THE EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS IN SULAIMANI CITY, IRAQI KURDISTAN REGION: A HOSPITAL-BASED CROSSSECTIONAL STUDY

Volume 14 , Issue 1 , March 2024 , Pages 65-72

Authors

Kanar Ibrahim Sabir 1 ; Sarwer Jamal Al-Bajalan 2 ; Mohammad Tahir Kurmanji 2

1 Department of Neurology, Shar Teaching Hospital, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

2 College of Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

DOI logo 10.17656/jsmc.10452

Keywords

Abstract

Background
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system and has a wide
range of symptoms. Both coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and MS are known to trigger autoimmune
infl ammatory changes. It is not surprising that each is affected by the other.
Objectives
To evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on MS patients, particularly the relapse severity and
frequency, the history of vaccination, and any related complications.
Patients & Methods
A cross-sectional study was performed on 205 MS patients registered in the Sulaimani MS Clinic at Shar
Teaching Hospital from March 2021 to March 2022. Detailed demographic features, MS relapses, and symptoms
one year before and during the COVID-19 infection were recorded. The rate of affection and symptomatology
of COVID-19, the rate of vaccination, and compliance with MS disease-modifying therapies were assessed.
Results
The mean age was (40.8±11.2 years), and the male-to-female ratio was (0.5:1). The frequency of COVID-19
infection among MS patients was (37.6%). Medical comorbidity was found in 15.1% of MS patients, but it did
not impact COVID-19 affl iction (p-value of 0.495). A signifi cant proportion of patients stopped their diseasemodifying therapies during COVID-19 (16.1%). The associations between medical history and MS treatments
with COVID-19 infection were insignifi cant. Only a few symptoms increased by 0.5%; other symptoms did
not change. COVID-19 signifi cantly led to the stoppage of MS treatment, with a signifi cant association. The
demographic characteristics of the MS patients were insignifi cantly associated with COVID-19. The majority
of patients (24.9%) were on Betaferon. The vaccination program was completed in (37.1%) patients with no
signifi cant post-vaccination change.
Conclusions
The frequency of COVID-19 infection among MS patients was 37.6%. The associations between demographic
characteristics, MS disease-modifying therapies, and COVID-19 infection were insignifi cant. The association
of vaccination with COVID-19 infection was signifi cant, but no changes were experienced after vaccination.

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  • Published at21 March 2024

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