A new report has revealed the prolonged time to diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS) and highlighted the urgent need for increased investment in MS research and enhanced awareness of the disease. The ' My Diagnosis ' (PDF) report produced by MS Australia and released on World MS Day has revealed the average time from onset of symptoms to an MS diagnosis extends nearly four years. Image Credit: Lightspring / Shutterstock The report draws on data from the Australian MS Longitudinal Study (AMSLS), a survey-based research study established in 2002 that collects patient-reported outcomes from 2500 people living with MS.
The Menzies Institute for Medical Research at the University of Tasmania reviewed that data to examine trends in MS diagnosis over the past 25 years. Since the introduction of the first disease-modifying therapies (DMT) for MS treatment in 1996, the average time to diagnosis has reduced from five years and almost four months in 1997-2000 to three years and nearly 11 months in 2017-21. While this reduction in diagnosis times is good news at a population level, many people still experience a very long time to diagnosis.
To improve MS diagnosis time, the report details three key areas that need to be addressed: Dr Julia Morahan, Head of Research at MS Australia, says delays in receiving an MS diagnosis is critical lost time for people living with the condition, which can result in irreversible damage and profound mental distress. Dr Julia Morahan, Head of Research at MS A.
