Connect with others who understand.

Sign up Log in
Resources
About MyMSTeam
Powered By
See answer

Risks of Comorbidities With Multiple Sclerosis

Medically reviewed by Evelyn O. Berman, M.D.
Written by Brooke Dulka, Ph.D.
Posted on May 13, 2021

When you are living with multiple sclerosis (MS), you may deal with other conditions as well. These are known as comorbidities. A comorbidity refers to a situation when two or more health conditions are present in the same individual at the same time. Neurological conditions, such as MS, are considered a heavy burden on a person. In particular, MS may be even more challenging given that it is often a relapsing disease. This makes understanding and dealing with the risks of MS-related illnesses all the more challenging.

What Conditions Are Comorbid With MS?

According to a systematic review that analyzed 249 articles and research papers, it is estimated that the most prevalent comorbidities in people living with MS are depression (23.7 percent), anxiety (21.9 percent), high blood pressure (18.6 percent), high cholesterol (10.9 percent), and chronic lung disease (10 percent).

Furthermore, it is estimated that approximately 30 percent of people with MS have autoimmune comorbidities. In one study, the most common autoimmune diseases in people with MS were thyroid disease (11.9 percent), asthma (5 percent), type 2 diabetes mellitus (4.9 percent), psoriasis (4 percent), and rheumatoid arthritis (2.7 percent). If you have an autoimmune disease such as one listed above, there is a slightly higher chance of developing MS. Additionally, it is thought that having MS also puts a person at increased risk of developing other autoimmune conditions.

In a 2016 report published in Neurology, one research team has outlined several guidelines to better understand MS comorbidities and increase the number of effective treatment options. First, the researchers recommend that incidence and prevalence rates be firmly established. Incidence relates to the number of new diagnoses of a specific comorbidity within a given time period. In contrast, prevalence refers to the number of people who have a specific comorbidity during a specific time period. More studies are needed to get a better picture of how many people with MS have new comorbidities or are living with them already.

Additionally, the prevalence of MS should be broken down by age and sex for comorbidities associated with the disease. Understanding these features is important in depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. This research team also suggests that physicians and researchers evaluate the effect of MS comorbidities, such as the diseases listed above, on a variety of variables. These variables should include disability, quality of life, neurological outcomes, and mortality. Lastly, study designs should be more consistent in their methodology, and should include details about people living with MS from around the world. The ultimate goal of guidelines such as these is to increase the number of clinical trials aimed at treating comorbidities associated with MS.

The Burden and Impact of MS Comorbidities

Having both MS and a comorbid condition can greatly impact a person’s well-being and quality of life. It’s important to understand how these comorbidities affect treatment options and life span in those with MS, and whether they can worsen MS symptoms.

Cardiovascular Disease and Vascular Comorbidities

One study showed that participants with MS who had at least one comorbid cardiovascular risk factor (such as high blood pressure) had an increased number of brain lesions and more severe decreases in brain volume. Several factors play into cardiovascular disease risk, especially obesity. In this case, having comorbid cardiovascular issues worsened the outcomes of the MS population.

In another study, physical comorbidities such as ischemic heart disease and epilepsy were also associated with an increase in MS disability progression. In this same study, these relationships were also found to be linear. This means that with each additional comorbidity that the same person had in addition to their MS diagnosis, the greater the score they had on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).

Another study conducted over a period of three years found that high blood pressure, diabetes, and obstructive lung disease (but not high cholesterol) impacted outcomes related to MS. Outcomes that were affected by these comorbidities included walking speed, self-reported disability, and depression.

Learn more about the connection between heart disease and MS.

Autoimmune Comorbidities

Autoimmune disorders also have their own complications when comorbid with MS. Research suggests that Graves’ disease, a hyperthyroidism disorder, significantly co-occurs with MS compared to the general population. Hasimoto’s disease, a hypothyroidism disorder, also has a relationship with MS. In another study of 286 participants, people who had MS and type 1 diabetes were more likely to have reductions in brain size or volume compared to people who had MS and another autoimmune disorder. These other autoimmune disorders included autoimmune thyroiditis and celiac disease.

Mental Health Comorbidities

Mental health comorbidities complicate MS just as much as physical comorbidities do. Some researchers assert that the treatment of anxiety and depression is actually an unmet need in people living with MS. A systematic review of many studies found that mental health disorder comorbidities (depression and anxiety disorders) remain undertreated in people with MS. They also found that psychiatric comorbidities, such as bipolar disorder, also went underrecognized in the health care setting.

Depression and anxiety are particularly underdiagnosed in people with MS. This may be because depression or anxiety can be symptoms of MS itself. MS and depression also share several symptoms, such as fatigue, poor concentration, and sleep problems, which makes it even harder to disentangle these disorders from one another.

Read more about depression and MS.

Sleep Disorder Comorbidities

Sleep disorders are diagnosed more frequently in people with MS compared to those in the general population. The matter is further complicated by the fact that the association between MS, poor sleep, fatigue, depression, and anxiety goes both ways. This means that while MS can lead to poor sleep, for example, poor sleep increases other symptoms of MS.

Obstructive sleep apnea is another disease for which people living with MS are at higher risk. Further, obstructive sleep apnea leads to increased fatigue, increased MS-related disability, and other health problems.

In short, comorbidities negatively affect outcomes throughout the disease course in MS. These negative outcomes include a delay in diagnosis from the time of symptom onset and increased disability at diagnosis. Comorbidities also affect cognitive abilities, mortality risk, and overall quality of life. Regular follow-up with your doctor or neurologist is necessary, and it is important to share with them whether you are experiencing any other health-related issues.

Read more about sleep disorders and MS.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyMSTeam is the social network for people with multiple sclerosis and their loved ones. On MyMSTeam, more than 167,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with multiple sclerosis.

Are you living with multiple sclerosis? Did any of these conditions come up as possible comorbidities on your path to diagnosis? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on MyMSTeam.

References
  1. Morbidity — Comorbidity and Multimorbidity. What Do They Mean? — British Geriatrics Society
  2. A Systematic Review of the Incidence and Prevalence of Comorbidity in Multiple Sclerosis: Overview — Multiple Sclerosis Journal
  3. Comorbidities Management and Lifestyle Modification in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis — AJMC
  4. Autoimmune Comorbidities Are Associated with Brain Injury in Multiple Sclerosis — American Journal of Neuroradiology
  5. Multiple Sclerosis — Symptoms and Causes — Mayo Clinic
  6. Autoimmune Disease in People With Multiple Sclerosis and Their Relatives: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis — Journal of Neurology
  7. Recommendations for Observational Studies of Comorbidity in Multiple Sclerosis — Neurology
  8. Lesson Three: Measures of Risk — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  9. What Is Prevalence? — National Institute of Mental Health
  10. Cardiovascular Risk Factors Are Associated With Increased Lesion Burden and Brain Atrophy in Multiple Sclerosis — Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
  11. Effects of Physical Comorbidities on Disability Progression in Multiple Sclerosis — Neurology
  12. Influence of Hypertension, Diabetes, Hyperlipidemia, and Obstructive Lung Disease on Multiple Sclerosis Disease Course — Multiple Sclerosis Journal
  13. Co-Occurrence of Autoimmune Thyroid Disease in a Multiple Sclerosis Cohort — Journal of Autoimmune Diseases
  14. Autoimmune Comorbidities in Multiple Sclerosis: What Is the Influence on Brain Volumes? A Case-Control MRI study — Journal of Neurology
  15. Exploration of Undertreatment and Patterns of Treatment of Depression in Multiple Sclerosis — International Journal of MS Care
  16. The Incidence and Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review — Multiple Sclerosis
  17. Sleep and Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: A Questionnaire-Based, Cross-Sectional, Cohort Study — Journal of the Neurological Sciences
  18. Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Multiple Sclerosis: Frequency, Clinical and Radiological Correlates — Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
  19. Comorbidity in Multiple Sclerosis: Implications for Patient Care — Nature Reviews Neurology
Posted on May 13, 2021

A MyMSTeam Subscriber

which disorders can cause SYMMETRICAL lesion formation in the brain? MS specialist says I do NOT have MS b/c lesions are very symmetrical.

July 9
All updates must be accompanied by text or a picture.

We'd love to hear from you! Please share your name and email to post and read comments.

You'll also get the latest articles directly to your inbox.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Privacy Policy
All updates must be accompanied by text or a picture.

Subscribe now to ask your question, get answers, and stay up to date on the latest articles.

Get updates directly to your inbox.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Privacy Policy

Type 2 Diabetes Is Autoimmune?

July 8, 2024 by A MyMSTeam Member 1 answer
Evelyn O. Berman, M.D. is a neurology and pediatric specialist and treats disorders of the brain in children. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Learn more about her here.
Brooke Dulka, Ph.D. is a freelance science writer and editor. She received her doctoral training in biological psychology at the University of Tennessee. Learn more about her here.

Related Articles

Morton’s neuroma refers to thickened tissue that develops around the nerves at the ball of the fo...

Morton’s Neuroma and Foot Pain in MS: Is It Caused By Autoimmune Disease?

Morton’s neuroma refers to thickened tissue that develops around the nerves at the ball of the fo...
Both multiple sclerosis (MS) and scleroderma (also called systemic sclerosis) are autoimmune diso...

Scleroderma (Systemic Sclerosis) vs. Multiple Sclerosis: What’s the Difference?

Both multiple sclerosis (MS) and scleroderma (also called systemic sclerosis) are autoimmune diso...
It’s not something anyone wants to think about, but when you get a diagnosis like multiple sclero...

Life Expectancy With MS: Prognosis and Outlook

It’s not something anyone wants to think about, but when you get a diagnosis like multiple sclero...
Vision problems are prevalent among people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Visual symptoms can be ...

MS Vision Problems: Eye Floaters, Double Vision, and Blurred Vision

Vision problems are prevalent among people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Visual symptoms can be ...
Optic neuritis (ON) is an inflammatory and demyelinating eye condition that causes eye pain and t...

Optic Neuritis: How Does MS Affect Vision?

Optic neuritis (ON) is an inflammatory and demyelinating eye condition that causes eye pain and t...
Vision problems are common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). In some cases, these problems ...

Managing Depth Perception and MS: Practical Tips To Try

Vision problems are common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). In some cases, these problems ...

Recent Articles

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ocrevus Zunovo (ocrelizumab and hyaluro...

FDA Approves 10-Minute Injectable Version of Ocrevus

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ocrevus Zunovo (ocrelizumab and hyaluro...
A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) may be unexpected and overwhelming — but it can also bring...

What Is Multiple Sclerosis? An Overview

A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) may be unexpected and overwhelming — but it can also bring...
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive disease of the central nervous system that is well known...

6 Signs of Cognitive Issues in MS

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive disease of the central nervous system that is well known...
Some people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and secondary progressive MS (SPMS...

High-Dose Biotin for Progressive MS: Can It Help?

Some people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and secondary progressive MS (SPMS...
Managing multiple sclerosis (MS) can be challenging, even with a variety of treatment options ava...

Low-Dose Naltrexone for MS: Side Effects, Interactions, and More

Managing multiple sclerosis (MS) can be challenging, even with a variety of treatment options ava...
Living with multiple sclerosis (MS) can bring unique challenges, and walking difficulties are a c...

What Walking With MS Gait Looks Like

Living with multiple sclerosis (MS) can bring unique challenges, and walking difficulties are a c...

Thank you for subscribing!

Become a member to get even more: