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Table 4 Symptoms reported at baseline: percentage of participants by self-reported MS type

From: Patient-orientated longitudinal study of multiple sclerosis in south west England (The South West Impact of Multiple Sclerosis Project, SWIMS) 1: protocol and baseline characteristics of cohort

 

All

(n = 967)

Benign

(n = 29)

Relapsing-remitting

(n = 347)

Primary progressive

(n = 202)

Secondary progressive

(n = 184)

Fatigue

80

38

80

83

83

Poor balance

75

35

64

90

89

Any pain, including visual pain

70

35

67

77

76

Any pain (not visual)

69

35

65

76

75

Muscle weakness

64

28

53

82

80

Problems with memory

57

35

58

57

59

Pins and needles/tingling

56

45

59

54

55

Decreased or worsening mobility

56

10

35

81

76

Muscle stiffness

54

21

48

64

67

Muscle spasms

53

17

44

66

67

Sensory loss/numbness

53

28

53

49

65

Loss of dexterity

52

21

41

65

70

Urinary urgency

49

38

44

49

57

Muscular pain

49

28

42

57

57

Problems with concentration

49

38

50

47

54

Urinary frequency

48

38

45

52

53

Constipation

44

28

40

48

52

Difficulties with co-ordination

43

14

33

56

56

Emotional lability

42

28

46

38

39

Joint pain

40

21

36

45

42

Feeling anxious

35

31

31

39

39

Urinary incontinence

30

24

19

39

41

Depression

30

21

28

31

30

Urinary hesitancy

29

14

24

31

39

Weight gain

28

10

23

33

32

Blurred vision

27

14

29

25

28

Sexual problems

27

14

23

29

36

Tremor

26

7

19

35

33

Burning pain

25

21

23

24

29

Shooting pain

23

10

21

23

26

Swallowing difficulties

21

7

13

27

28

Speech problems

21

7

16

26

25

Faecal incontinence

13

7

8

15

22

Other pain

13

10

12

13

14

Double vision

12

10

10

15

17

Weight loss

10

14

6

10

16

Diarrhoea

10

10

9

8

9

Painful vision

9

4

10

8

12

Colour desaturation

8

4

10

5

7

Pressure sores

4

0

2

8

6

  1. A total of 205 participants did not know their MS type, or did not report an MS type.