Comparing Health Promotion and Quality of Life in People with Progressive Versus Nonprogressive Multiple Sclerosis.

Abstract

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) benefit from engaging in health promotion. Most studies have been conducted with those having relapsing-remitting MS; information about health promotion for those with progressive MS is more limited. In this study, health promotion and quality of life (QOL) for people with progressive versus nonprogressive MS were systematically examined and compared. These data are from years 21 and 22 of an ongoing longitudinal study of persons with MS. Participants were compared on demographic, psychosocial, and health promotion factors and 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) QOL subscales. Based on the conceptual framework, barriers, symptom clusters, social supports, and health promotion activities were entered into hierarchical multivariate regressions to predict selected SF-36 subscale scores separately for those with progressive versus nonprogressive MS after controlling for variance associated with years of education and MS incapacity. Analyses included 72 respondents with progressive MS and 117 with nonprogressive MS. People with progressive MS reported significantly less frequent health promotion and lower scores on SF-36 physical role limitations and social functioning. Symptoms were a strong and significant predictor for all three SF-36 subscales in both groups. The explained variances in the hierarchical models differed significantly by MS course, with adjusted R 2 scores ranging from 0.17 to 0.30 in progressive MS and 0.35 to 0.45 in nonprogressive MS. Findings underscore the importance of symptom severity in relation to health promotion and QOL in people with long-standing MS. Future research should explore additional contributors to QOL for those with progressive MS.