Abstract General Information

Title

Prevalence of Clinical Symptoms at First Physiotherapy Assessment of Patients in a MS Reference Center

Abstract

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated, inflammatory, demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease that involves the white and gray matter of the Central Nervous System (CNS). The main symptoms are: optic neuritis, diplopia, paresis, sensory or motor changes in the limbs, coordination and balance disorders, neuropathic pain, spasticity, fatigue, sphincter and cognitive-behavioral disorders, either cognitively or in combination. Objective: to describe the prevalence of clinical symptoms in the first physiotherapeutic evaluation of patients with Multiple Sclerosis in a reference MS center. Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive, and retrospective study with a quantitative approach carried out at the Interdisciplinary Center for Attending Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. The sample consisted of 43 patients who underwent the first physical therapy evaluation from January to December 2017. The research data were collected from the initial evaluation form used by the physiotherapist at the outpatient clinic. The Research was approved by the CEP of the HGF by Opinion No. 2,019,342. Results: From the sample of 43 patients, 81.40% were female. The mean age was 34.88 years, with a standard deviation of 10.07 years. As for marital status, 60.5% were single. Other characteristics were a higher level of education (62.8%) and residence in the capital of Ceará (79.1%). Regarding the time of diagnosis, 65% (n=28) had their diagnosis within 5 years of the initial symptoms. As for the clinical symptoms presented, 23.3% had alterations in memory, pain (30.2%), sphincter dysfunction (27.9%), visual alterations (16.3%), sensitive alterations (32.6%), static balance deficit (53.5%), incoordination (30.2%), gait changes (39.5%), peripheral muscle weakness (9.3%) and fatigue (44.2%). Conclusion: We observed a high prevalence of females and predominance young age group. Gait involvement, impaired static balance, sphincter alterations, pain and muscle fatigue represented the main clinical and disabling findings affecting the functionality of patients.