Epidemiological Profile of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, chronic, autoimmune, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, where the inflammatory process in the brain can cause functional changes that vary according to the location of the lesions in the myelin sheath. The disease that most causes limitations in people of productive age. 

Objectives: To evaluate the epidemiological profile of people with MS and the impacts on productive life. 

Methods: Cross-sectional quantitative research with 239 MS patients, both sexes, aged 21-77 years, attending a Social Organization in São Paulo, Brazil, in which an epidemiological questionnaire was applied in 2016.

Results: 23% male, 77% female, did not respond the type of MS 64%, and 25% relapsed, 13% scored 3 on EDSS, 35% were diagnosed between the ages of 21 and 30, 62% had completed or incomplete higher education, 59 % Non-employees and 26% employees. The main reasons for decreased performance and difficulty at work are fatigue 23%, difficulty in mobility 16%, physical pain 11%, mood 10% and difficulty in reasoning 8%. 

Conclusions:

The epidemiological profile of the sample is composed of 77% of women, who started or finished higher education, 64% of the respondents did not know the type of MS, 13% had a score 3 in the EDSS and 59% were not employed. The symptom reported as having the greatest impact on productive life is fatigue.