Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were prone to worse mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new findings shown in a poster presentation at the 146^th Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association.

“People with MS are often treated with immunosuppressive disease modifying agents which were thought to increase the risk of acquiring COVID-19, and may be associated with a worse prognosis,” said Lauren Uhr, BS, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. “Additionally, there is a high prevalence of depression and anxiety among people with MS compared to the general population these factors may place people with MS at greater risk for the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Researchers posited patients with MS may be at increased risk and aimed to characterize mental health status of patients with MS during the COVID-19 pandemic through this cross sectional study.

Researchers distributed a survey through IConquerMS from December 18, 2020 to February 10, 2021 using the Patient Health Questionnare-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and PROMIS Global Mental Health scales to measure depressive symptom burdens, anxiety symptom burdens, and general mental health status. A total of 610 patients with MS responded.

“Of these respondents, 27% endorse moderate to severe depressive symptoms, 15% endorse moderate to severe anxiety symptoms, and 55% endorse fair to poor mental health,” Uhr said.

Additionally, 8% of patients reported testing positive for COVID-19 and endorsed increased depressive and anxiety symptom burdens.

A total of 40% of patients said the pandemic caused a negative impact on their ability to exercise, 21% reported a negative impact on their diet, and 21% reported a negative impact on their finances.

Regression models showed that younger age, increased functional disability greater than or equal to 1 social determinant of health, and moderate to severe anxiety to symptom burden were associated with higher scores on the Patient Health Questionnare-9 and increased depressive symptoms.

Younger age, female sex, and moderate severe depressive symptom burden were associated with higher scores on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and increased anxiety symptoms.

Younger age, increased functional disability and greater than or equal to 1 social determinant of health were each associated with lower scores on the PROMIS Global Mental Health scale and lower general mental health.

Researchers determined at-risk patient subgroups and specific factors associated with worse mental health among patients with MS during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In a geographically diverse cohort of people with MS in the United States, our findings shed light on the mental health in this population during a critical time point in the COVID-19 pandemic,” Uhr concluded, emphasizing the need for monitoring these patients.

—Erin McGuinness

Uhr, L,Schmidt, H, et al. Psychosocial Impacts of COVID-19 in People Living with Multiple Sclerosis. Presented at: the Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association; October 17-19, 2021; Virtual. Presentation: 314.