Living With Multiple Sclerosis in New South Wales, Australia, at the Beginning of the 21st Century: Impact of Mobility Disability

This article is the initial report on the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society of New South Wales (NSW) Client Census Database study, a telephone-based cohort study of registered clients of the society in 2001. The final database sample comprised 2618 respondents with a diagnosis of MS from the registered client database, representing 73% of this target client population and an estimated 70% of all people with MS in NSW, Australia. The mean age was 49 years, and mean time since diagnosis was 11 years, with 36% diagnosed in the past 5 years. Approximately three-quarters (74%) were women. The mobility disability profile of the sample covered the entire spectrum, with half reporting being able to walk without a mobility aid and only 17% being confined to a wheelchair. The average age of respondents confined to a wheelchair was 56 years. Most respondents reported other MS symptoms they felt were disabling, such as fatigue and abnormal sensory symptoms. Most were living with a partner or spouse but were less likely...