Association of factors influencing health-related quality of life in MS

Abstract

As results regarding associative demographic and disease-specific factors on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are partially inconsistent and contradictory, we reinvestigated this question on a large Austrian MS dataset. Patients received a questionnaire covering demographic and disease-specific characteristics and the Nottingham health profile (NHP) for assessing HRQoL. In order to estimate the risk for suboptimal HRQoL, adjusted odds ratios were calculated from logistic regression models including gender, age, expanded disability status scale (EDSS), disease course, disease duration and walking ability as covariates. The EDSS was the only factor contributing to both physical and mental dimensions (P < 0.001), whereas disease course, gender and age showed a significant effect on all physical, but not consistently on mental dimensions. The regression models fitting better for physical than for mental dimensions, clearly indicate a lack of explanation of demographic and disease-specific factors in these dimensions of HRQoL.

The Associations Between Fatigue, Disability, and Mobility and the Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

“…Asadizaker et al showed that exercise increased the walking speed in MS patients and improved the patients' physical health (33). In addition, Pfaffenberger et al showed that the inability to walk can be considered as a measure which indicates that the quality of life of a patient is low, and a decrease in walking speed may be associated with a reduced quality of life in MS patients (25). These findings conform to the present study showing that physical health is associated with the mobility scale.…”

“…Moreover, in this study, the age, marital status, education, and age at the onset of MS were correlated with the quality of life. Pfaffenberger et al stated that the course of the disease, age, and sex had a significant effect on the physical aspects of the patient; however, these parameters may not constantly affect the spiritual dimension (25). The authors concluded that femininity, older age, higher disability criteria, as well as the inability to walk may represent a low quality of life of the patient.…”

“…However, some of the studies that have examined the relationship between mobility, disability, and mental health are not focused (32). Other studies have emphasized the importance of increased mobility on the quality of life in MS patients, and have shown that exercise protocols may lead to increased levels of physical health through the increased mobility of the patients (25,33,34). Asadizaker et al showed that exercise increased the walking speed in MS patients and improved the patients' physical health (33).…”

“…Several studies have investigated the effects of disability on the quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients (3,5,(21)(22)(23)(24)(25); for example, Pfaffenberger et al showed that the levels of physical and mental disability have significant effects on the quality of life (3). These findings were confirmed by the results of Miller and Dishon (24).…”

Relationship between spiritual well-being and quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients

“…It has been reported that patients with chronic diseaseswho have more favorable socio-economic statustend to cope with their disease more effectually compared to others, which reduces the adverse effects of disease complications on their quality of life (27,30).…”