Journal Article

UTIs and chest infection are associated with higher disability in algorithmically identified multiple sclerosis

Rod, Middleton, Richard, Nicholas, James, Witts

2023

Overview

IntroductionAn algorithmically identified Multiple Sclerosis (MS) population in Wales using a diagnostic method based on McDonald criteria alone had less severe disease compared to those with multiple encounters. We investigated the nature of the encounters.MethodMS subjects were identified using two algorithms, ‘Manitoba10’ based on multiple healthcare encounters and based on McDonald criteria minus the Manitoba10 population ‘Not Manitoba10’. Top 10 primary admissions, number of chest infections (ICD10 J00-J06, J09-J18, J20-J22) and UTIs (ICD10 N390) were compared to the general population.Results1,845,360/4,616,124 subjects in the general population had a UTI or chest infection, versus (4,166/5,438) Manitoba10 and (2,346/4,153) Not Manitoba10. Mean UTI and chest infection admissions were significantly higher in Manitoba10 versus the general population (UTI 1.45,p<0.001, Chest 0.79,p<0.001); in Not Manitoba10 only UTI was significant (UTI 0.45,p<0.001, Chest 0.48,p=0.464). Manitoba10 cohort had significantly higher UTI/Chest infection admissions compared to Not Manitoba10 (p<0.001). Of the top 10 primary causes of hospital admission, Manitoba10 features more events related to increasing disability (Holiday relief care, sepsis, pneumonitis), whereas the general population has more frequent admissions for cancer related events and UTIs.DiscussionMS subjects with multiple encounters have more frequent hospital admissions for UTIs and chest infections potentially contributing to more severe disease.

• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd,BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subject: Association of British Neurologists: Annual Meeting Abstracts 2023 / Infections / Multiple sclerosis