Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Influence of Gender, Age and Marital Status.

BACKGROUND

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease characterised by a wide range of symptoms and a highly unpredictable prognosis, which can severely affect patient quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of gender, age and marital status on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in MS patients.

METHODS

This study included 100 MS patients treated at the Department of Neurology, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo. Inclusion criteria were an Expanded Disability Status Scale score between 1.0 and 6.5, age between 18 and 65 years, stable disease on enrollment. HRQOL was evaluated by the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 questionnaire (MSQoL-54). Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis test were used for comparisons. Linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate prediction value of gender, age and marital status on both physical and mental HRQOL.

RESULTS

Women had significantly lower QOL scores then men in pain scale (55.00 vs. 76.67; p<0, 05). Younger patients had better physical (54.58 vs. 37.90; p<0.05) and mental health (59.55 vs. 45.90; p<0.05) composite scores. Patients with earlier age of onset scored significantly higher in health perception domain scale (45.00 vs. 32.50, p<0.05). Married patinets scored higher in physical and mental composite scores but with no significant difference except in sexual function (87,51 vs 70, 86, p<0,05) and emotional well being (66,67 vs 33,33; p<0,05) scales. Patient age retined its independent predictivity of physical health composite score (r2=0.063).

CONCLUSION

Aging in MS proved to be important negative factor in predicting physical domains of QOL. Interventions for reducing difficulties caused by physical limitations in older patients, higher level of psychological support for patients with late onset disease and social support for those living alone are important factors in improving HRQOL in MS patients.