Top reasons for MS-related hospital admissions revealed

The primary reason for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) to be admitted to hospital is urinary tract infections, making up 10.3% of admissions, a recent study has found.

The second most common reason for hospital admission was neurological problems without an identifiable cause (9.2%). The third was an MS relapse (7.6%) and next was falls, walking difficulties and stiffness combined (6.2%).

The scientists looked at data from 210 people admitted to Duke University Hospital in the US from 2018 and 2019. The patients’ mean age was 54.4 and there were about three times as many women as men.

Patients stayed in the hospital for a similar length of time as people from the general population and were readmitted within 30 days just as often.

Researchers said neurological problems without an identifiable cause came second most likely because around half of the patients were not being treated with a disease-modifying therapy due to having progressive MS that cannot be managed by these drugs.

Actively managing bladder problems to reduce the risk of urinary tract infection is needed, along with “future research … to identify the factors that can be addressed to support these patients and reduce preventable hospitalisations,” the researchers wrote.

“Because many individuals with multiple sclerosis are admitted to the hospital without an identifiable cause, increasing access to outpatient care and subsequent workups may help reduce preventable admissions,” the researchers wrote.