Multiple sclerosis diagnosis delays increase disability risk in Brazil

A study conducted by HSR Health in partnership with Roche Farma, and released by the Brazilian Multiple Sclerosis Association (ABEM), highlights significant delays in diagnosing multiple sclerosis in Brazil. The research, which surveyed 368 patients, found that approximately 25% of patients wait more than five years for a definitive diagnosis, while 14.1% wait a decade or longer after the onset of initial symptoms.

Furthermore, 56.8% of respondents reported receiving incorrect diagnoses prior to the confirmation of multiple sclerosis. Neurologist Rodrigo Kleinpaul noted that these delays are critical because the disease reduces the functional reserve of the central nervous system, potentially leading to permanent physical disability. On average, patients consult up to four different doctors over a three-year period before receiving a correct diagnosis.

Key barriers to timely diagnosis include difficulties with healthcare professionals (cited by 36% of respondents) and limited access to high-complexity exams like magnetic resonance imaging (23%). The condition currently affects approximately 40,000 Brazilians, primarily young women between the ages of 20 and 40.