Subgroup analyses and patterns of multiple sclerosis health service utilisation: A cluster analysis.

Background: Previous investigations of multiple sclerosis (MS)-related healthcare have focused on utilisation of specific individual health services (e.g. hospital care, office-based neurologists) by people with MS (PwMS).

The impact of bladder problems on well-being in multiple sclerosis - A cross-sectional study.

Background: Persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) frequently suffer from bladder problems that are not identified and managed optimally, reducing quality of life and increasing risk of health consequences.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate associations between bladder problems and well-being of pwMS.

Methods: The study included 1872 pwMS from France, Germany, Italy, and the UK self-reporting on demographics, MS status, bladder problems and management, and well-being.

Treatment switches of disease-modifying therapies in people with multiple sclerosis: long-term experience from the German MS Registry.

Background: The spectrum of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) has expanded over years, but data on treatment strategies is largely lacking. DMT switches are common clinical practice.

Objective: To compare switchers and non-switchers, characterize the first DMT switch and identify reasons and predictors for switching the first DMT.

MS bladder check tool: Development and validation of a patient awareness tool to facilitate timely management of lower urinary tract dysfunction due to multiple sclerosis.

Background: Lower urinary tract dysfunction impacts quality of life of people with MS; often, symptoms are 'lived with' or deprioritised by healthcare providers (HCPs). Consequently, patients must be given the skills they need to become confident in managing their illness and enhance their involvement in the process.

Objective: To develop and validate a self-assessment tool to help people with MS become more aware of their bladder symptoms and prompt contact with their HCP to facilitate timely management and specialist referral, if required.

Translation and validation of the multiple sclerosis walking scale 12 for the German population - the MSWS-12/D.

Background: Gait impairment is a relevant problem in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). The Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale 12 (MSWS-12) is a valid Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) to evaluate walking ability in pwMS. The aim of this study was to provide a linguistically valid translation of MSWS-12 into German language (MSWS-12/D) and to evaluate its psychometric properties.

Spatial Neglect Therapy With the Augmented Reality App "Negami" for Active Exploration Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial on 20 Stroke Patients With Spatial Neglect.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of the augmented reality (AR) app "Negami" as an active exploration training for the treatment of spatial neglect. Improvements of the ipsilesional attention and orientation bias (and resulting contralesional neglect) will be examined in stroke patients with spatial neglect and compared with a control group.

Design: Randomized controlled trial with an experimental Negami group, consisting of patients with spatial neglect, and a group of neglect patients receiving standard neglect therapy.

Comparison of employment among people with Multiple Sclerosis across Europe.

Background: People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) suffer from an increased risk of unemployment during the course of the disease. In recent years progress has been made in increasing the time until patients have to leave the workforce permanently. Such a retirement is often associated with MS but the driving factors including disability progression, support measures at the workplace, and societal aspects are not yet fully understood.

Managing neuropsychological impairment in multiple sclerosis - Controlled study on a standardized metacognitive intervention (MaTiMS).

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system of potential autoimmune origin that is frequently associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive deficits, as well as with fatigue, stress and psychosocial burden. In the present controlled multi-centre trial we investigated whether two specific neuropsychological interventions (1. metacognitive training (MaTiMS); 2.

Clinical Predictors of Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis patients often develop neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction with a potential risk of upper urinary tract damage. Diagnostic tools are urodynamics, bladder diary, uroflowmetry, and post-void residual, but recommendations for their use are controversial.

Objective: We aimed to identify clinical parameters indicative of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction in multiple sclerosis patients.

Therapy Switches in Fingolimod-Treated Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Long-Term Experience from the German MS Registry.

Introductions: Therapy switches in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) receiving treatment with fingolimod occur frequently in clinical practice but are not well represented in real-world data. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize treatment switches and reveal sociodemographic/clinical changes over time in fingolimod-treated people with MS (PwMS).

Methods: Data on 2536 fingolimod-treated PwMS extracted from the German MS Registry during different time periods were analyzed (2010-2019).

Characteristics of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: Disease activity and provision of care in Germany - A registry-based/multicentric cohort study.

Background: The tailored immunomodulatory treatment strategy for secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) depends on disease activity.

Objective: To assess the real-world situation in monitoring disease activity in SPMS patients and to identify associations of resulting subgroups with demographics, symptomatology, and therapy METHODS: This study included 4,263 SPMS patients from the German MS register (GMSR). For the classification into 'active' and 'inactive' according to relapse activity and MRI findings during the year prior to the latest clinical visit, we used the following definitions: active - gadolinium enhancing (Gd+)/new T2 lesions or ≥1 relapse, inactive - neither Gd+/new T2 lesions nor relapses.

Time to diagnosis in multiple sclerosis: Epidemiological data from the German Multiple Sclerosis Registry.

Objective: To investigate the time to diagnosis in multiple sclerosis (MS) in Germany.

Methods: Analysis of real-world registry data from the German Multiple Sclerosis Registry (GMSR) and performing a primary analysis in patients where month-specific registration of the dates of onset and diagnosis was available.

Results: As of January 2020, data of a total of 28,658 patients with MS were extracted from the GMSR, with 9836 patients included in the primary analysis.

Chances and challenges of a long-term data repository in multiple sclerosis: 20th birthday of the German MS registry.

In 2001, the German Multiple Sclerosis Society, facing lack of data, founded the German MS Registry (GMSR) as a long-term data repository for MS healthcare research. By the establishment of a network of participating neurological centres of different healthcare sectors across Germany, GMSR provides observational real-world data on long-term disease progression, sociodemographic factors, treatment and the healthcare status of people with MS. This paper aims to illustrate the framework of the GMSR.

Effects of normobaric hypoxic endurance training on fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized prospective pilot study.

Background: Fatigue is one of the most frequent symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), causing a major impact on quality-of-life. Non-pharmacological intervention strategies involve physical activity, which has been shown to reduce fatigue. Training under normobaric hypoxic conditions is thought to improve the response to endurance training and may, therefore, have an additional benefit over normoxic training conditions in MS patients.

Validity of Consumer Activity Monitors and an Algorithm Using Smartphone Data for Measuring Steps during Different Activity Types.

: Consumer activity monitors and smartphones have gained relevance for the assessment and promotion of physical activity. The aim of this study was to determine the concurrent validity of various consumer activity monitor models and smartphone models for measuring steps. : Participants completed three activity protocols: (1) overground walking with three different speeds (comfortable, slow, fast), (2) activities of daily living (ADLs) focusing on arm movements, and (3) intermittent walking.

The Two-Minute Walk Test in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis: Correlations of Cadence with Free-Living Walking Do Not Support Ecological Validity.

The two-minute walk test (2MWT) is a frequently used walking capacity test in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). However, less is known about its relevance with regards to walking capacity during free-living walking performance. Therefore, the ecological validity of the 2MWT was tested by 1.

Is benign MS really benign? What a meaningful classification beyond the EDSS must take into consideration.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disease with an unpredictable course that has a broad clinical spectrum and progresses over time. If a person with MS (PwMS) shows overall mild to moderate disability even after a long duration of disease, the term benign MS (BMS) is used. However, there is currently no generally accepted definition of BMS.

Efficacy of an Internet-Based Program to Promote Physical Activity and Exercise after Inpatient Rehabilitation in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Controlled Study.

Background: Multimodal rehabilitation improves fatigue and mobility in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Effects are transient and may be conserved by internet-based physical activity promotion programs.

Objective: Evaluate the effects of internet-based physical activity and exercise promotion on fatigue, quality of life, and gait in PwMS after inpatient rehabilitation.

Objective sensor-based gait measures reflect motor impairment in multiple sclerosis patients: Reliability and clinical validation of a wearable sensor device.

Background: Gait deficits are common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and contribute to disability but may not be easily detected in the early stages of the disease.

Objectives: We investigated whether sensor-based gait analysis is able to detect gait impairments in patients with MS (PwMS).

Methods: A foot-worn sensor-based gait analysis system was used in 102 PwMS and 22 healthy controls (HC) that were asked to perform the 25-foot walking test (25FWT) two times in a self-selected speed (25FWT_pref), followed by two times in a speed as fast as possible (25FWT_fast).

Symptomatology and symptomatic treatment in multiple sclerosis: Results from a nationwide MS registry.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disease. Over time, symptoms accumulate leading to increased disability of patients.

Objective: The objective of this article is to analyze the prevalence of symptoms and symptomatic treatment patterns in a nationwide MS registry.

Variability of Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity Symptoms in Response to THC:CBD Oromucosal Spray: Tracking Cases through Clinical Scales and Video Recordings.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory and neurodegenerative autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Patients exhibit heterogeneous patterns of disabling symptoms, including spasticity. In the majority of patients with MS spasticity, it and its associated symptoms contribute to disability, interfere with performance of everyday activities, and impair quality of life.

Neuropsychological Training of Attention Improves MS-Related Fatigue: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study.

Background: Attentional deficits may be pathophysiologically relevant in MS-associated fatigue.

Patients And Methods: Thirty MS patients with fatigue and attentional deficits in neuropsychological testing participated in this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. The intervention group (IG; n = 14) was treated with 10 h of computerized, specific neuropsychological training performing simple reaction time tasks, whereas the control group (CG; n = 16) also runs through computerized, but unspecific neuropsychological training using tasks without time components.