Did you experience constipation, depression or UTIs before being diagnosed with MS? You’re not alone

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to experience conditions such as depression, constipation, sexual issues, and urinary tract infections (UTIs) five years prior to their diagnosis, compared to those who do not develop MS, a new study has found.

The research was titled Association Between Diseases and Symptoms Diagnosed in Primary Care and the Subsequent Specific Risk of Multiple Sclerosis and was published in the journal neurology.

The research also revealed a similar story for individuals with lupus and Crohn’s disease, both autoimmune conditions. This suggests that the biological processes underlying MS may be set in motion many years before the manifestation of initial neurological symptoms and the subsequent diagnosis, according to Dr. Celine Louapre, MD, PhD, coauthor of the study from Sorbonne University in Paris.

Dr. Louapre notes that while depression, constipation, and other identified conditions are common in both autoimmune diseases and the general population, using them for early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis may be challenging. However, she suggests an exception for individuals at elevated risk, such as those with a family history or undergoing monitoring due to the discovery of central nervous system inflammatory lesions on an MRI.

The study, conducted using electronic health records from French and UK databases, identified approximately 20,000 individuals newly diagnosed with MS, compared with 55,000 age- and sex-matched individuals without MS. Additionally, comparisons were made with 30,000 people with Crohn’s disease and 7,000 with lupus.

Analysing data for the five years preceding and following diagnosis, or a corresponding period for those without autoimmune diseases, researchers found significant increases in the likelihood of depression (22%), constipation (50%), UTIs (38%), sexual issues (47%), and cystitis (21%) in individuals with MS compared with those without the condition.

Scientists hope identifying these early symptoms will help advance understanding of the mechanisms taking place in the body before the disease’s actual symptoms develop.