Comorbidities Linked to Multiple Sclerosis

Comorbidity with multiple sclerosis can impact diagnosis, disability progression, and quality of life, but there are substantial gaps in epidemiological knowledge of comorbidities, according to a systematic review of 249 studies that found a wide variability in study designs and reporting.

Researchers quantitatively assessed population-based studies and found:

• The 5 most prevalent comorbidities were depression, anxiety, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and chronic lung disease.

• The most prevalent autoimmune diseases were thyroid disease and psoriasis.

• The most prevalent cancers were cervical, breast, and digestive system cancers.

Citation: Marrie RA, Cohen J, Stuve O, et al. A systematic review of the incidence and prevalence of comorbidity in multiple sclerosis: overview. Mult Scler. 2015;21(3):263-281.