Study Reveals Impact of Care for Multiple Sclerosis Patients

The study that gave rise to the report "Living with multiple sclerosis: the point of view of a caregiver" was developed in collaboration with the OIAC and Eurocarers in order to Examine the experiences of 1,050 caregivers of patients with multiple sclerosis. It contained 32 questions and was implemented in seven countries (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain). The study concludes that almost half (48%) of participants treated a patient with MS while he was under 35 years of age and only about one in three if one person was 11 or more years ago

] Of the 1,050 multiple sclerosis patient care providers surveyed, 64% were women and 34% were men .

The main conclusions of this study on the impact of MS on the lives of caregivers are as follows:

– 62% of caregivers say they have never been in contact with other carers of patients multiple sclerosis to share experience and get help (online or in person)

– Only 15% of caregivers contacted other caregivers or patient organizations for help with the challenges of

– 34% said that being a caregiver of a patient with multiple sclerosis was affecting their emotional and mental health and their physical health; their financial situation, over one-third (36%) reported having to be absent from work and, as a result, 84% of these caregivers reported that their careers had been affected

– Relat Regarding the main challenges for caregivers of patients with MS, 20% responded that it was emotional / mental stress issues; 12% reported being the unpredictable nature of multiple sclerosis at the caregiver

Despite the significant impact that caregiving has on the lives of respondents, based on the main findings presented, most caregivers shared positive aspects: (93%) conclude the importance of the affection and feeling they develop towards the patients with MS who are dependent on them and 50% of caregivers have recognized that this role had strengthened them as people.

"Multiple sclerosis can be a devastating disease for patients and caregivers, with caregivers baduming responsibilities for a long time and intensifying as the disease progresses . Caregivers can have a profound impact on their physical and emotional health, but also on their financial and professional lives, "said Nadine Henningsen, Chair of the IACO Board of Directors. "Not surprisingly, the results of this research have reinforced the large number of young people who become caregivers, often even during the student period."

"With the publication of the results of this study on the impact of multiple sclerosis on the Merck seeks, on the one hand, to raise awareness of the disease and, on the other hand, to find new ways to overcome the challenges posed by multiple sclerosis for both patients and their caregivers. "Pedro Moura, Managing Director of Merck Portugal.