Introduction Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disorder, prevalent in young adults. MS leads in disability accrual, thus affecting overall patients' quality of life. Moreover, the management of MS poses significant burden on health systems worldwide. The present study delves into the impact of different health providing settings (e.g. private office/Clinic vs. specialized MS Center) on the effectiveness of MS management, as well as on patient-reported outcomes related to the quality of life (Axis A). Moreover, the study addresses their relative effectiveness in a health crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic (Axis B). Methods Data were collected based on questionnaires administered to people with MS (pwMS). Upon the pandemic and prior to the COVID-19 vaccines being available, all data were collected via online questionnaires. Since March 2021, data were collected both online and in person. Results Overall, 776 pwMS participated in the study and answered Axis B questionnaire. Of those, 215 additionally answered Axis A questionnaire. Regarding Axis A, disease management by a specialized MS Center was associated with increased access to healthcare professionals (p 0.001) and/or MRI examinations ( p 0.001) and was also linked to improved time-to-diagnosis following symptom onset, compared to the disease management in a private office/Clinic ( p 0.001). Regarding Axis B, specialized MS centers demonstrated remarkable adaptability during the pandemic, swiftly implementing remote care solutions to ensure continuity of care. Discussion These findings suggest that care delivered in specialized MS centers is associated with improved access to healthcare services and better patient-reported outcomes, both under routine care conditions and during healthcare crises.
Grigoriadou et al. (Tue,) studied this question.