Grant: Doctoral Research Award - PA: Patient-Oriented Research - Biostatistics

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic degenerative, autoimmune disease of the brain and the spinal cord. It is the most common cause of neurological disability in young adults in the Western World, affecting approximately 75,000 Canadians. The onset of MS typically occurs when men and women are of childbearing age, making pregnancy-related issues in MS of real importance. It remains unknown whether mothers with MS and their newborns have a greater risk of prolonged hospitalization after childbirth compared to mothers in the general population. This research is important because a prolonged hospital stay is associated with a greater risk of hospital-acquired infections, a more difficult transition from hospital to home and increased healthcare costs. Furthermore, aside from the issues of genetic inheritance, it is unclear how chronic illnesses such as MS in fathers could affect the health of their offspring. Previous research has found that men with MS were more likely to have abnormal sperm and sex hormone levels; hence, it is important to investigate the birth outcomes to fathers with MS. In addition, since men with MS are commonly treated with disease-modifying drugs (DMD) and are not routinely advised to stop DMD treatment prior to fathering offspring, it is essential to explore the potential harm of DMD use in fathers with MS who conceive children. Concerns related to pregnancy in patients with MS are a crucial area of research as the disease affects many Canadians in their childbearing years. The results of these studies will help MS patients and their clinicians make better-informed decisions regarding the appropriate management of pregnancy, with the ultimate goal of improving pregnancy and birth outcomes for MS patients.