Mortality from multiple sclerosis: cautious optimism for the future or just the effects of a relationship between the changing of diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis and long-term outcome measures

Mortality studies represent a useful way to look at the prognosis of a chronic complex disease and to evaluate the impact of therapeutic and caring strategies on long-term outcomes. Results should be interpreted keeping always in mind the following important aspects: first, to what extent the disease affects patient’s life in terms of life expectancy. Second, what is at this moment the real impact that the strategies and measures we adopt to cure and to take care of patients really have on clear and strong endpoints like mortality? In their JNNP manuscript, Lunde et al.1 show a significant reduction in life expectancy in people affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) over a study period of about 60 years. The study, also showing an overall nearly threefold increased mortality risk compared with the general population, is consistent with previous reports.2 …