Longitudinal study of a cohort of MSA-C patients in South Italy: survival and clinical features.

Abstract

Sixty-six patients with possible or probable MSA (multiple system atrophy) cerebellar type, personally observed between 2006 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The time point of data collection was January 1, 2019. Forty-nine patients lost independent walking after a median time of 5years (95% C. I. 4-6). Thirty-two patients were confined to wheelchair after a median time of 7years (95% C. I. 7-8). Twenty-seven patients were deceased after a median time of 9years (95% C. I. 8-10). A later onset predicted an earlier loss of independent walking (HR 1.07; 95% C.I. 1.03-1.11; p = 0.001). Higher UMSARS score predicted shorter time to loss of independent walking (HR 1.04; 95% C.I. 1.02-1.06; p = 0.001) and to wheelchair (HR 1.03; 95% C.I. 1.01-1.06; p = 0.021). No predictor of time to death was found.