Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational
Official Title: Factors Affecting Time Elapsed From First Symptom Till Complete Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, Initiation of Disease Modifying Treatment and Drug Adherence in Upper Egypt
Brief Summary: The earlier that MS can be diagnosed; the sooner treatment can be initiated with timely reduction of subclinical disease activity and prevention of disability progression.
However, significant delays can still occur between noticing the first symptoms and receiving a diagnosis even before a person with symptoms suggestive of MS sees a neurologist. Such delays could be due to heterogeneity of clinical and imaging manifestations, which not only differ between patients, but also vary in individual patients over time. Moreover, lack of awareness of the primary care physicians about MS presentations, the limited accessibility to specialized centers or the non-availability of diagnostic tools such as MRI scanners and lumbar puncture, may further add to this delay and increases the risk of disability.
There are also many factors that can contribute to delayed initiation of DMT after diagnosis like inadequate knowledge with DMT, their high coast and limited access to health care insurance services.
Like many chronic conditions, non- Adherence to drug therapies is estimated up to 50%, with associated increased morbidity, mortality, and health care costs.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in upper Egypt that tries to address these factors. By conducting this study, we aim at identifying factors leading to delayed diagnosis of MS, initiation and adherence to DMT in order to translate recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of MS into improved outcomes in the lives of people with MS and their families and to avoid many of the long-term economic and personal costs that result from unnecessary irreversible disability.