Chronic diseases and infections are more common in people with MS

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to have other chronic diseases and to visit their primary care physician with symptoms consistent with an infection than people without MS. In particular, osteoporosis, stroke, epilepsy, cardiovascular disease, glaucoma, depression, and certain types of cancer (kidney and skin cancer) were more common. Infections, particularly urinary tract infections, kidney infections, and shingles, were also more common. These findings come from new research by Nivel and the MS Center Amsterdam.

MS and other chronic diseases

People with MS were more likely to have other chronic diseases than people without MS. In particular, osteoporosis, stroke, epilepsy, cardiovascular disease, glaucoma, and depression were more common. Certain types of cancer, such as kidney and skin cancer, were also more common. Prostate cancer, chest pain, lung diseases such as COPD, and osteoarthritis, on the other hand, were less common among people with MS.

Infections are more common

People with MS were 86% more likely to visit their primary care physician with symptoms consistent with an infection. The difference compared to people without MS was greatest among those under 25 years of age. On average, people with MS visited their primary care physician 0.6 times per year due to an infection, compared to 0.3 times for the people without MS. Urinary tract infections, kidney infections, and shingles were particularly common. Infections were more common among women with MS, among those who had other chronic diseases in addition to MS, and among people with a lower socioeconomic status. No conclusions could be drawn about the effect of immunosuppressive MS medications on the risk of infections, because this study group was too small and the study period was too short.

Both having multiple chronic diseases and a recent infection were associated with a slightly increased risk of death in the following years among the study group with MS. This underscores the importance of timely recognition and proper treatment of these conditions in people with MS. Particularly for people taking immunosuppressive MS medications, it is important for healthcare providers to closely monitor for treatment-related complications and ensure patients receive the appropriate vaccinations

Cynthia Lemmens

Researcher MS Center Amsterdam

Want to know more?

View all the results of the Nivel study in the publication.

About the study

This study used data from more than 3,000 people with MS from the general practitioner outpatient care databases of Nivel Primary Care Database. They were compared with people without MS who were comparable in terms of age, gender, and socioeconomic status. Nivel Primary Care Database is a national registry of data from primary care, including general practitioner care.