Infections in patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis: a retrospective analysis of claims data

People with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) are prone to serious infections (SIs), comorbidities, and advanced disability, all associated with a higher risk for mortality.
In a comparative 1:1 analysis (n=8,500; median age: 52.0/52.2 years; 72% female) between pwMS and the general population, those with MS were more likely to have SIs (bacterial/parasitic: 2.3 per 100 patient years [PY]; respiratory: 2.0 per 100 PY; genitourinary: 1.9 per 100 PY), and a higher risk of hospitalized infections (genitourinary infections: incidence rate ratios [IRR] 3.3–3.8 and bacterial/parasitic infections: IRR 2.0–2.3). In addition, men were twice as likely to have SIs compared to women.
This study provided insight on the risk of SI associated with MS and these findings may be used to supplement existing data in ongoing trials.