MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease that damages the nerves and affects the transfer of messages between the central nervous system and the rest of the body. It is progressively disabling, impairing mobility and quality of life.

(Source: Mutliple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF)Atlas of MS 2013)
Number of people with MS in Europe

MS is present in all regions of the world, being the estimated prevalence in Europe 108 per 100,000 inhabitants

Number of people with MS per country

In the European Union over 400,000 people have Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Source: MSIF's Atlas of MS 2013 and
EMSP MS barometer - both last accessed April 2014
MS more prevalent SYMPTOMS
The majority of patients perceive some degree of impairment already at onset of the disease.
(Source: Kister I. et al - Natural History of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms - Int J MS Care 2013;15:146–158)
Please click in one symptom to see its prevalence

Spasticity

54% of patients suffer some degree of spasticity during the first year since diagnosis

Mobility

50% of people with MS have mobility noticeable affected and 15% already require walking aid in the first year of the disease

Fatigue

Within the first year after onset, 81% of patients reported some degree of unexplained fatigue

Cognition

Minimal or mild cognitive impairment was noted by 50% of the patients within the first year with MS

Pain

The pain forces 30% of the patients to change some of their daily activities within the first year of the disease

MS more prevalent SYMPTOMS
Click here to know the MS symptoms prevalence and associated burden from the first to the 30th year after disease diagnosis.
Please click in one symptom to see its prevalence
Years after diagnosis
COGNITION

1-10 years
22% of people occasionally suffer memory problems or confusion which might affect some of their activities (once a week or less).
10 - 20 years
An average of 30% suffer memory problems or confusion which affecting their activities.
20 - 30 years
Cognitive impairment appear to stabilize, at 20 or 30 years after diagnosis.
FATIGUE

1-10 years
Up to 90% of patients experienced some kind of fatigue
10 - 20 years
Fatigue affects 97% of patients. 84% of patiens have to change some of their regular activities.
20 - 30 years
72% of patients feel daily fatigue and that prevents them from performing normal activities.
MOBILITY

1-10 years
More than 50% do not have any functionally problem, although minor noticeable effects on mobility.
10 - 20 years
43% of patients need occasional or frequent use of unilateral support (i.e. cane).
20 - 30 years
Only an average of 10% of patients will have a functionally regular on walking and running.
SPASTICITY

1-10 years
81% of the patients have some symptoms of spasticity.
10 - 20 years
58% had to modify some of their daily activities.
20 - 30 years
15% of patients suffer severe or total disability.
PAIN

1-10 years
30/50% have to change some of their daily activities.
10 - 20 years
15% have severe pain and have to modify most of their daily habits.
20 - 30 years
15% are unable to perform many of their daily activities.
This year’s theme is ACCESS, meaning access to:
treatments, rehabilitation, home adaptation, employment, etc
Less than 50% of persons with multiple sclerosis will be employed 10 years after receiving their diagnosis, and about one-third of them will also need a wheelchair within 20 years after developing multiple sclerosis, according to data published by the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (USA)
Access to ...
TREATMENTS
REHABILITATION
HOME ADAPTATION
EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND JOB RETENTION
Please click in each icon to see the figures in the different European countries
ANY KIND OF TREATMENT
or therapies
* Max. score: 70 points
* White color: No data available
(Source: European Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMPS) Report - MS Barometer 2013)



· Belgium
· Germany
· Iceland
· Italy
· Slovakia
· Sweden
70 - 60 %

· Austria
· Czech Republic
· Denmark
· Finland
· Norway
· Switzerland
· UK
59 - 50 %

· Croatia
· Greece
· France
· Portugal
· Russia
· Spain
49 - 40 %

· Serbia
· Romania
· Poland
· Ireland
· Belarus
< 40%
SYMPTOMATIC treatment
* Max. score: 100%
* White color: No data available
(Source: European Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMPS) Report - MS Barometer 2013)



· Austria
· Czech Republic
· Finland
· Iceland
· Poland
· Portugal
100 - 85 %


· Belgium
· Denmark
· Germany
· Ireland
· Italy
· Norway
84 - 70 %


· Croatia
· Greece
· Romania
· Russia
· Spain
69 - 55 %



· Belarus
· Serbia
< 55%
REHABILITATION
100%

Belgium
Croacia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Germany
Iceland
Norway
Slovakia
Switzerland
85%

Finland
79 - 70%

Austria
Italy
UK
60%

Sweden
< 60%

Spain
Portugal
Greece
Belarus
Serbia
Russia
%
100-90
89-80
79-70
69-60
<60
Click in each position to see access level in each country
(Source: European Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMPS) Report - MS Barometer 2013)
HOME ADAPTATION
100%

Denmark
Sweden
99 - 75 %

Austria
Belgium
Czech Republic
Iceland
Norway
74 - 50%

Finland
Germany
Poland
Switzerland
UK
49 - 25%

Italy
Slovakia
< 25%

Belarus
Croatia
Ireland
Russia
Spain
%
100
99-75
74-50
49-25
<25
Click in each position to see access level in each country
(Source: European Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMPS) Report - MS Barometer 2013)
EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT
AND JOB RETENTION
* Max. score: 55 points
55 - 45

Denmark
Belgium
Germany
Iceland
Italy
44 - 35

Austria
Croatia
Finland
Greece
Romania
Russia
Slovakia
UK
34 - 25

Belarus
Czech
Republic
Ireland
Norway
Poland
Serbia
Spain
Sweden
< 25

Portugal
Switzerland
55-45
44-35
34-25
<25
Click in each position to see access level in each country
(Source: European Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMPS) Report - MS Barometer 2013)