biostudies-literatureFuh-Ngwa VNational Health and Medical Research Council of AustraliaNational Health and Medical Research Council investigator grant L1Multiple Sclerosis AustraliaKate-Scott Memorial ScholarshipHenry Baldwin Trust and the Medical Research Future FundMacquarie Foundation Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia Senior Clinical Research Fellowship11584https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10354053biostudies-literatureUnknown13(1)The indirect contribution of multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses to disability worsening outcomes, and vice-versa, remains unclear. Disease modifying therapies (DMTs) are potential modulators of this association. Understanding how these endo-phenotypes interact may provide insights into disease pathogenesis and treatment practice in relapse-onset MS (ROMS). Utilising a unique, prospectively collected clinical data from a longitudinal cohort of 279 first demyelinating event cases followed for up to 15 years post-onset, we examined indirect associations between relapses and treatment and the risk of disability worsening, and vice-versa. Indirect association parameters were estimated using joint models for longitudinal and survival data. Early relapses within 2.5 years of MS onset predicted earlScientific reportsThe association between disability progression, relapses, and treatment in early relapse onset MS: an observational, multi-centre, longitudinal cohort study.PMC10354053GNT1173155EPCP000008APP1127819Simpson-Yap SPonsonby ALTaylor BVFuh-Ngwa VLechner-Scott Jvan der Mei IBroadley SACharlesworth JCMelton PEZhou YfalseThe association between disability progression, relapses, and treatment in early relapse onset MS: an observational, multi-centre, longitudinal cohort study.The indirect contribution of multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses to disability worsening outcomes, and vice-versa, remains unclear. Disease modifying therapies (DMTs) are potential modulators of this association. Understanding how these endo-phenotypes interact may provide insights into disease pathogenesis and treatment practice in relapse-onset MS (ROMS). Utilising a unique, prospectively collected clinical data from a longitudinal cohort of 279 first demyelinating event cases followed for up to 15 years post-onset, we examined indirect associations between relapses and treatment and the risk of disability worsening, and vice-versa. Indirect association parameters were estimated using joint models for longitudinal and survival data. Early relapses within 2.5 years of MS onset predicted earl2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Jul2026-05-28T11:07:56.965Z2024-11-12T18:31:37.78ZS-EPMC103540533746393010.1038/s41598-023-38415-z