Prognostic factors in multiple sclerosis rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of inpatient multidisciplinary rehabilitation treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS) and identify reliable prognostic factors.


METHODS
Two hundred patients were enrolled for this study (65% females), with a mean age of 49.77+11.32 years and a mean disease duration of 17.33+10.15 years.


RESULTS
The results of rehabilitation were assessed in the whole sample, as well as by comparing three subgroups, divided according to their basal Expanded Disability Status Scale of Kurtzke (EDSS) score: a ''mild'' group (EDSS score 2-5.5), a ''moderate'' group (EDSS 6-6.5), and a ''severe'' group (EDSS 7-8.5). All three subgroups of patients showed a significant improvement in functional status in both the Barthel Index and Rivermead Mobility Index (Wilcoxon Test) at discharge. However the effectiveness observed in patients with mild and moderate MS in both ADL and mobility was significantly higher than that observed in patients with the severe form.


CONCLUSIONS
A multidisciplinary rehabilitative approach should be recommended for patients with a short disease duration and a relatively moderate disability.
Grasso
M G
MG
Santa Lucia Foundation-IRCCS, Rome, Italy. mg.grasso@hsantalucia.it
Pace
L
L
Troisi
E
E
Tonini
A
A
Paolucci
S
S
D015897:Comorbidity; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011379:Prognosis; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome