Demographic and disease characteristics of patients with multiple sclerosis or neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
| Diagnosis | MS | NMO-SD |
| Number (n) | 115 | 4 |
| Demographics | ||
| Age, mean (SD) | 43.2 (11.4) | 37.7 (13.5) |
| Sex ratio (F/M) | 85/30 | 3/1 |
| Disease duration, mean (SD) | 12.5 (9.7) | 7.4 (10.8) |
| Disease course (n) | 98 RRMS/13 SPMS/4 PPMS | |
| EDSS, median (range) | 2.0 (0.0–8.0) | 2.75 (2.0–6.5) |
| DMTs | ||
| No DMT | 21 (18.3%) | – |
| Interferon beta | 4 (3.5%) | – |
| Glatiramer | 10 (8.7%) | – |
| Teriflunomide | 17 (14.8%) | – |
| Dimethylfumarate | 23 (20.0%) | – |
| Natalizumab | 14 (12.2%) | – |
| Fingolimod | 6 (5.2%) | – |
| Ocrelizumab | 14 (12.2%) | – |
| Rituximab | 4 (3.5%) | 2 (50%) |
| Ofatumumab | – | 1 (25%) |
| Other* | 2 (1.7%) | 1 (25%) |
| Comorbid conditions | ||
| Cardiovascular disease | 3 (2.6%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Pulmonary disease | 4 (3.5%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Diabetes | 2 (1.7%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Obesity (BMI >30 kg/m2) | 6 (5.2%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Current smoker | 8 (7.0%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| COVID-19 symptoms | ||
| Asthenia, n (%) | 79 (68.7%) | 3 (75.0%) |
| Fever, n (%) | 64 (55.7%) | 3 (75.0%) |
| Cough, n (%) | 51 (44.3%) | 1 (25.0%) |
| Anosmia/agueusia, n (%) | 61 (53.0%) | 2 (50.0%) |
| Headache, n (%) | 54 (47.0%) | 1 (25.0%) |
| Dyspnoea, n (%) | 21 (18.3%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Digestive disorders, n (%) | 26 (22.6%) | 1 (25.0%) |
| COVID-19 severity | ||
| Ground glass opacity on thoracic CT scan, n/performed (%) | 15/23 (65.2%) | 0/1 (0.0%) |
| No hospitalisation, n (%) | 109 (94.8%) | 3 (75.0%) |
| Hospitalised, not requiring supplemental oxygen, n (%) | 3 (2.6%) | 1 (25.0%) |
| Hospitalised, requiring supplemental oxygen, n (%) | 3 (2.6%) | 0 (0.0%) |
*Other treatments for patients with multiple sclerosis: methotrexate (n=1); azathioprine (n=1); and for patients with NMO-SD: mycophenolate mofetil (n=1).
DMT, disease-modifying therapy; NMO-SD, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder; PP MS, primary progressive multiple sclerosis; RR MS, relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis; SP MS, secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.