Who declines neurocognitive testing? A cross-sectional study in people with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

In 334 people with multiple sclerosis, a backward stepwise regression analysis was conducted to identify clinical characteristics that predict who declines neurocognitive testing ( p < 0.05), from demographics, disease-related variables, psychiatric diagnoses, and self-reported cognitive concerns. The mean age was 44.1 years (standard deviation = 11.4), the median Expanded Disability Status Scale was 2.5 (1.5–4.0), 79.8% had relapsing-remitting MS, and 14.7% declined testing. Independent correlates of declining neurocognitive testing included progressive MS (odds ratio = 2.1, 95% confidence interval = [1.0, 4.4], p = 0.046), anxiety-related disorders (odds ratio = 2.5, 95% confidence interval = [1.3, 4.9], p = 0.007), and the absence of self-reported cognitive concerns (odds ratio = 0.3, 95% confidence interval = [0.2, 0.7], p = 0.004). People with multiple sclerosis with these clinical characteristics are more likely to decline neurocognitive testing.