Self-reported quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis with mild disability

Abstract

Background The quality of life (QoL) of the patient is a reflection of the severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) and predicts its prognosis; it is related to various factors that vary across cultures. Objective The aim of the current study was to evaluate the QoL of ambulatory and mildly disabled patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), and explore the related factors and cultural characteristics. Patients and methods Sixty Egyptian patients with a definitive diagnosis of RRMS were recruited and assessed for disability using Expanded Disability Status Scale, their QoL using Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Inventory (MSQLI), and depression using the Beck Depression Inventory scale. Patients’ QoL was compared with that of 30 matched controls. Results The QoL of MS patients was significantly impaired in all domains compared with that of controls (P<0.001), except for Social Functioning. Most of the physical components of the QoL were strongly correlated with Expanded Disability Status Scale, fatigue, and perceived cognitive impairment, and mental components were correlated with depression (P<0.001), fatigue, and perceived cognitive impairment. An overall 81% of MS patients had depression that correlated with disability (P=0.012) and fatigue (P=0.001), and correlated moderately with perceived cognitive impairment. Women reported more anxiety (P=0.038) and less perceived social support (P=0.012), whereas men stated more sexual dissatisfaction (P=0.001). Conclusion Mildly disabled Egyptian patients with RRMS have a high prevalence of depression and considerable impairment of mental and physical components of the QoL, such as disease disability, depression, fatigue, and perceived cognitive impairment.