New onset or relapsing neuromyelitis optica temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination: a systematic review.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare chronic neuroinflammatory autoimmune condition. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been reports of NMOSD clinical manifestations following both SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Objective: This study aims to systematically review the published literature of NMOSD clinical manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Population-Based Estimates for the Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in the United States by Race, Ethnicity, Age, Sex, and Geographic Region.

Importance: Racial, ethnic, and geographic differences in multiple sclerosis (MS) are important factors to assess when determining the disease burden and allocating health care resources.

Objective: To calculate the US prevalence of MS in Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black (hereafter referred to as Black), and non-Hispanic White individuals (hereafter referred to as White) stratified by age, sex, and region.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A validated algorithm was applied to private, military, and public (Medicaid and Medicare) administrative health claims data sets to identify adult cases of MS between 2008 and 2010.

A Qualitative, Multiperspective Inquiry of Multiple Sclerosis Telemedicine in the United States.

Background: Telemedicine has expanded access to high-quality, appropriate, and affordable health care for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study explored how the expansion of MS telemedicine is perceived and experienced by people with MS, health care providers (HCPs), and payers and policy experts (PYs).

Methods: Forty-five semistructured interviews with 20 individuals with MS, 15 HCPs, and 10 PYs were conducted between September 2020 and January 2021.

MS and Disability Progression in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East: A Systematic Review.

Background: There is evidence of an increased prevalence and disease burden of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in parts of the world where the risk was once considered low, such as Latin America (LA), Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Middle East-North Africa (MENA). Despite the growing number of clinical reports, the phenotype and course of MS in these regions remains understudied compared with Europe and North America. We aimed to investigate MS phenotypes and long-term clinical outcomes across these regions.

Feasibility of Using a Nationally Representative Telephone Survey to Monitor Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence in the United States.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common chronic neurologic disease of young adults, placing a heavy burden on patients, families, and the healthcare system. Ongoing surveillance of the incidence and prevalence of MS is critical for health policy and research, but feasible options are limited in the United States and many other countries. We investigated the feasibility of monitoring the prevalence of MS using a large national telephone survey of the adult US population.

Telemedicine and multiple sclerosis: A comprehensive literature review.

Introduction: Patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) face barriers accessing specialty care for evaluation and treatment. Telemedicine, the practice of clinical care at a distance with the aid of technology, may be a potential bridge to close the access gap for pwMS separated by distance or disability. The objective of this review was to investigate the types of telemedicine being utilized and overall outcomes for pwMS and their providers.

The prevalence of MS in the United States: A population-based estimate using health claims data.

Objective: To generate a national multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence estimate for the United States by applying a validated algorithm to multiple administrative health claims (AHC) datasets.

Methods: A validated algorithm was applied to private, military, and public AHC datasets to identify adult cases of MS between 2008 and 2010. In each dataset, we determined the 3-year cumulative prevalence overall and stratified by age, sex, and census region.

A new way to estimate neurologic disease prevalence in the United States: Illustrated with MS.

Objective: Considerable gaps exist in knowledge regarding the prevalence of neurologic diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), in the United States. Therefore, the MS Prevalence Working Group sought to review and evaluate alternative methods for obtaining a scientifically valid estimate of national MS prevalence in the current health care era.

Methods: We carried out a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis for 3 approaches to estimate MS prevalence: population-based MS registries, national probability health surveys, and analysis of administrative health claims databases.

The Gulf War era multiple sclerosis cohort: 3. Early clinical features.

Objectives: To present clinical features at diagnosis for a large nationwide incident cohort of multiple sclerosis (MS) among those serving in the US military during the Gulf War era (GWE).

Materials & Methods: Medical records and databases from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for cases of MS with onset in or after 1990, active duty between 1990 and 2007 and service connection by the VA, were reviewed for diagnosis and demographic variables. Neurological involvement was summarized by the Kurtzke Disability Status Scale (DSS) and the Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS).