Clinical Profile and the Extent of Disability in Multiple Sclerosis Patients in Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Objectives: The objective is to study the demographics and clinical characteristics of Saudi multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, and assess their extent of disability using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Methods: This hospital-based study intended to address the population of all MS-diagnosed patients registered between 2018 and 2021 in the Neurology Department of King Fahad Hospital in the Madinah region. Data were gathered from medical records and by interviewing participants in the Neurology Clinic. The chi-square test and linear and logistic regression were applied to draw inferences. Results: A total of 195 MS-diagnosed patients were included in the analysis. Of these, 72.3% were female. The mean age of the total sample was 34.9 +/- 19.2 years, and 7.7% reported a positive family history. Of all patients, 17.9% (n=35) had comorbidities. The mean age at diagnosis was 29.3 +/- 8.2 years. The majority (85.6%) were diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS); 77.9% had an EDSS score between 0.0 and 1.5, showing little or no disability. A statistical significance existed between EDSS and the current age of the patients (p=0.004), age at onset (p=0.007), type of MS (p=0.000), presence of muscle weakness (p=0.044), bladder or bowel difficulties at onset (p=0.043), and the duration of MS (p=0.000). Of the patients, 23.6% were not using disease-modifying therapy (DMT). The most commonly used drug was interferon beta 1-b. Conclusion: A lower EDSS was associated with younger age, diagnosis at a younger age, RRMS, duration less than five years, and lower body mass index (BMI). To increase the generalizability of findings, a national MS registry system and further prospective analytical epidemiological research studies are recommended.