Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in multiple sclerosis: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Background and objective: The definition of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis is controversial. Thus, its true prevalence is unknown. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the proportion of patients with multiple sclerosis that would be diagnosed with cardiovascular dysautonomia using a definition of at least one abnormal cardiac autonomic test vs. at least two abnormal studies.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Scopus from 1980 to December 2013 for publications reporting abnormal autonomic tests in patients with multiple sclerosis. We performed random-effects meta-analyses for calculating the proportion of patients diagnosed with autonomic dysfunction with both definitions.

Results: We included 16 studies comprising 611 patients with multiple sclerosis, assessing ≥3 cardiovascular autonomic tests. The proportion of patients with autonomic dysfunction was two-fold higher (p=0.006) when using the definition of only one abnormal autonomic test (42.1%) compared to that using at least two abnormal results (18.8%).

Conclusions: We found a wide variation in the proportion of patients with multiple sclerosis diagnosed with cardiovascular dysautonomia by using the two definitions. Consensus is needed to define autonomic dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis. In the meantime, we encourage investigators to report results using both thresholds.

Keywords: Autonomic dysfunction; Autonomic nervous system; Diagnosis; Multiple sclerosis.