The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of a large-scale trial to test the effectiveness of Google Maps application in order to improve the evaluation of Ambulation Score (AS) and the related EDSS in clinical practice. 

243 pwMS were recruited in five Italian MS Centers.

We collected 1. demographical and clinical data ; 2. the AS based on pwMS referred MWD (perceived AS, pAS) and, consequently, the perceived EDSS (pEDSS); 3) the AS based on MWD identified on Google Maps (gmAS) and, consequently, the google maps EDSS (gmEDSS). We evaluated  the agreement between the two latter measurements and whether demographic and clinical data might have influenced the agreement. Finally, in a subgroup of 75 pwMS we evaluated an actual AS (actAS), objectively measured, and we tested the agreement among the pAS, the gmAS and the actAS.

pEDSS and gmEDSS were coincident in 169/243 (69.55%) pwMS. In 74/243 (30,45%) were different (higher/lower).These two groups were significantly different for FSS (p= 0.01) and PHQ-9 (p = 0.002) and frequency of progressive phenotype (OR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.1 – 7.11, p = 0.03). The pEDSS and the actEDSSwere coincident in 45.3% of pwMS. gmEDSS and the actEDSS were coincident in 57.3%

In conclusion, we suggest that Google Maps application could be easily applied in a real-life clinical setting to calculate the AS and that is suitable to be evaluated  in future clinical studies.