High BMI and Weight in Young Adulthood Are Linked to Younger Age of MS Symptom Onset

Among the 400 patient medical records abstracted, 84, 132, and 184 patients were in the low-, medium-, and high-cost groups, respectively. Patients included in the analysis had a mean age of 41 at diagnosis, and 70% were female. Nearly all (97%) of the patients had brain MRI results documented in their medical records. Of the 389 patients with MRI results, 31.7% of the low-, 53.6% of the medium-, and 35.2% of the high-cost patients had active brain lesions. Common symptoms reported were numbness (63%), fatigue (59%), and pain (59%). Relapsing-remitting disease was documented in 14% of the low-, 40% of the medium-, and 33% of the high-cost patients. Approximately 50% of the patients had gait impairment, ranging from 38% of the low-, 44% of the medium-, and 64% of the high-cost patients. Other brain MRI results not related to T2 imaging, active lesions, demyelination, black holes, and brain atrophy were seen to a greater extent among high-cost patients.

In addition, high-cost patients were more likely to use antidepressants (31.5%), corticosteroids (43.5%), narcotics (38.6%), and stimulants (6.5%). High-cost patients also were more likely to have electrocardiogram (36.4%) and spinal tap (20.1%) procedures.

Lead author Dr. Eisenberg is affiliated with HealthCore, a company headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware.

—Glenn S. Williams