OBJECTIVE A long diagnostic delay in multiple sclerosis (MS) reduces the chance of early access to disease modifying therapies with potential to impact on disease trajectory. The aims of this study were to determine the delay in diagnosis of MS and its associated factors in Iran. METHODS Our study was conducted on 536 MS patients who were selected from Multiple sclerosis registry database and neurology clinics in southern part of Iran. Data were collected via a face-to-face interview administered questionnaire. A multiple linear regression model was used to control for the effect of potential confounding factors on the delay of MS diagnosis. RESULTS The mean of diagnostic delay was 7.0 months. Single patients were diagnosed on average 1.33 months later compared with those who were married (P = 0.007). Those who were registered with a family physician reported an average of 1.42 months longer delay in diagnosis than others (P = 0.004). For each year of older age at diagnosis, the delay was 1.04 months longer (P < 0.001). On the other hand, those who had migraine were diagnosed 1.58 months earlier than others (P < 0.001). Participants with a vision problem as the initial symptom were diagnosed 1.48 months earlier than those with sensory symptoms (P < 0.001), and 1.28 months earlier than those with headache/dizziness (P = 0.093). It was also suggested that the diagnostic delay was shortened over the study period (on average 1.06 months per year, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Easy access to a neurologist, raising health literacy in the general population, and improving the family physicians' alertness about MS symptoms can shorten the delay of MS diagnosis.

中文翻译：

---

伊朗患者多发性硬化症诊断延迟及其相关因素

目标 多发性硬化症 (MS) 的长期诊断延迟降低了早期获得可能影响疾病轨迹的疾病改善疗法的机会。本研究的目的是确定伊朗多发性硬化症的诊断延迟及其相关因素。方法 我们的研究是对 536 名 MS 患者进行的，这些患者选自多发性硬化症登记数据库和伊朗南部的神经病学诊所。通过面对面访谈管理的问卷收集数据。使用多元线性回归模型控制潜在混杂因素对 MS 诊断延迟的影响。结果 诊断延迟的平均时间为 7.0 个月。与已婚患者相比，单身患者的确诊时间平均晚 1.33 个月（P = 0.007）。那些在家庭医生处注册的人报告的诊断延迟平均比其他人长 1.42 个月（P = 0.004）。诊断时年龄每增加一岁，延迟时间延长 1.04 个月（P < 0.001）。另一方面，偏头痛患者的诊断时间比其他人早 1.58 个月（P < 0.001）。以视力问题为首发症状的参与者比有感觉症状的参与者早 1.48 个月（P < 0.001），比头痛/头晕的参与者早 1.28 个月（P = 0.093）。还建议在研究期间缩短诊断延迟（平均每年 1.06 个月，P < 0.001）。结论 更容易就医，提高普通人群的健康素养，并改善家庭医生的健康状况