Affiliations: Lehrstuhl Gesundheitswissenschaften/Public Health;
Medizinische Fakultät "Carl Gustav Carus", TU Dresden | IGES Institut für Gesundheits- und Sozialforschung
GmbH, Berlin | Neurologische Klinik, Kamillus Klinik, Asbach | Institut für Medizinische Psychologie und
Medizinische Soziologie; Medizinische Fakultät der Universität
Duisburg-Essen
Note: [] Korrespondenz-Adresse: Prof. Dr. Joachim Kugler, Lehrstuhl
Gesundheitswissenschaften/Public Health, Medizinische Fakultät 'Carl
Gustav Carus' TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden. Tel: +49-351-3177217;
E-mail: jokugler@aol.com.
Abstract: Factors influencing the duration of diagnosing a Multiple Sclerosis
Problem: This survey analyses if there are factors influencing the
duration of diagnosing a Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Method: In 2003 in cooperation with the German Multiple Sclerosis
Association an anonymous standardized questionnaire was sent to 2012 members in
Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. 995 patients were included, 72% female and 18% male.
The average age was 49,6 years. Patients are knowing diagnosis "MS" for about
12,1 years. In average beginning of symptoms was at the age of 31,5 years and
age of diagnosis 37,5 years. Results: The duration of diagnosing MS took about 6 years.
Parameters as gender, age at the first symptoms and moment of diagnosis
significantly influence duration of diagnosing a Multiple Sclerosis. Males were
significantly earlier diagnosed than females. The higher the age at first
symptoms the earlier patients were diagnosed. Especially in younger patients
the duration of diagnosis can reach > 15 years. Patients were diagnosed
faster during the last decades. Conclusion: Gender, age at beginning of symptoms and moment of
diagnosis influence the duration of diagnosis. Main therapist of MS is the
established neurologist and the family doctor or general practitioner.
Therefore they should be sensitised for this gender and age problem.
Keywords: Multiple Sclerosis, duration of diagnosis, gender difference, Yentl-effect
