Perfil clínico-epidemiológico dos pacientes portadores da Esclerose múltipla na cidade de Itajubá-MG

Abstract

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a progressive and chronic neurological disease characterized by demyelination of the central nervous system, resulting in various clinical manifestations such as fatigue, motor and cognitive difficulties. It mainly affects young adults and is one of the main causes of non-traumatic neurological disability in this age group. Appropriate treatment prevents serious sequelae that compromise quality of life. Objective: To provide an overview of the disease, based on up-to-date regional figures, in order to raise awareness of the importance of early treatment of the disease. Method: A descriptive, quantitative and cross-sectional study was carried out in 13 health units in the municipality, approved by the Research Ethics Committee (CAAE:72737523.6.00005559). Results: In the municipality of Itajubá, Minas Gerais, it was possible to collect information on 17 patients undergoing treatment, of whom the majority (70.6%) were female, with a mean age of 41.65 years. The average age at diagnosis was 35.77 years and the average time since diagnosis was 7.69 years. None of the patients had a family history of MS. These findings suggest that MS is more prevalent in women and usually manifests in young adults, without a strong genetic predisposition observed in the population studied. Conclusion: The study reinforces the importance of investigating the disease in specific local contexts, highlighting the prevalence of the disease among young women and the absence of family history in the cases analyzed. The data suggest the possible influence of environmental factors on the etiology, highlighting the need for early interventions and management strategies that take into account the socioeconomic and regional particularities of the patients. The study contributes to understanding MS in the region and can serve as a basis for future investigations with larger samples and longitudinal analyses.