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CC BY 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2024; 82(S 01): S1-S52
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1789413
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Rehabilitation access profile of patients with progressive multiple sclerosis at reference center in Northeastern Brazil

Rodrigo da Ponte Barbosa
1   Hospital Geral de Fortaleza, Fortaleza CE, Brazil.
,
Keyla Rejane
1   Hospital Geral de Fortaleza, Fortaleza CE, Brazil.
,
Matheus Rolim Mendes de Alencar
1   Hospital Geral de Fortaleza, Fortaleza CE, Brazil.
,
Gabriela Martins
2   Hospital Geral de Fortaleza, Departamento de Neuroimunologia, Fortaleza CE, Brazil.
,
José Artur Costa D’Almeida
2   Hospital Geral de Fortaleza, Departamento de Neuroimunologia, Fortaleza CE, Brazil.
,
Milena Sales Pitombeira
2   Hospital Geral de Fortaleza, Departamento de Neuroimunologia, Fortaleza CE, Brazil.
,
Ivna Lacerda Pereira Nóbrega
1   Hospital Geral de Fortaleza, Fortaleza CE, Brazil.
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    Address for correspondence: Rodrigo da Ponte Barbosa (email: rodrigodaponte.fisiatria@gmail.com).

    Abstract

    Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system associated with neurodegeneration. It is a potentially disabling disease which may have impact on function and quality of life.

    Objective: To describe the access to rehabilitation services among progressive MS (PMS) patients at a hospital in Northeastern Brazil.

    Methods: Out of 42 PMS patients regularly followed up between 2020 and 2024, we included 32 patients from whom rehabilitation information was available. Clinical and epidemiological data were extracted from the platform of the Brazilian National Database for Multiple Sclerosis (BRANDO). Data regarding access to multidisciplinary rehabilitation was collected through a phone call survey as an institutional initiative after the inclusion of a physiatrist in our team.

    Results: Out of 32 patients with a PMS diagnosis, 22 (68.7%) were female, and the median age was of 49 years (range: 23–76). The median EDSS score was of 6.0 (range: 3.0–9.0), and 9 (28%) patients reported being unemployed due to MS. In total, 16 (50%) used walking aids (walkers: 10; canes: 4, and crutches: 2), 10 (31%) used a wheelchair, 6 (18%) did not need assistive devices for ambulation. Moreover, 30 (94%) patients had undergone some type of rehabilitation treatment during the course of the disease, and 2 (6%) had never had access to rehabilitation therapy. Among the patients under rehabilitation, 17 (57%) had a mean time of uninterrupted treatment of 60 (range: 1–120) months, and 13 (43%) were not enrolled in a rehabilitation program, with a mean time until the discontinuation of therapies of 30 (range: 1–60) months.

    Conclusion: Rehabilitation is essential for the treatment and maintenance of functionality among MS patients with disability. The present study showed that a high percentage of PMS patients had access to rehabilitation programs, but with premature discontinuation, even among patients with some sort of assistive device for mobility, showing the need for rehabilitation services for our patients.


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    No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

    Publication History

    Article published online:
    02 October 2024

    © 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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