Change in the Health-Related Quality of Life of Multiple Sclerosis Patients over 5 Years

Abstract

This study examined whether multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (N = 3779) experience change in their perceived health-related quality of life (HRQOL) over a 5-year period, and investigated baseline factors that may be related to change in HRQOL. Data from the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) Registry were used to address the study's research questions. Results for the physical and mental component scores of the 12-item Short Form Health Status Survey, version 2 (SF-12v2), indicated that most of the MS sample experienced no significant changes over a 5-year period. However, 40% and 36% of the sample experienced clinically significant declines in their physical and mental HRQOL, respectively, over the 5-year period. After controlling for baseline scores, having a lower education, having greater duration since disease diagnosis, not being employed, having a lower income, not receiving a disease-modifying therapy, and taking a greater number of prescription medications were significantly associated with a clinically significant decline in physical HRQOL. After controlling for baseline scores, not being married/partnered, experiencing a greater number of relapses, not being employed, having a lower income, and taking a greater number of prescription medications were significantly associated with a clinically significant decline in mental HRQOL. Overall, most of the MS sample remained stable in their HRQOL over time. However, approximately four out of every ten patients experienced a clinically important decline in their HRQOL. While the association was statistically significant, the sociodemographic and disease-related factors linked with decline did not strongly predict decline over a 5-year period.