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. 2015 Jan 27;84(4):350-8.
doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000001187. Epub 2014 Dec 24.

Comorbidity increases the risk of hospitalizations in multiple sclerosis

Ruth Ann Marrie  1 , Lawrence Elliott  2 , James Marriott  2 , Michael Cossoy  2 , Aruni Tennakoon  2 , Nancy Yu  2
Affiliations

Comorbidity increases the risk of hospitalizations in multiple sclerosis

Ruth Ann Marrie et al. Neurology. .

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the association between comorbidity and rates of hospitalization in the multiple sclerosis (MS) population as compared to a matched cohort from the general population.

Methods: Using population-based administrative data from the Canadian province of Manitoba, we identified 4,875 persons with MS and a matched general population cohort of 24,533 persons. We identified all acute care hospitalizations in the period 2007-2011. Using general linear models, we evaluated the association between comorbidity status and hospitalization rates (all-cause, non-MS-related, MS-related) in the 2 populations, adjusting for age, sex, and socioeconomic status.

Results: Comorbidity was common in both cohorts. Over the 5-year study period, the MS population had a 1.5-fold higher hospitalization rate (adjusted rate ratio [aRR] 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.44-1.68) than the matched population. Any comorbidity was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of non-MS-related hospitalization rates (aRR 2.21; 95% CI 1.73-2.82) in the MS population, but a nearly 4-fold increase in hospitalization rates in the matched population (aRR 3.85; 95% CI 3.40-4.35). Comorbidity was not associated with rates of hospitalization for MS-related reasons, regardless of how comorbidity status was defined.

Conclusions: In the MS population, comorbidity is associated with an increased risk of all-cause hospitalizations, suggesting that the prevention and management of comorbidity may reduce hospitalizations.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Sex-stratified annual rate of hospitalizations in the multiple sclerosis (MS) and matched populations from 2007 to 2011
Figure 2
Figure 2. Annual age-standardized hospitalization rates in the multiple sclerosis (MS) and matched populations by comorbidity status from 2007 to 2011
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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