Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Trajectories of depression over time may be heterogeneous in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. Describing these trajectories will help clinicians understand better the progression of depression in MS patients to aid in patient care decisions.Methods
Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) was applied to 3507 MS patients using an electronic health records (EHR) data base to identify subgroups of MS patients based on self-reported depression screening (PHQ-9). Latent trajectory classes were used for group comparisons based on baseline clinical characteristics.Results
Three subgroups were found characterized by high (10.0% [of participants]), wavering above and below moderate (26.2%) and low and variable (63.8%) depression level trajectories. The subpopulation trajectories, respectively, were also characterized by high, moderate and low MS disability at baseline. In contrast, the overall average trajectory was slightly declining and below the moderate depression threshold.Conclusion
The LCGA approach described in this paper and applied to MS patients provides a template for improved use of an EHR data base for understanding heterogeneous depression screening trajectories. Clinicians may use such information to more closely monitor patients that are expected to maintain high or unstable depression levels.
SUBMITTER: Gunzler DD
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5031243 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Gunzler Douglas D DD Morris Nathan N Perzynski Adam A Ontaneda Daniel D Briggs Farren F Miller Deborah D Bermel Robert A RA
Multiple sclerosis and related disorders 20160805
<h4>Background</h4>Trajectories of depression over time may be heterogeneous in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. Describing these trajectories will help clinicians understand better the progression of depression in MS patients to aid in patient care decisions.<h4>Methods</h4>Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) was applied to 3507 MS patients using an electronic health records (EHR) data base to identify subgroups of MS patients based on self-reported depression screening (PHQ-9). Latent traject ...[more]