Author(s): Amir Moghadam-Ahmadi, Pouria Yazdian-Anari3, Siamak Kazemisufi, Alireza Vakilian, Aliasghar Ranjbartotoei, Fatemeh Ayoobi
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and progressive autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that causes motor and sensory impairment and physical disability in patients. This study was conducted to determine the demographic, clinical, and beyond clinical characteristics in patients with MS to identify common disabilities and better understand the specific needs of these. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 50 MS patients in Rafsanjan, Iran. A definitive diagnosis has been done according to neurologist and McDonald criteria. The neurologist conducted examinations, and demographic data were recorded using questionnaire. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were analyzed by a radiologist, and all data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: The mean age was 33.81±8.38 years, and male/female ratio was 7/42. Also, 66.7% of the patients were suffering from relapsing-remitting (RR) type disease, and most lesions on MRI in these patients were observed in pyramidal and juxtacortical areas. The mean Expanded Disability Status Scale scores of patients were 1.46. The duration of disease and the number of attacks had a significant correlation with educational level (P<0.05); age was significantly associated with pyramidal, mental and sphincter symptoms (P<0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that the prevalence of MS in women was higher than in men, especially among housekeeper women. The RR type was the higher frequency type