Influence of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and obstructive lung disease on multiple sclerosis disease course

Background: Comorbidities are known to affect multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in a number of ways, including delaying time to diagnosis and reducing health-related quality of life. Objective: To determine the impact of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and obstructive lung disease on disease course in MS patients. Methods: The Knowledge Program is a database linked to our electronic medical record allowing capture of patient and clinician reported outcomes. Through Knowledge Program query and chart review, we identified all relapsing-remitting MS patients seen between 1 January 2010 and 29 May 2012 and acquired their magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results and comorbidities. Linear and logistic regression models with adjustment for important covariates were used to determine whether the comorbidities affected outcomes over a 3-year period. Results: Hypertension, diabetes, and obstructive lung disease, but not hyperlipidemia, impacted clinical outcomes, including walking speed, self-reported disability, and depression. Hypertension had the greatest effect. The presence of multiple comorbidities had a cumulative effect on clinical outcomes. MRI outcomes were unaffected by comorbidities. Conclusion: This 3-year longitudinal study revealed that all comorbidities tested except hyperlipidemia impacted clinical outcomes and a cumulative effect with multiple comorbidities was observed. Consideration of comorbid conditions is essential in MS patient care.