The risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 infection in patients with multiple sclerosis seems to align with that seen in the general population, new US data suggest.
A separate study from the UK also found similar trends of rates of COVID-19 infection in patients with MS and the general population.
Both studies were presented September 26 at a special session on multiple sclerosis and COVID-19 at a final “Encore” event as part of the 8th Joint European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis-Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS) 2020, this year known as MSVirtual2020.
The US data appear consistent with studies from several other countries, in that worse COVID-19 outcomes increase with age and higher disability levels, both of which would be expected from findings in the general population.
The US data also show a clear effect of race in MS, with higher rates