Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease with onset during young adulthood. The most common form of MS at onset is relapsing-remitting. However, more than 65% of persons with MS (PwMS) develop the slowly progressive disease after 20 years from onset. Recent data indicate that progression occurs already during the very early disease course and occurs in 90% irrespective of relapses. MS causes a large variety of symptoms like problems with walking, balance, bladder function, visual and cognitive problems, but also less well known problems like fatigue, pain,
sleep disorders. In order to timely capture the complexity and change of these symptoms, home based monitoring of PwMS is proposed. Home based monitoring has evolved from simple passive monitoring of steps to elaborate systems combining both passive and active tests, covering leg and hand function, cognitive status, with patients reporting outcome measures. Tests for home based monitoring are adapted and developed from tests used in the clinic. The first application that has been developed and approved as a medical device is the Floodlight home based monitoring system.