Telephone-based assessment of multiple sclerosis patients at Ain Shams University Hospital in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

Background Assessment of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients during the era of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was confronted with the overwhelmed healthcare facilities in Egypt and fear of the patients to get infected while attending the follow-up visits. This study aimed to assess the value of telephone-based assessments in the follow-up of MS patients. It includes one hundred and five patients who participated in the study and completed 3 telephone-based assessments which are the Hauser Ambulation index, Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychology Questionnaire (MSNQ), and Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis Scale (SMSS). Results The Hauser Ambulation index was significantly correlated with the latest Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score done within 1 month from the telephone call ( r =0.738, P