Abstract
Introduction
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has been described to result in debilitating symptom of the disease. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of MS on patients from Britain and Kuwait.
Methodology
A questionnaire was distributed to 200 individuals with MS (100 Kuwaiti, and 100 British). The questionnaire consists of three parts; General demographics, Disease specific data, & Attitudes towards physical exercise.
Results
The duration of the disease was less than 10 years in 43.4% of British and 68% of Kuwaiti respondents. The majority of British respondents (56.5%) reported the disease severity to be moderate, while the majority Kuwaitis was mild (72%). The annual relapse rates in Kuwait was relatively low with 82% of the Kuwaiti sample had one relapse per year, compared to the 64.5% of British. The most common symptoms reported by British respondents were balance (75.8%), fatigue (74.2%), and weakness (71%), and by Kuwaiti respondents were fatigue (86%), balance (76%), and weakness (66%). The help and support for MS was by far more diverse for the British than Kuwaiti respondents.
Discussion
The results unveiled marked differences between two groups. The majority of Kuwaiti patients are young individuals who have been with the disease for a relatively short period of time and their MS in most cases was mild. On the other hand, British patients were relatively older, many have been with the disease for a long period of time, and their average MS condition were more serious than that of their Kuwaiti counterparts.
Author Information
Ali Ashour, Ministry of Education, Kuwait
Comments
Powered by WP LinkPress