Rising Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in Switzerland: Results from the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry.

Introduction: Understanding the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) provides information for healthcare planning and helps identify trends and patterns of disease occurrence. For Switzerland, the number of persons with MS (pwMS) was last estimated at approximately 15,000 in 2016. The study's objectives were to update estimates of MS prevalence and characterise the change in MS prevalence in Switzerland between 2016 and 2021, the last year with complete administrative data.

Natural language processing analysis of the theories of people with multiple sclerosis about causes of their disease.

Background: While potential risk factors for multiple sclerosis (MS) have been extensively researched, it remains unclear how persons with MS theorize about their MS. Such theories may affect mental health and treatment adherence. Using natural language processing techniques, we investigated large-scale text data about theories that persons with MS have about the causes of their disease.

Summary of Research: Caregiver Involvement in MS: Duty or Disruption?

This Summary of Research summarizes a previously published discussion between people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and their caregivers and healthcare professionals (HCPs) about how to include caregivers in consultations and decisions about multiple sclerosis (MS) care. The aim of the discussion was to help HCPs to understand differences in these relationships so they can adapt the style of consultations to support everyone.

Feelings of loneliness, COVID-19-specific-health anxiety and depressive symptoms during the first COVID-19 wave in Swiss persons with multiple sclerosis.

The aim of our study was to investigate whether self-reported feeling of loneliness (FoL) and COVID-19-specific health anxiety were associated with the presence of depressive symptoms during the first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) wave. Questionnaires of 603 persons of the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry (SMSR) were cross-sectionally analyzed using descriptive and multivariable regression methods. The survey response rate was 63.

The Real-World Experiences of Persons With Multiple Sclerosis During the First COVID-19 Lockdown: Application of Natural Language Processing.

Background: The increasing availability of "real-world" data in the form of written text holds promise for deepening our understanding of societal and health-related challenges. Textual data constitute a rich source of information, allowing the capture of lived experiences through a broad range of different sources of information (eg, content and emotional tone). Interviews are the "gold standard" for gaining qualitative insights into individual experiences and perspectives.

Fingolimod versus interferon beta 1-a: Benefit-harm assessment approach based on TRANSFORMS individual patient data.

Background: Fingolimod is a disease-modifying drug approved for multiple sclerosis but its benefit-harm balance has never been assessed compared to other active treatments.

Objectives: Our aim was to compare the benefits and harms of fingolimod with interferon beta-1a using individual patient data from TRial Assessing injectable interferon versus FTY720 Oral in RRMS trial.

Methods: We modelled the health status of patients over time including Expanded Disability Status Scale measurements, relapses and any adverse events.

Real-world disease-modifying therapy usage in persons with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Cross-sectional data from the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry.

Introduction: Several disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), covering a broad spectrum of mechanisms of action, have been approved by regulatory agencies for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). However, only little is known about the current real-world treatment situation in Switzerland. Based on data from a diverse population of 668 persons with RRMS from the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry (SMSR), the present study aims to fill this gap with a descriptive, cross-sectional approach.

Promoting urinary continence in people suffering a stroke: Effectiveness of a complex intervention-An intervention study.

Aim: The study aimed to implement and measure effectiveness of a systematic continence management intervention in people suffering a stroke in undertaking rehabilitation.

Design: An intervention study was conducted.

Methods: In the first part of the study, patients were included in the control group and observed.

Caregiver Involvement in MS: Duty or Disruption?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex condition with numerous physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms. These may necessitate significant, permanent lifestyle changes for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and their caregivers and families, meaning it is important in contemporary neurological practice to consider including families and/or caregivers in the management of MS. However, existing evidence suggests that family involvement is not always beneficial; for example, it can exert either a strong positive or negative influence on the ability of PwMS to achieve optimal outcomes from their treatment and disease management.

Onset Symptom Clusters in Multiple Sclerosis: Characteristics, Comorbidities, and Risk Factors.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms are expected to aggregate in specific patterns across different stages of the disease. Here, we studied the clustering of onset symptoms and examined their characteristics, comorbidity patterns and associations with potential risk factors. Data stem from the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry, a prospective study including 2,063 participants by November 2019.

The Effect of Depression on Health-Related Quality of Life Is Mediated by Fatigue in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis.

The interrelations between fatigue, depression and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) are complex, and the directionality of the effects is unclear. To address this gap, the current study used a longitudinal design to assess direct and indirect effects of fatigue and depression on HRQoL in a one-year follow-up survey. A sample of 210 PwMS from the nationwide Swiss MS Registry was used.

Major depressive disorder subtypes and depression symptoms in multiple sclerosis: What is different compared to the general population?

Objective: To compare and characterize major depressive disorder (MDD) subtypes (i.e., pure atypical, pure melancholic and mixed atypical-melancholic) and depression symptoms in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) with persons without MS (Pw/oMS) fulfilling the DSM-5 criteria for a past 12-month MDD.

Disease Progression in Multiple Sclerosis: A Literature Review Exploring Patient Perspectives.

Purpose: Multiple sclerosis (MS) prognosis is often uncertain. This literature review considers patients' understanding of, and perspectives on, MS progression to better comprehend the unmet needs of people with MS (PwMS), in order to improve treatment adherence and quality of life (QoL).

Methods: Literature searches for peer-reviewed papers concerning patient perspectives on the progression of MS and comparable conditions, published between January 2000 and January 2020, were conducted.

Among Persons With Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Objective Sleep, Psychological Functioning, and Higher Physical Activity Scores Remained Stable Over 2 Years-Results From a Small Study Under Naturalistic Conditions.

Persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) are at increased risk to report poor sleep patterns and lower physical activity indices. To date, data on longitudinal objectively sleep assessment is missing. In the present study, we investigated the pattern of objective sleep and subjective physical activity indices over a period of 13.

Physiotherapy use and access-barriers in persons with multiple sclerosis: A cross-sectional analysis.

Introduction: Physiotherapy may alleviate many multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms, yet very little is known about physiotherapy accessibility and possible barriers in persons with MS (pwMS). We therefore aimed to elucidate physiotherapy use and possible access-barriers using data from 1493 pwMS from the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry (SMSR), a patient-centered, longitudinal, observational MS study.

Methods: We used data of the SMSR to investigate the question at hand in a multivariable logistic regression model with regularly receiving physiotherapy (yes/no) as the outcome.

Benefit-harm balance of fingolimod in patients with MS: A modelling study based on FREEDOMS.

Background: Fingolimod lowers the number of relapses in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and slows down disease progression, but causes a broad spectrum of side effects. Our aim was to estimate the benefit-harm balance of fingolimod using individual patient data from FREEDOMS, a randomized controlled trial that compared two different dosages of fingolimod to placebo.

Methods: We modelled the health status of patients over two years on a scale ranging from 0 (worst health or death) to 100 (maximum health).

Tolerability and safety of urotainer® polihexanide 0.02% in catheterized patients: a prospective cohort study.

Background: In patients with indwelling bladder catheters for > 2 weeks, bacterial colonization is inevitable, leading to urinary tract infections or encrustations with subsequent catheter blockage. Currently, bladder irrigations are the most frequently used prophylactic means, but the best solution remains yet to be determined. In vitro studies demonstrate that polihexanide is a promising option for catheter irrigation, but no data about safety and tolerability exist.

Factors associated with employment and expected work retention among persons with multiple sclerosis: findings of a cross-sectional citizen science study.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) notably affects adults of working age. For persons with MS (PwMS), being employed enhances their quality of life and it may be regarded as an indicator of overall functioning. Thus, ensuring work participation in PwMS is of general public health interest.

Urinary incontinence in stroke survivors - Development of a programme theory.

Aims And Objectives: To develop, in an inpatient rehabilitation setting, a programme theory that promotes continence in people who have suffered a stroke.

Background: Urinary incontinence in stroke survivors impacts the quality of life, rehabilitation outcomes and ultimately incurred costs of the patient. Different approaches are available for developing and testing complex interventions.

Efficacy of inpatient personalized multidisciplinary rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis: behavioural and functional imaging results.

Background: Although multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs are commonly used in clinical practice for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), they are currently underexamined.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the efficacy and underlying brain mechanisms of an inpatient multidisciplinary rehabilitation.

Methods: Twenty-four patients with relapse-onset MS underwent a 4-week personalized inpatient multidisciplinary rehabilitation and three assessment sessions including MRI, clinical, cognitive and motor function evaluation.

Upper and lower limb performance fatigability in people with multiple sclerosis investigated through surface electromyography: a pilot study.

Objective: Fatigue experienced by people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) is multidimensional, consisting of different components, such as perceived, physical and cognitive fatigue and performance fatigability. At present, there is no gold standard to assess performance fatigability in pwMS; therefore, we aimed to determine whether, during a fatiguing task, average rectified value (ARV), mean frequency of the power spectrum (MNF), muscle fiber conduction velocity (CV) and fractal dimension (FD) of surface electromyography (sEMG) may be used as indirect indices of performance fatigability. Moreover, we analyzed whether a three-week rehabilitation program impacts on performance fatigability in pwMS, and whether a relationship between sEMG parameters and trait levels of perceived fatigability, before and after rehabilitation, does exist.

Development and Preliminary Evaluation of a 3-Week Inpatient Energy Management Education Program for People with Multiple Sclerosis-Related Fatigue.

Background: Energy conservation strategies and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques are valid parts of outpatient fatigue management education in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). In many European countries, multidisciplinary rehabilitation for people with MS is chiefly delivered in specialized rehabilitation centers, where they benefit from short intensive inpatient rehabilitation annually. However, no evidence-based and standardized fatigue management education program compatible with the inpatient setting is available.

How do patients enter the healthcare system after the first onset of multiple sclerosis symptoms? The influence of setting and physician specialty on speed of diagnosis.

Background: Diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS) early is crucial to avoid future disability. However, potentially preventable delays in the diagnostic cascade from contact with a physician to definite diagnosis still occur and their causes are still unclear.

Objective: To identify the possible causes of delays in the diagnostic process.

Three-week inpatient energy management education (IEME) for persons with multiple sclerosis-related fatigue: Feasibility of a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS)-related fatigue limits participation in everyday activities and has a considerable impact on quality of life (QoL), thereby affecting productivity and employment. Outpatient education interventions involving energy conservation strategies and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques are helpful. However, no inpatient program is currently available.