Real-time assessment of COVID-19 prevalence among multiple sclerosis patients: a multicenter European study
Gloria Dalla Costa, Letizia Leocani, Xavier Montalbán, Ana Isabel Guerrero, Per Soelberg Sørensen, Melinda Magyari, Richard Dobson, Nicholas Cummins, Vaibhav A. Narayan, Matthew Hotopf, Gıancarlo Comı
Abstract
We assessed the prevalence and impact of COVID-19 among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients across Europe by leveraging participant data collected as part of the ongoing EU IMI2 RADAR-CNS major programme aimed at finding new ways of monitoring neurological disorders using wearable devices and smartphone technology. In the present study, 399 patients of RADAR-MS have been included (mean age 43.9 years, 60.7% females) with 87/399 patients (21.8%) reporting major symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. A trend for an increased risk of COVID-19 symptoms under alemtuzumab and cladribine treatments in comparison to injectables was observed. Remote monitoring technologies may support health authorities in monitoring and containing the ongoing pandemic.