TY - JOUR
T1 - Age-related comparisons of people with multiple sclerosis
T2 - demographic, disease, and treatment characteristics.
AU - Buchanan, Robert J.
AU - Chakravorty, Bonnie J.
AU - Tyry, Tuula
AU - Hatcher, William Scott
AU - Vollmer, Timothy
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - OBJECTIVE: To determine if the demographic characteristics and health care needs of younger people with MS differ from older people with MS. PARTICIPANTS: The study analyzed enrollment data from the NARCOMS Registry to compare 1,987 younger adults with MS (30 years and younger) to 29,245 other adults with MS (over 30 years). METHODS: Analyses of the NARCOMS data focused on descriptive characteristics of these adults with MS, using a t-test to identify any statistically significant age-related differences in means and a chi-squared test to identify any statistically significant age-related differences in proportions. RESULTS: A significantly larger proportion of younger adults with MS were female and African American compared to other adults with MS. We found significant age-related differences in the expression of physical disability domains but few significant age-related differences in symptoms of depression. We also observed significant age-related differences in the utilization of health providers, with larger proportions of other adults with MS treated by internists, urologists, rehabilitation specialists, and physical and occupational therapists. CONCLUSIONS: The comprehensive care of younger adults with MS should include monitoring for mental health conditions and the availability of mental health services.
AB - OBJECTIVE: To determine if the demographic characteristics and health care needs of younger people with MS differ from older people with MS. PARTICIPANTS: The study analyzed enrollment data from the NARCOMS Registry to compare 1,987 younger adults with MS (30 years and younger) to 29,245 other adults with MS (over 30 years). METHODS: Analyses of the NARCOMS data focused on descriptive characteristics of these adults with MS, using a t-test to identify any statistically significant age-related differences in means and a chi-squared test to identify any statistically significant age-related differences in proportions. RESULTS: A significantly larger proportion of younger adults with MS were female and African American compared to other adults with MS. We found significant age-related differences in the expression of physical disability domains but few significant age-related differences in symptoms of depression. We also observed significant age-related differences in the utilization of health providers, with larger proportions of other adults with MS treated by internists, urologists, rehabilitation specialists, and physical and occupational therapists. CONCLUSIONS: The comprehensive care of younger adults with MS should include monitoring for mental health conditions and the availability of mental health services.
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U2 - 10.3233/nre-2009-0525
DO - 10.3233/nre-2009-0525
M3 - Article
C2 - 20037220
AN - SCOPUS:77649200037
SN - 1053-8135
VL - 25
SP - 271
EP - 278
JO - NeuroRehabilitation
JF - NeuroRehabilitation
IS - 4
ER -