PATTERNS OF COMORBIDITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

This study explored the prevalence of comorbid conditions in hospitali zed patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who were 65 years of age or older. Using 1989 data from the Quality of Care Medicare Provider Anal ysis and Review (MEDPAR) file, hospitalized MS patients were compared with respect to discharge diagnoses to an age- and sex-matched group o f hospitalized patients without MS. As expected, the following dischar ge diagnoses were more common (P < 0.05) for MS patients: urinary trac t infection, pneumonia, septicemia and cellulitus. In contrast, MS pat ients were less likely (P < 0.05) to have discharge diagnoses of acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, hypertension, angina pectoris, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive pul monary disease. Possible explanations include under-reporting of certa in comorbid conditions on discharge records of MS patients, a protecti ve effect of MS or its treatment, reduced prevalence of risk factors, disproportionate mortality in younger MS patients with comorbidity and the benefits of medical surveillance.