Affiliations 

  • 1 From the Department of Neurological Sciences (A.J.S.), Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Burlington; Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Science (R.A.M.), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; Department of Neurology (S.V.), Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Malaysia; Departamento de Neurologia (J.C.), Fleni, Buenos Aires; Institute of Biological Chemistry and Physical Chemistry (IQUIFIB) (J.C.), National Council for Scientific and Technical Research/University of Buenos Aires, Argentina; Department of Neurology (M.M.), Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark; Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience (N.P.R.), Department of Neurology, Cardiff University, University Hospital of Wales, United Kingdom; Department of Neurology (D.R.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Department of Internal Medicine (D.R.S.), University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia; McKing Consulting Corporation (W.K., L.R.), Atlanta, GA; Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics (E.B., R.S.), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; and Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (R.K., J.L.-D., A.H.), London, United Kingdom. andrew.solomon@uvm.edu
  • 2 From the Department of Neurological Sciences (A.J.S.), Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Burlington; Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Science (R.A.M.), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; Department of Neurology (S.V.), Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Malaysia; Departamento de Neurologia (J.C.), Fleni, Buenos Aires; Institute of Biological Chemistry and Physical Chemistry (IQUIFIB) (J.C.), National Council for Scientific and Technical Research/University of Buenos Aires, Argentina; Department of Neurology (M.M.), Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark; Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience (N.P.R.), Department of Neurology, Cardiff University, University Hospital of Wales, United Kingdom; Department of Neurology (D.R.S.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Department of Internal Medicine (D.R.S.), University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia; McKing Consulting Corporation (W.K., L.R.), Atlanta, GA; Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics (E.B., R.S.), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; and Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (R.K., J.L.-D., A.H.), London, United Kingdom
Neurology, 2023 Aug 08;101(6):e624-e635.
PMID: 37321866 DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000207481

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recent data suggest increasing global prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS). Early diagnosis of MS reduces the burden of disability-adjusted life years and associated health care costs. Yet diagnostic delays persist in MS care and even within national health care systems with robust resources, comprehensive registries, and MS subspecialist referral networks. The global prevalence and characteristics of barriers to expedited MS diagnosis, particularly in resource-restricted regions, have not been extensively studied. Recent revisions to MS diagnostic criteria demonstrate potential to facilitate earlier diagnosis, but global implementation remains largely unknown.

METHODS: The Multiple Sclerosis International Federation third edition of the Atlas of MS was a survey that assessed the current global state of diagnosis including adoption of MS diagnostic criteria; barriers to diagnosis with respect to the patient, health care provider, and health system; and existence of national guidelines or national standards for speed of MS diagnosis.

RESULTS: Coordinators from 107 countries (representing approximately 82% of the world population), participated. Eighty-three percent reported at least 1 "major barrier" to early MS diagnosis. The most frequently reported barriers included the following: "lack of awareness of MS symptoms among general public" (68%), "lack of awareness of MS symptoms among health care professionals" (59%), and "lack of availability of health care professionals with knowledge to diagnose MS" (44%). One-third reported lack of "specialist medical equipment or diagnostic tests." Thirty-four percent reported the use of only 2017 McDonald criteria (McD-C) for diagnosis, and 79% reported 2017 McD-C as the "most commonly used criteria." Sixty-six percent reported at least 1 barrier to the adoption of 2017 McD-C, including "neurologists lack awareness or training" by 45%. There was no significant association between national guidelines pertaining to MS diagnosis or practice standards addressing the speed of diagnosis and presence of barriers to early MS diagnosis and implementation of 2017 McD-C.

DISCUSSION: This study finds pervasive consistent global barriers to early diagnosis of MS. While these barriers reflected a lack of resources in many countries, data also suggest that interventions designed to develop and implement accessible education and training can provide cost-effective opportunities to improve access to early MS diagnosis.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.