A to Z of MS Life expectancy
Long-term studies of people with MS suggest that MS only has a small impact on life expectancy.
Research in Canada examined this area in terms of level of disability and found that life expectancy for those people whose experience of MS ranged from no symptoms to full time use of a manual wheelchair (less than or equal to 7.0 on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)) was only slightly reduced.
People with more complex disability (EDSS of greater than or equal to 7.5) were more at risk of potentially life threatening complications - such as respiratory problems or cardiovascular problems - that can result from reduced mobility, and this affected the overall life expectancy figures. Even with this group included, overall life expectancy for people with MS was only about six to seven years less than that for the general population.
References
Compston A, et al.
McAlpine's multiple sclerosis. 3rd ed.
London:Churchill Livingstone; 1998.
Sadovnick AD, et al.
Life expectancy in patients attending multiple sclerosis clinics.
Neurology 1992;42(5):991-994.