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Prevalence of bladder, bowel and sexual problems among multiple sclerosis patients two to five years after diagnosis

Department of Health and Social Research, Bergen University College, PO Box 7030, N-5020 Bergen, Norway monica.nortvedt{at}hib.no 10.1177/1352458506071210

T Riise

Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

J Frugaård

J Mohn

A Bakke

Department of Surgery, Section of Urology, Haukeland University Hospital

A B Skår

H Nyland

S B Glad

K-M Myhr

Multiple Sclerosis National Competence Centre, Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

Most multiple sclerosis (MS) patients experience some sexual, bladder and/or bowel dysfunction during the course of the disease - one of MS most disabling features. This study estimated the frequency of these problems among patients, two to five years after diagnosis, and investigated how these problems are associated with health-related quality of life (using the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 questionnaire). The study population comprised a cohort of patients (n=56), diagnosed in a three-year period, in Hordaland County, Norway. The patients were examined clinically, including scoring of the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and completed questionnaires related to bowel and bladder dysfunction, sexual problems and health-related quality of life. More than half the patients had bladder and sexual problems. The frequency of self-reported bladder problems corresponded to the relatively high levels of residual urine found. The presence of these problems was associated with lower scores on the quality of life scales. Further, the bowel problems reported were markedly associated with the quality of life scores. Since treatments and preventive strategies can manage many of these problems, we suggest increasing the focus on these aspects of the disease when consulting patients, including at early stages.

Key Words: bladder • bowel and sexual problems • multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis, Vol. 13, No. 1, 106-112 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1352458506071210


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