Onset of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

This retrospective non-interventional case-control study will be conducted at a single tertiary referral Multidisciplinary Centre for Diagnostics and Treatment of MS at the University Hospital, Ostrava, Czech Republic. The study will be performed per the Declaration of Helsinki, World Health Organization. The study protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of University Hospital Ostrava, Nr.289/19.

The database of the Center includes medical records of all consecutive patients, who have visited the center at least once, starting from 1996 until the present day. Based on the inclusion criteria of proven multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis and the current age over 18 years, the initial database search identified eligible 2348 individuals. During the routine follow-up visit of the patients at the Center, a structured in-person interview led by a physician will be performed.

The data from this interview will be cross-checked with the medical records. In addition to standard demographic variables, the following data will be obtained:

Age 1 - Age at the onset of the first symptoms of MS Age 2 - Age at the time of diagnosis of MS Age 3 - Age at the time of data collection MS course - patients with a primary progressive, secondary progressive, or progressive relapsing disease at the time of data collection will be included in the group "Progressive MS course". The "Relapsing-remitting MS course" group will include patients who had a relapsing-remitting disease and those with isolated clinical symptoms at the time of data collection.

CPS - The "CPS yes" group will include patients who experienced cerebellar and/or pyramidal symptoms (CPS) as the first manifestation of MS. Patients with other first manifestations, such as optic neuritis, sensory disturbances, etc., will be included in the "CPS no" group.