Early Phase Multiple Sclerosis Patients Present Substantial Deficits in Physical-, Cognitive-, and Patient-reported Outcomes Compared to Matched Healthy Controls

Cecilie Thrue; Lars G. Hvid; Mette Diechmann; Tobias Gaemelke; Egon Stenager; Ulrik Dalgas; Morten Riemenschneider

doi:10.1177/15459683251318246

Early Phase Multiple Sclerosis Patients Present Substantial Deficits in Physical-, Cognitive-, and Patient-reported Outcomes Compared to Matched Healthy Controls

Cecilie Thrue^*, Lars G. Hvid, Mette Diechmann, Tobias Gaemelke, Egon Stenager, Ulrik Dalgas, Morten Riemenschneider

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Public Health - Sport Science

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Early identification of potential deficits is of utmost importance as early diagnosis and early treatment has been shown to be crucial to reduce disease activity and disease impact—leading to the notion of “Time matters” in multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare physical-, cognitive-, and patient-reported outcomes in early phase MS patients with matched healthy controls (HC). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 84 patients early in the disease course of MS (≤2 years from diagnosis) and 84 age- and sex-matched HC. All participants underwent a comprehensive test battery including physical-, cognitive-, and patient-reported outcomes. Results: Relative deficits for patients with MS compared to HC corresponded to 7% to 35% in walking capacity (Timed 25-Foot Walk Test, 6 Spot Step Test, 6 Minute Walk Test), 5% for upper limb function (9 Hole Peg Test), 27% for aerobic capacity (maximal oxygen uptake), 17% to 38% for physical activity level (Baecke Sport Index and accelerometer counts/minute), 68% for fatigability (Walking Fatigability Index), 150% for fatigue (Modified Fatigue Impact Scale), 4% to 20% for cognitive function (Symbol Digit Modalities Test, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, and Selective Reminding Test), and lastly, 7% to 8% for quality of life (Short Form-36 health survey). Only the Symbol Digit Modalities Test and Selective Reminding Test Delayed did not differ between groups, statistically. Conclusion: Early phase MS patients present substantial deficits in physical-, cognitive-, and patient-reported outcomes compared to HC. These early impairments highlight the importance of early initiatives aimed at preserving and/or building of reserve capacity.

Original language	English
Journal	Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
Volume	39
Issue	5
Pages (from-to)	377-385
Number of pages	9
ISSN	1545-9683
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/15459683251318246
Publication status	Published - May 2025

Keywords

early diagnosis
multiple sclerosis
rehabilitation

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@article{fc213f4bf9a442e6a88bb7f0a5c90f5e,

title = "Early Phase Multiple Sclerosis Patients Present Substantial Deficits in Physical-, Cognitive-, and Patient-reported Outcomes Compared to Matched Healthy Controls",

abstract = "Background: Early identification of potential deficits is of utmost importance as early diagnosis and early treatment has been shown to be crucial to reduce disease activity and disease impact—leading to the notion of “Time matters” in multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare physical-, cognitive-, and patient-reported outcomes in early phase MS patients with matched healthy controls (HC). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 84 patients early in the disease course of MS (≤2 years from diagnosis) and 84 age- and sex-matched HC. All participants underwent a comprehensive test battery including physical-, cognitive-, and patient-reported outcomes. Results: Relative deficits for patients with MS compared to HC corresponded to 7% to 35% in walking capacity (Timed 25-Foot Walk Test, 6 Spot Step Test, 6 Minute Walk Test), 5% for upper limb function (9 Hole Peg Test), 27% for aerobic capacity (maximal oxygen uptake), 17% to 38% for physical activity level (Baecke Sport Index and accelerometer counts/minute), 68% for fatigability (Walking Fatigability Index), 150% for fatigue (Modified Fatigue Impact Scale), 4% to 20% for cognitive function (Symbol Digit Modalities Test, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, and Selective Reminding Test), and lastly, 7% to 8% for quality of life (Short Form-36 health survey). Only the Symbol Digit Modalities Test and Selective Reminding Test Delayed did not differ between groups, statistically. Conclusion: Early phase MS patients present substantial deficits in physical-, cognitive-, and patient-reported outcomes compared to HC. These early impairments highlight the importance of early initiatives aimed at preserving and/or building of reserve capacity.",

keywords = "early diagnosis, multiple sclerosis, rehabilitation",

author = "Cecilie Thrue and Hvid, {Lars G.} and Mette Diechmann and Tobias Gaemelke and Egon Stenager and Ulrik Dalgas and Morten Riemenschneider",

year = "2025",

month = may,

doi = "10.1177/15459683251318246",

language = "English",

volume = "39",

pages = "377--385",

journal = "Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair",

issn = "1545-9683",

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}

Thrue, C , Hvid, LG, Diechmann, M, Gaemelke, T, Stenager, E, Dalgas, U & Riemenschneider, M 2025, 'Early Phase Multiple Sclerosis Patients Present Substantial Deficits in Physical-, Cognitive-, and Patient-reported Outcomes Compared to Matched Healthy Controls', Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, vol. 39, no. 5, pp. 377-385. https://doi.org/10.1177/15459683251318246

Early Phase Multiple Sclerosis Patients Present Substantial Deficits in Physical-, Cognitive-, and Patient-reported Outcomes Compared to Matched Healthy Controls. / Thrue, Cecilie ; Hvid, Lars G.; Diechmann, Mette et al.
In: Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, Vol. 39, No. 5, 05.2025, p. 377-385.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Early Phase Multiple Sclerosis Patients Present Substantial Deficits in Physical-, Cognitive-, and Patient-reported Outcomes Compared to Matched Healthy Controls

AU - Thrue, Cecilie

AU - Hvid, Lars G.

AU - Diechmann, Mette

AU - Gaemelke, Tobias

AU - Stenager, Egon

AU - Dalgas, Ulrik

AU - Riemenschneider, Morten

PY - 2025/5

Y1 - 2025/5

N2 - Background: Early identification of potential deficits is of utmost importance as early diagnosis and early treatment has been shown to be crucial to reduce disease activity and disease impact—leading to the notion of “Time matters” in multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare physical-, cognitive-, and patient-reported outcomes in early phase MS patients with matched healthy controls (HC). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 84 patients early in the disease course of MS (≤2 years from diagnosis) and 84 age- and sex-matched HC. All participants underwent a comprehensive test battery including physical-, cognitive-, and patient-reported outcomes. Results: Relative deficits for patients with MS compared to HC corresponded to 7% to 35% in walking capacity (Timed 25-Foot Walk Test, 6 Spot Step Test, 6 Minute Walk Test), 5% for upper limb function (9 Hole Peg Test), 27% for aerobic capacity (maximal oxygen uptake), 17% to 38% for physical activity level (Baecke Sport Index and accelerometer counts/minute), 68% for fatigability (Walking Fatigability Index), 150% for fatigue (Modified Fatigue Impact Scale), 4% to 20% for cognitive function (Symbol Digit Modalities Test, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, and Selective Reminding Test), and lastly, 7% to 8% for quality of life (Short Form-36 health survey). Only the Symbol Digit Modalities Test and Selective Reminding Test Delayed did not differ between groups, statistically. Conclusion: Early phase MS patients present substantial deficits in physical-, cognitive-, and patient-reported outcomes compared to HC. These early impairments highlight the importance of early initiatives aimed at preserving and/or building of reserve capacity.

AB - Background: Early identification of potential deficits is of utmost importance as early diagnosis and early treatment has been shown to be crucial to reduce disease activity and disease impact—leading to the notion of “Time matters” in multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare physical-, cognitive-, and patient-reported outcomes in early phase MS patients with matched healthy controls (HC). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 84 patients early in the disease course of MS (≤2 years from diagnosis) and 84 age- and sex-matched HC. All participants underwent a comprehensive test battery including physical-, cognitive-, and patient-reported outcomes. Results: Relative deficits for patients with MS compared to HC corresponded to 7% to 35% in walking capacity (Timed 25-Foot Walk Test, 6 Spot Step Test, 6 Minute Walk Test), 5% for upper limb function (9 Hole Peg Test), 27% for aerobic capacity (maximal oxygen uptake), 17% to 38% for physical activity level (Baecke Sport Index and accelerometer counts/minute), 68% for fatigability (Walking Fatigability Index), 150% for fatigue (Modified Fatigue Impact Scale), 4% to 20% for cognitive function (Symbol Digit Modalities Test, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, and Selective Reminding Test), and lastly, 7% to 8% for quality of life (Short Form-36 health survey). Only the Symbol Digit Modalities Test and Selective Reminding Test Delayed did not differ between groups, statistically. Conclusion: Early phase MS patients present substantial deficits in physical-, cognitive-, and patient-reported outcomes compared to HC. These early impairments highlight the importance of early initiatives aimed at preserving and/or building of reserve capacity.

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KW - multiple sclerosis

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U2 - 10.1177/15459683251318246

DO - 10.1177/15459683251318246

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 39945393

AN - SCOPUS:85219542968

SN - 1545-9683

VL - 39

SP - 377

EP - 385

JO - Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair

JF - Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair

IS - 5

ER -

Early Phase Multiple Sclerosis Patients Present Substantial Deficits in Physical-, Cognitive-, and Patient-reported Outcomes Compared to Matched Healthy Controls

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