Multiple sclerosis in Kenya: Demographic and clinical characteristics of a registry cohort. Issue 2 (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jamal, Imran; Shah, Jasmit; Mativo, Peter; Hooker, Juzar; Wallin, Mitchell; Sokhi, Dilraj Singh
• Is Part Of: Multiple sclerosis journal, experimental, translational and clinical. Volume 7:Issue 2(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Multiple sclerosis -- Kenya -- Nairobi -- epidemiology -- clinical -- profile -- Sub-Saharan Africa; Multiple sclerosis -- Periodicals; 616.834
• DOI: 10.1177/20552173211022782
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2055-2173

Abstract

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the leading cause of non-traumatic neurological disability in young adults. There is limited literature regarding the burden of MS in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Objective: To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with MS (PwMS) presenting to a tertiary referral hospital in Nairobi. Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study for PwMS presenting to Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi from 2008–2018. Results: 99 cases met the diagnostic criteria for MS with a male to female ratio of 1:4. Majority (68.7%) of PwMS were indigenous Africans with a mean age of onset of 30.7 years. Mean duration from symptom onset to first neuro-imaging was 5.04 years. Only 33% of patients had sensory symptoms at onset whereas 54.5% had vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency. Majority (79.5%) had relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) and 56.6% were initiated on disease modifying therapy (DMT). Only 21.2% of patients on DMT were non-compliant. Patients with RRMS were more likely to be initiated on DMT at our hospital (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Clinical characteristics of these patients largely resemble those of other SSA cohorts and African American patients. There was a delay between symptom onset and neuroimaging. There were also issues with DMT compliance.