Evaluation of Quality of Life among Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Evaluation of Quality of Life among Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study Background: Urinary complications are prevalent among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and evaluating the usefulness of treatment requires a direct measurement of the health-related quality of life (QOL). Therefore, this study was carried out aiming to determine the QOL of patients with MS and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out using multi-stage random cluster sampling method on 603 patients with MS who referred to the neurology clinic of Kashani and Alzahra treatment centers affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. The diagnosis of MS was approved among these patients based on the 2010 Revised McDonald Diagnostic Criteria by a neuroscientist. Data were collected through interviews using the questionnaire standard International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests. The significance level was considered to be less than 0.050. Results: The prevalence of LUTS among patients with MS was 84.2%, the prevalence rate of mixed, irritative, and obstructive urinary symptoms was 52.2%, 25.5%, and 6.5%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the combined dimensions of physical and mental health of QOL between the two groups with and without LUTS (P < 0.05). Moreover, logistic regression analysis revealed that there was a higher probability of a urinary tract problem among patients with MS and high EDSS score [0.67 (0.485-0.930), P = 0.02]. Conclusions: Due to the high prevalence rate of mixed LUTS among patients with MS and decrease in QOL, screening and attention to these symptoms are necessary in order to prevent secondary outcomes and improve QOL. Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, urinary symptoms, quality of life