Elena Ruiz-Beato

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to the presence of negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia

Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is one of the primary reasons for increased mortality in patients with schizophrenia. The mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis are not well understood. Objective To estimate the prevalence of MetS in adult outpatients with schizophrenia according to the presence or absence of negative symptoms. Materials and methods A retrospective cohort study using electronic medical records was conducted. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale negative-symptom factor (N1–N4, N6, G7, and G16) was used as a framework for characterizing negative symptoms. MetS was defined using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III diagnostic criteria. An analysis of covariance model was used for correction, with significance at P<0.05. Results One or more negative symptoms were present in 52.5% of a sample of 1,120 patients (mean age 46.8 years, men 58.4%). Dyslipidemia (48.7%), hypertension (38.2%), and diabetes mellitus (19.3%) were the most frequent comorbidities. The overall prevalence of MetS was 38.6% (95% confidence interval 35.7%–41.5%), and was significantly higher in those patients with negative symptoms (43.9% versus 34.9%, P=0.002). MetS was significantly associated with the presence of negative symptoms, age, and physical comorbidity (odds ratios 1.6, 1.2, and 1.2, respectively; P<0.05). Conclusion A sedentary lifestyle and lack of physical exercise due to negative symptomatology may contribute to MetS development. Further studies are necessary to confirm this association and the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.

Conjoint analysis to understand preferences of patients with multiple sclerosis for disease-modifying therapy attributes in Spain: a cross-sectional observational study

Objective To assess patients’ preferences for a range of disease-modifying therapy (DMT) attributes in multiple sclerosis (MS). Design A cross-sectional observational study. Setting The data reported were from 17 MS units throughout Spain. Participants Adult patients with relapsing-remitting MS. Main outcome A conjoint analysis was applied to assess preferences. A total of 221 patients completed a survey with 10 hypothetical DMT profiles developed using an orthogonal design and rating preferences from 1 (most acceptable) to 10 (least acceptable). Medication attributes included preventing relapse, preventing disease progression, side effect risk, route and frequency of administration. Results Patients placed the greatest relative importance on the side effect risk domain (32.9%), followed by route of administration (26.1%), frequency of administration (22.7%), prevention of disease progression (10.0%) and prevention of relapse (8.3%). These results were independent of the Expanded Disability Status Scale score. The importance assigned to side effect risk was highest for patients with a recent diagnosis. Patients who had previously received more than one DMT gave a higher importance to relapse rate reduction than patients receiving their first DMT. Conclusions Patient DMT preferences were mainly driven by risk minimisation, route of administration and treatment schedule. The risk–benefit spectrum of available DMT for MS is becoming increasingly complicated. Understanding which treatment characteristics are meaningful to patients may help to tailor information for them and facilitate shared decision-making in clinical practice.

Comorbidity and metabolic syndrome in patients with multiple sclerosis from Asturias and Catalonia, Spain

BackgroundThe impact of comorbidity on multiple sclerosis (MS) is a new area of interest. Limited data on the risk factors of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is currently available. The aim of this study was to estimate the presence of comorbid conditions and MetS in a sample of adult patients with MS.MethodsA retrospective, cohort study was conducted using electronic medical records from 19 primary care centres in Catalonia and Asturias, Spain. The number of chronic diseases (diagnoses), the Charlson Comorbidity Index and the individual Case-mix Index were used to assess general comorbidity variables. MetS was defined using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Patients were distributed into two groups according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score: 0–3.5 and 4–10.ResultsA total of 222 patients were studied (mean age = 45.5 (SD 12.5) years, 64.4% were female and 62.2% presented a diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS). Mean EDSS score was 3.2 (SD 2.0). Depression (32.4%), dyslipidaemia (31.1%), hypertension (23.0%) and obesity (22.5%) were the most common comorbidities. Overall MetS prevalence was 31.1% (95% CI: 25.0–37.2%). Patients with an EDSS ≥ 4.0 showed a significantly higher number of comorbidities (OR=2.2; 95% CI: 1.7–3.0; p<0.001).ConclusionMS patients had a high prevalence of MetS. Screening for comorbidity should be part of standard MS care. Further studies are necessary to confirm this association and the underlying mechanisms of MS and its comorbidities.

Using a multidimensional unfolding approach to assess multiple sclerosis patient preferences for disease-modifying therapy: a pilot study

Purpose Multidimensional unfolding is a multivariate method to assess preferences using a small sample size, a geometric model locating individuals and alternatives as points in a joint space. The objective was to evaluate relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patient preferences toward key disease-modifying therapy (DMT) attributes using multidimensional unfolding. Patients and methods A cross-sectional pilot study in RRMS patients was conducted. Drug attributes included relapse prevention, disease progression prevention, side-effect risk and route and schedule of administration. Assessment of preferences was performed through a five-card game. Patients were asked to value attributes from 1 (most preferred) to 5 (least preferred). Results A total of 37 patients were included; the mean age was 38.6 years, and 78.4% were female. Disease progression prevention was the most important factor (51.4%), followed by relapse prevention (40.5%). The frequency of administration had the lowest preference rating for 56.8% of patients. Finally, 19.6% valued the side-effect risk attribute as having low/very low importance. Conclusion Patients’ perspective for DMT attributes may provide valuable information to facilitate shared decision-making. Efficacy attributes were the most important drug characteristics for RRMS patients. Multidimensional unfolding seems to be a feasible approach to assess preferences in multiple sclerosis patients. Further elicitation studies using multidimensional unfolding with other stated choice methods are necessary to confirm these findings.