Does Relapse Frequency Predict Poor Outcome in Multiple Sclerosis?

In relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), is relapse occurrence or frequency predictive of either major disability (sustained need for aid in walking) or entry into the secondary progressive (SPMS) phase? To find out, researchers retrospectively examined data on almost 2500 patients from their unique (in the Western Hemisphere) population-based British Columbia Multiple Sclerosis database. The primary outcomes were time to Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 6.0 and time to SPMS.

The authors first assessed outcomes with Kaplan-Meier “survival” curves for three levels of frequency of bouts occurring only within the first 5 years after MS onset. They then used Cox proportional hazard ratios (HRs), adjusted for sex, age at …