ArticleBMC public health2019
Economic burden of multiple sclerosis in a population with low physical disability.
Article in BMC public health, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 33 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
33 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 57 citations in OpenAlex.
- An updated review of the economic burden of multiple sclerosis: direct and indirect costs.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Pooled it
- Does the inclusion of societal costs change the economic evaluations recommendations? A systematic review for multiple sclerosis disease.The European journal of health economics : HEPAC : health economics in prevention and care · 2023Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Systematic Review of the Socioeconomic Consequences in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis With Different Levels of Disability and Cognitive Function.Frontiers in neurology · 2021Pooled it
- Broadening the understanding of fatigue in multiple sclerosis: a qualitative study protocol of the EMA-FAMS project.BMJ open · 2026Article
- Vocational rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis: A systematic scoping review of international evidence.PloS one · 2026Article
- Clinical Experience With Biologic Disease-Modifying Therapy in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Report and Review of Literature.Clinical case reports · 2025Article
- Article
- Understanding Diverse Caregiver Experiences and Their Impact on Caregiver Burden in Multiple Sclerosis.International journal of MS care · 2025Article
- Financial burden of out of pocket nonpharmacological therapies in an Austrian multiple sclerosis cohort.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Mild multiple sclerosis challenges shape work experiences, affect self-concept, and are often trivialized despite disclosure.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences · 2025Article
- Ultrastructural Characterization of PBMCs and Extracellular Vesicles in Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study.International journal of molecular sciences · 2024Article
- Disease Burden and Costs Associated with Multiple Sclerosis in China: A Cross-sectional Analysis of Nationwide Survey Data.Neuroscience bulletin · 2024Article
- The Patient-Determined Disease Steps scale is not interchangeable with the Expanded Disease Status Scale in mild to moderate multiple sclerosis.European journal of neurology · 2024Article
- Barriers for work in people with multiple sclerosis: a Norwegian cultural adaptation and validation of the short version of the multiple sclerosis work difficulties questionnaire.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences · 2024Article
- Rituximab for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in Thailand: an economic evaluation and budget impact analysis.BMC health services research · 2023Article
- Emerging role of extracellular vesicles in multiple sclerosis: From cellular surrogates to pathogenic mediators and beyond.Journal of neuroimmunology · 2023Review
- Exploring physicians' prescribing behavior in patients with multiple sclerosis in Saudi Arabia: a sequential explanatory mixed-methods.BMC neurology · 2023Article
- Management of multiple sclerosis fatigue in the digital age: from assessment to treatment.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2023Review
- Economic burden of multiple sclerosis in Slovakia - from 2015 to 2020.BMC health services research · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
8 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundIn multiple sclerosis (MS), half of affected people are unemployed within 10 years of diagnosis. The aim of this study was to assess the economic impact of MS in adult subjects with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS).
methodsA multicenter, non-interventional, cross-sectional study was conducted. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and the 23-item Multiple Sclerosis Work Difficulties Questionnaire (MSWDQ-23) were used to assess disability and work performance, respectively. Only indirect costs were considered using the human capital method, including work costs. Professional support costs and informal caregivers' costs were also estimated.
resultsA total of 199 subjects were studied (mean age: 43.9 ± 10.5 years, 60.8% female, 86.4% with RRMS). Median EDSS score was 2.0 (interquartile range: 1.0-3.5) and median MSWDQ-23 total score was 31.5 (15.2, 50.0). The number of employed subjects decreased after MS diagnosis from 70.6 to 47.2%, and the number of retired people increased (23.6%). Mean age of retirement was 43.6 ± 10.5 years. Ten percent of the population had sick leaves (absenteeism was seen in 90.9% of the student population and 30.9% of the employed population). Professional support in their daily life activities was needed in 28.1% of subjects. Costs for sick leave, work absenteeism, premature retirement and premature work disability/pensioner were €416.6 ± 2030.2, €763.4 ± 3161.8, €5810.1 ± 13,159.0 and €1816.8 ± 9630.7, respectively. Costs for professional support and informal caregiving activities were €1026.93 ± 4622.0 and €1328.72, respectively.
conclusionsMS is responsible for a substantial economic burden due to indirect and informal care costs, even in a population with low physical disability.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.