Posters
Living and dying with MS in Newcastle
Tom Kirkham, DipCOT, Occupational Therapist; Jacqueline Stevenson, MCSP, Senior Physiotherapist; Pat Carse, Operational Manager; all from Newcastle Community MS Team (CMST)
Introduction
Newcastle has a population of approximately 260,000 (1) with an estimated prevalence of people with MS (pwMS) of between 260-364 (2). At any one time the CMST have approximately 400 pwMS as open cases to the team, we therefore infer that most pwMS living in Newcastle are known to the team.
This poster reports on the findings of a recent clinical audit, highlighting data the CMST have collected over a 12 year period with regard to age at the time of death.
The clinical experience of the team has been that once a pwMS has entered the progressive stage of the disease process their life expectancy is significantly shortened. However authors suggest that life expectancy in pwMS is shortened by only 5-10 years (2).
Results
Average life expectancy for men in Newcastle is age 74 years (3) but in the MS population known to the CMST average age at death has been 56.4 years ie 18 years and 4 months less than their peers.
Average life expectancy for women in Newcastle is age 79 years (3); again in our known MS population this has been lower at 63 years, 16 years earlier than their peers.
The graph below illustrates the age spread at death by sex:
Discussion
The local data that we have collected suggests a wider variance in life expectancy for pwMS compared to generally accepted wisdom. There are many possible reasons for this including:
- May not have a representative cohort of the local MS population.
- Cause of death not MS
- Is current epidemiology data accurate?
Conclusion
The data that we have collected highlights a potential need for the issue of life expectancy with a diagnosis of MS to be reviewed. This has implications for how we support and care for both pwMS and their families
References
1. The Office for National Statistics. 2001 Census: Key Statistics (England and Wales). London: ONS; 2003
2. Compston A, Confavreux C. Wekerie H, McDonald I. The cause and course of Multiple sclerosis. In: Compston A, et al, editors. McAlpine's Multiple Sclerosis 4th ed. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone; 2006. p 69-284.
3. Office for National Statistics (2007) Office for National Statistics Neighbourhood statistics. Area: Newcastle upon Tyne (Local Authority) Life expectancy: Health and disability-free years 2001 Please http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do;jsessionid=ac1f930bce6ab356566214447969f9e84fb93c0820b?a=3&b=276796&c=NE6+4QD&d=13&e=6&g=368023&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1225277789500&enc=1&dsFamilyId=1777&nsjs=true&nsck=true&nssvg=false&nswid=1259 (accessed 28th July 2008)