Comorbid Conditions in Patients With MS Carry Economic, Social Toll

Comorbidity, reported by 51% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), was associated with increased costs due to greater use of health care and other resources as well as productivity losses.

“The impact of comorbid conditions on health care and non-health care resource use in people with MS seems to reflect the challenges inherent in managing coexisting conditions,” researchers wrote, “and shows that these patients need extra support related to their comorbidity.”

The study included 600 people with MS in 2 areas of northern Italy. Among them, 28% reported having 1 comorbid condition, 16.2% reported 2 comorbid conditions, and 6.8% reported 3 or more comorbid conditions. Hypertension (21%), depression (15.7%), anxiety (11.7%), autoimmune diseases (9.7%), and hyperlipidemia (6.5%) were the most prevalent.

When researchers compared patients with and without comorbidities, they found a higher likelihood of both health care services and services beyond formal health care for patients with comorbidities. Odds ratios were 1.21 for hospitalization, 1.59 for tests, and 1.89 for symptomatic drugs and supplements, according to the study. Odds ratios were 1.32 for investments in home and/or car adaptations due to MS, 1.33 for transportation costs for health reasons, 1.33 for personal assistant services or help at home, and 1.43 for informal care.

Compared with no comorbidity, comorbidity in patients carried a 1.34 odds ratio for work productivity loss.

The mean adjusted incremental annual cost due to comorbid conditions was €3,106.9 per patient, the study showed. The amount corresponded to 13% of the overall cost.

“Our findings, providing an exhaustive picture of the total economic burden of illness in this population, suggest that comorbidity deserves to be taken properly into account, from an economic as well as a clinical perspective, in treatment and management plans drawn up for patients with MS,” researchers wrote.

Reference:
Ponzio M, Monti MC, Mallucci G, et al. The economic impact of comorbidity in multiple sclerosis. Neurol Sci. Published online November 28, 2022. doi:10.1007/s10072-022-06517-7