patients with comorbid asthma: a survey study. BMJ Open, 5(5), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-007806

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 15, 2015
• Online Publication Date: May 20, 2015
• Publication Date: May 20, 2015
• Deposit Date: Jun 7, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 7, 2021
• Journal: BMJ Open
• Electronic ISSN: 2044-6055
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 5
• Article Number: e007806
• Pages: 1-7
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-007806
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2149547
• Publisher URL: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/5/e007806