Clinical-epidemiological profile of patients hospitalized with Multiple Sclerosis in the state of Sao Paulo

Abstract

Introduction: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that consists of the development of autoantibodies against the myelin sheath in neuronal axons causing demyelinating inflammatory sites. It is a disease currently incurable. Objectives: The objective was to describe the epidemiological clinical profile of patients hospitalized with MS in the State of São Paulo, in the period from 2011 to 2021. Methods: This is an epidemiological, descriptive and retrospective study, with quantitative analysis, whose source of data was the Information System for Notifiable Diseases, from the Ministry of Health. The data were tabulated in graphs and tables using Microsoft Excel 2010. Results: 10,386 admissions of MS were reported in the state. Of the total cases, 67.4% occurred in females and 80.3% in race white. 43.5% of patients in the age group between 30 and 39 years. 94.4% were hospitalized on an elective basis. The average length of stay is between 3.3 days, with mortality rate representing 0.64% of the total. Conclusion: A higher prevalence was observed in the age range between 30 and 39 years and a predominance of hospitalizations among women. Although it is a disease with high morbidity and mortality, the mortality was low. It suggests that there are variables to be analyzed, such as a possible underreporting of this disease and also the advent of early diagnosis strategies and treatments that can modify the course of the disease, mitigating mortality.