Key clinical point : Female sex and progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) are the prognostic factors for worsening lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with MS, with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction being a contributor to disease progression.
Major finding: A higher bowel/bladder functional system (FS) score, indicating worsening symptoms and functions, was significantly associated with female vs male sex ( P = .001) and progressive vs relapsing-remitting MS type ( P ≤ .001), with each point increase in the bowel/bladder FS score during follow-up visit at 1 year being associated with an increased risk of worsening disability over the subsequent year (area under curve 0.63).
Study details: This prospective study evaluated 802 patients with clinically isolated syndrome or MS.
Disclosures: This research was funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, US National Institutes of Health, and Valhalla Foundation. Some authors declared receiving consulting and advisory board fees, research support, or personal compensation or serving on boards of trustees or on advisory boards for various sources.
Source: Kaplan TB et al. Challenges to longitudinal characterization of lower urinary tract dysfunction in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord . 2022;62:103793 (Apr 10). Doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.103793