Assessment of dysphagia and its associations in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

In this cross-sectional study in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis receiving anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, we assessed complaint of dysphagia and evaluated their association with sex, age, disease duration, disability severity, and disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). The validated Persian version of Dysphagia in Multiple Sclerosis (DYMUS) questionnaire was used. A total of 66 patients were included. The median DYMUS score was 1.0 [interquartile range: 0.0-2.3] and 40 (60.6%) had positive DYMUS. Only DMT showed a significant association with DYMUS score, with patients receiving reituximab exhibiting higher scores (mean estimated difference: 0.96 (±0.39), p = 0.014). Grouping patients into positive and negative DYMUS scores, no significant associations were observed (p > 0.05).