Peter Flachenecker

Background: Multiple sclerosis patients often develop neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction with a potential risk of upper urinary tract damage. Diagnostic tools are urodynamics, bladder diary, uroflowmetry, and post-void residual, but recommendations for their use are controversial. Objective: We aimed to identify clinical parameters indicative of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction in multiple sclerosis patients. Methods: 207 patients were prospectively assessed independent of the presence of lower urinary tract symptoms. We analyzed Expanded Disability Status Scale scores, uroflowmetry, post-void residual, rate of urinary tract infections, standardized voiding frequency, and voided volume in correlation with urodynamic findings. Results: We found a significant correlation between post-void residual (odds ratio (OR) 4.17, confidence interval (CI) 1.20–22.46), urinary tract infection rate (OR 3.91, CI 1.13–21.0), voided volume (OR 4.53, CI 1.85–11.99), increased standardized voiding frequency (OR 7.40, CI 2.15–39.66), and urodynamic findings indicative of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. Expanded Disability Status Scale shows no correlation. Those parameters (except post-void residual) are also associated with reduced bladder compliance, as potential risk for kidney damage. Conclusion: Therefore, bladder diary and urinary tract infection rate should be routinely assessed to identify patients who require urodynamics.

Introductions Therapy switches in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) receiving treatment with fingolimod occur frequently in clinical practice but are not well represented in real-world data. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize treatment switches and reveal sociodemographic/clinical changes over time in fingolimod-treated people with MS (PwMS). Methods Data on 2536 fingolimod-treated PwMS extracted from the German MS Registry during different time periods were analyzed (2010–2019). Results Overall, 28.3% of PwMS were treatment-naïve before fingolimod initiation. Interferon beta (30.7%) was the most common pre-fingolimod treatment. Ocrelizumab (19.8%) was the most frequent subsequent treatment in the 944 patients on fingolimod who switched. Between 2010 and 2019, median disease duration at fingolimod initiation decreased from 8.5 to 7.1 years (p < 0.001), and patients taking fingolimod for ≥ 1 year after treatment initiation decreased from 89.6 to 80.5% (p < 0.001). Females (p < 0.001) and young patients (p = 0.003) showed a shorter time on fingolimod. The most frequent reason for switching was disease activity (relapse/MRI) despite treatment. The annualized relapse rate increased from 0.37 in patients on fingolimod to 0.47 after treatment cessation, decreasing to 0.19 after treatment with a subsequent disease-modifying drug (DMD) was initiated. Conclusion Treatment switches from fingolimod to subsequent DMDs currently occur after shorter treatment durations than 10 years ago, possibly due to the growing treatment spectrum. Planning adequate washout periods is essential and should be done on an individualized basis.

Background: Consumer activity monitors and smartphones have gained relevance for the assessment and promotion of physical activity. The aim of this study was to determine the concurrent validity of various consumer activity monitor models and smartphone models for measuring steps. Methods: Participants completed three activity protocols: (1) overground walking with three different speeds (comfortable, slow, fast), (2) activities of daily living (ADLs) focusing on arm movements, and (3) intermittent walking. Participants wore 11 activity monitors (wrist: 8; hip: 2; ankle: 1) and four smartphones (hip: 3; calf: 1). Observed steps served as the criterion measure. The mean average percentage error (MAPE) was calculated for each device and protocol. Results: Eighteen healthy adults participated in the study (age: 28.8 ± 4.9 years). MAPEs ranged from 0.3–38.2% during overground walking, 48.2–861.2% during ADLs, and 11.2–47.3% during intermittent walking. Wrist-worn activity monitors tended to misclassify arm movements as steps. Smartphone data collected at the hip, analyzed with a separate algorithm, performed either equally or even superiorly to the research-grade ActiGraph. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential of smartphones for physical activity measurement. Measurement inaccuracies during intermittent walking and arm movements should be considered when interpreting study results and choosing activity monitors for evaluation purposes.

The two-minute walk test (2MWT) is a frequently used walking capacity test in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). However, less is known about its relevance with regards to walking capacity during free-living walking performance. Therefore, the ecological validity of the 2MWT was tested by 1. computing free-living minutes with the same intensity (cadence) as during the 2MWT and 2. investigating the relationship between 2MWT cadence and minutes with the same cadence during free-living walking. 20 pwMS aged 44.2 ± 12.2 (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 3.1 ± 1.4) performed a 2MWT and wore an accelerometer for seven days. The number of pwMS reaching 100%, 90%, 80% or 70% of 2MWT cadence for at least one minute a day and minutes/day with at least 100%, 90%, 80% and 70% of 2MWT cadence during free-living walking was calculated. Six participants reached 100% of the 2MWT cadence for at least one minute/day during free-living walking. A total of 80% 2MWT cadence was the first intensity category that was reached by all participants during free-living walking. No significant correlation was found between cadence in the 2MWT and minutes in which this cadence was reached during free-living walking. Ecological validity with regard to walking intensity could not be confirmed in our study sample.

Einleitung Unter Federführung der Deutschen Multiple Sklerose Gesellschaft (DMSG), Bundesverband e. V. wurde 2001 ein bundesweites MS-Register initiiert, um epidemiologische Daten zur MS, deren Verlaufsformen und der Versorgungssituation in Deutschland zu erheben. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Auswertung war es, die Daten der letzten Auswertung von vor 10 Jahren zu aktualisieren. Methodik Zum Stichtag 28. Februar 2018 nahmen 168 Zentren verschiedener Versorgungsbereiche (Universitätskliniken, Akutkliniken, Rehabilitationskliniken und neurologische Praxen) teil. Von 2014 bis 2016 wurde der Wechsel der Dokumentationsplattform zu einem internetbasierten elektronischen Datenerfassungssysstem (EDC) vorgenommen, das eine umfassende Datenerhebung und die Integration verschiedener Dokumentationssysteme erlaubt. Eine Reihe von Qualitätssicherungsmaßnahmen sichert eine valide und representative Datenerhebung. Um eine möglichst aktuelle Beschreibung der Versorgungssituation zu gewährleisten, wurde die Querschnittsanalyse auf Patientendaten der aktuellsten Visite aus den letzten 4 Jahren beschränkt. Ergebnisse Daten von 18.030 MS-Betroffenen konnten ausgewertet werden. Das mittlere (± Standardabweichung) Alter betrug 46,3 ± 12,2 Jahre, 72 % der Patienten waren weiblich, im Mittel waren die Patienten 10,6 ± 8,7 Jahre erkrankt, der mediane EDSS lag bei 3,0. Die Mehrzahl der Patienten litt an einem schubförmigen Verlauf (74,2 %), 16,1 % hatten einen sekundär und 5,5 % einen primär progredienten Verlauf. Eine Immuntherapie wurde bei 75,2 % durchgeführt, am häufigsten mit Interferonen, gefolgt von Fingolimod, Glatirameracetat, Dimethylfumarat, Natalizumab und Teriflunomid. Symptomatische Therapiemaßnahmen erhielten zwischen 28,3 % (kognitive Störungen) und 86,0 % (Spastik) der Patienten, die an diesen Symptomen litten. Voll berufstätig waren nur noch 37,5 % der Betroffenen; 22,5 % waren vorzeitig berentet. Die berufliche Leistungsfähigkeit war negativ mit dem Alter und dem Behinderungsgrad assoziiert. Diskussion Die vorliegende Auswertung des deutschen MS-Registers gibt einen aktuellen Überblick zur MS und deren Versorgungssituation in Deutschland. Die Ergebnisse sprechen für einen günstigeren Verlauf der MS im Lauf der letzten 10 Jahre. Während die Mehrzahl der Patienten mit immunmodulatorischen Substanzen therapiert wird, sind nach wie vor einige Symptome der MS wie Fatigue und kognitive Störungen unzureichend behandelt. Zwar hat die Beschäftigungsrate im Vergleich zu früheren Auswertungen zugenommen; dennoch erfordert der hohe Anteil der vorzeitig Berenteten effektive Maßnahmen, um die funktionellen Einschränkungen der Betroffenen zu verringern und ihnen die Teilhabe am gesellschaftlichen und beruflichen Leben möglichst lange zu ermöglichen. Background In 2001, the German MS (Multiple Sclerosis) society (DMSG) initiated a nation-wide registry aimed at collecting epidemiological data on people with MS (PwMS) focusing on disease forms, provision of care and access to treatment. Objective To provide an update on baseline data, health care situation and employment status of PwMS in Germany. Methods As of February 2018, data from 168 MS units from different health care providers (university hospitals, neurological clinics, rehabilitation centres and neurological practices) were included. In 2014, the documentation platform was changed to a web-based electronic data capture (EDC) system enabling comprehensive data collection and integration of interfaces for different documentation systems. Quality management measures ensure that the data are valid and representative. To give an up-to-date picture of the situation in Germany, the current analysis focused on patient data with an update within the last 4 years by using the latest data on each patient. Results Data on 18,030 PwMS fulfilled the inclusion criteria for analysis. Mean age (± SD) was 46.3 ± 12.2 years, 72 % were women, mean disease duration of MS was 10.6 ± 8.7 years, and median EDSS was 3.0. The disease course was relapsing-remitting in 74.2 %, secondary progressive in 16.1 %, and primary progressive in 5.5 %. The majority of PwMS (75.2 %) was treated with disease-modifying drugs (DMD), mostly with interferons, followed by fingolimod, glatirameracetate, dimethylfumarate, natalizumab, and teriflunomide. Symptomatic treatment was administered to 28.3 % (cognitive deficits) and 86.0 % (spasticity) of PwMS suffering from these symptoms. Only 37.5 % of PwMS were fully employed, and 22.5 % had retired prematurely. Work ability decreased with increasing age and disability. Conclusion The current analysis suggests a more favourable outcome than our previous analysis more than 10 years ago, which is in line with studies from other countries. Whereas most PwMS received DMDs, symptoms of MS seem to be undertreated. The low rate of fully employed PwMS underlines the need for more effective strategies that help maintain their functional level and social participation. ^* Geteilte Erstautorenschaft Publication Date: 16 October 2020 (online) © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York