Neurologists Demand Early Diagnosis, Comprehensive Care for Multiple Sclerosis Patients

MADRID (EUROPA PRESS) – The coordinator of the Study Group of Multiple Sclerosis and Related Neuroimmunological Diseases at the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN), Dr. Ana Belén Caminero, called for enhanced early diagnosis and comprehensive care for patients with multiple sclerosis this Thursday.

“We want to reaffirm our commitment to improving care for people with multiple sclerosis, promoting early diagnosis, ensuring equitable access to treatments, and advancing research. These four areas are essential in combating this disease. Multiple sclerosis is a complex disease, but it is manageable. With a coordinated health and social system, we can significantly transform the progression and quality of life of those living with it,” stated Caminero.

According to data from SEN itself, more than 55,000 people in Spain are affected, a number that has increased by 15 percent over the past 15 years. Caminero attributed this rise mainly to improvements in diagnostic procedures and early detection techniques, as well as more effective treatments.

Despite these advancements, she acknowledged an increased incidence due to changes in the lifestyle habits of the Spanish population, impacting the work, social, family, and emotional lives of those affected. Up to 83 percent of individuals with multiple sclerosis prematurely leave their jobs or encounter serious difficulties when trying to enter the labor market.

The diagnosis of this condition entails a “significant” economic impact, with each affected family spending around 7,000 euros annually in the early stages of the disease, and over 18,000 euros in more advanced stages because it requires ongoing, specialized, multidisciplinary medical care, as well as a social structure capable of providing physical and cognitive rehabilitation, psychological support, and resources for personal autonomy.

“Variations in resources, care pathways, and access to rehabilitation services mean that the patient experience can differ greatly depending on the autonomous community they live in. The time it takes to receive a diagnosis can also vary,” she added.

Estimates from the organization show that 44 percent of cases have family members who take on the role of primary caregivers, often forcing them to leave their jobs as well.

“Informal caregivers exhibit high levels of anxiety, stress, and depression, highlighting that multiple sclerosis affects the entire family unit, not just the diagnosed individual,” Caminero further noted.

Therefore, SEN has stressed the importance of early detection of multiple sclerosis to alter its course and possibly prevent future disabilities.

To achieve this, it is crucial to enhance the early identification of symptoms, improve referral pathways from Primary Care and Emergency Services, and expedite access to diagnostic tests, which have seen various advancements in recent years following the identification of different biomarkers.

Although recent years have seen advances in the therapeutic arsenal available to people with multiple sclerosis, which “has changed the prognosis of the disease” for many patients, availability in Spain remains uneven and dependent on each territory.