The impact of quality of life on treatment preferences in multiple sclerosis patients

Background. Multiple sclerosis (MS) healthcare providers (HCP) have undergone considerable educational efforts regarding the importance of evaluating and treating pelvic floor disorders, specifically, urinary dysfunction. However, limited data are available to determine the impact of catheterization on patient quality of life (QoL). Objectives. To describe the use of urinary catheterization among MS patients and determine the differences between those who report positive versus negative impact of this treatment on QoL. Methods. Patients were queried as part of the 2010 North American Research Committee On Multiple Sclerosis survey; topics included 1) urinary/bladder, bowel, or sexual problems; 2) current urine leakage; 3) current catheter use; 4) catheterizing and QoL. Results. Respondents with current urine leakage were 5143 (54.7%), of which 1201 reported current catheter use (12.8%). The types of catheters (intermittent self-catheterization and Foley catheter (indwelling and suprapubic)) did not differ significantly. Of the current catheter users, 304 (25.35%) respondents reported catheterization negatively impacting QoL, 629 (52.4%) reported a positive impact on QoL, and 223 (18.6%) reported neutral QoL. Conclusions. A large proportion of catheterized MS patients report negative or positive changes in QoL associated with urinary catheterization. Urinary catheterization does not appear to have a universally negative impact on patient QoL.

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Type I interferons and the quality of life of multiple sclerosis patients. Results from a clinical trial on interferon alfa-2a

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/135245859900500503 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 5 (5) ◽

pp. 317-322 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

M W Nortvedt ◽

T Riise ◽

K M Myhr ◽

H I Nyland ◽

B R Hanestad

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Interferon Alfa ◽

Type I Interferons ◽

Type I ◽

Recombinant Interferon ◽

Multiple Sclerosis Patients ◽

The Impact

The objective of the study was to examine whether the beneficial effect of treatment of interferon alfa-2a on multiple sclerosis seen by magnetic resonance imaging is reflected in a corresponding improvement in the quality of life (QoL) and to address the impact of adverse events related to this treatment on the QoL. The study was a randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled treatment trial including 97 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients. Thirty-two patients received 4.5 MIU recombinant interferon alfa-2a, 32 patients received 9.0 MIU recombinant interferon alfa- 2a and 33 patients received placebo treatment for 6 months. All patients were followed up 6 months after end of treatment. QoL was assessed according to the eight scales of the SF-36 Health Survey and measured at baseline, month 3, 6 and 12. The effect found on MRI was not reflected in a corresponding change in the QoL. We found a relationship between the presence of new enhancing lesions and reduced QoL among the placebo patients, whereas this was not found among the patients treated with interferon. The presence of the adverse events fatigue, myalgia, headache and weakness were significantly negatively correlated to several of the QoL dimensions. Conclusively, the treatment with interferon alfa- 2a does not seem to improve the patients' QoL after 6 months of treatment, in spite of a marked effect measured by MRI. The treatment is followed by adverse events that negatively affected the QoL.

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New epidemiological data of multiple sclerosis, the impact of psychopathological symptoms on the health-related quality of life of multiple sclerosis patients

10.14232/phd.10732 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Tamás Biernacki

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Psychopathological Symptoms ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

Multiple Sclerosis Patients ◽

The Impact

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Quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients in Spain

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1191/1352458502ms851oa ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 8 (6) ◽

pp. 527-531 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

C-H Chang ◽

D Cella ◽

O Fernández ◽

G Luque ◽

P de Castro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Self Report ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Scale Scores ◽

Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Objective: The cross-sectional study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS) Spanish version and its use in measuring quality of life (QOL) of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Spain. Methods: The FAMS is a factorially derived self-report scale designed to assess six primary aspects of QOL of patients with MS: Mobility, Symptoms, Emotional Well-Being, General Contentment, Thinking and Fatigue, and Family/Social Well-Being. Its Spanish translated version was used to assess QOL of 625 MS patients recruited in an outpatient clinic setting from 58 hospitals in Spain. Internal consistency of the Spanish FAMS was evaluated. Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify significant predictors from demographic, clinical and treatment characteristics, and Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores in predicting FAMS scale scores. Results: Most of the patients are females (66%), and 74% were of the relapsing-remitting (RR) clinical subtype. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were high (range=0.78-0.96), indicating subscale homogeneity comparable to that of the original English version. Linear multivariate regression analyses revealed that the EDSS is a dominant variable in predicting all the FAMS subscales, especially mobility (R2=0.51) and the total scores. Conclusions: The Spanish FAMS is a psychometrically valid instrument that allows clinicians and clinical researchers the ability to measure the QOL concerns of MS patients in Spain.

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Fatigue, mood and quality of life improve in MS patients after progressive resistance training

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458509360040 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 480-490 ◽

Cited By ~ 129

Author(s):

U. Dalgas ◽

E. Stenager ◽

J. Jakobsen ◽

T. Petersen ◽

HJ Hansen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Resistance Training ◽

Beneficial Effect ◽

Control Group ◽

Progressive Resistance Training ◽

Multiple Sclerosis Patients ◽

Progressive Resistance

Fatigue occurs in the majority of multiple sclerosis patients and therapeutic possibilities are few. Fatigue, mood and quality of life were studied in patients with multiple sclerosis following progressive resistance training leading to improvement of muscular strength and functional capacity. Fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale, FSS), mood (Major Depression Inventory, MDI) and quality of life (physical and mental component scores, PCS and MCS, of SF36) were scored at start, end and follow-up of a randomized controlled clinical trial of 12 weeks of progressive resistance training in moderately disabled (Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS: 3—5.5) multiple sclerosis patients including a Control group ( n = 15) and an Exercise group ( n = 16). Fatigue (FSS > 4) was present in all patients. Scores of FSS, MDI, PCS—SF36 and MCS—SF36 were comparable at start of study in the two groups. Fatigue improved during exercise by —0.6 (95% confidence interval (CI) —1.4 to 0.4) a.u. vs. 0.1 (95% CI —0.4 to 0.6) a.u. in controls ( p = 0.04), mood improved by —2.4 (95% CI —4.1 to 0.7) a.u. vs. 1.1 (—1.2 to 3.4) a.u. in controls ( p = 0.01) and quality of life (PCS—SF36) improved by 3.5 (95% CI 1.4—5.7) a.u. vs. —1.0 (95% CI —3.4—1.4) a.u. in controls ( p = 0.01). The beneficial effect of progressive resistance training on all scores was maintained at follow-up after further 12 weeks. Fatigue, mood and quality of life all improved following progressive resistance training, the beneficial effect being maintained for at least 12 weeks after end of intervention.

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The impact of sexual dysfunction on the quality of life measured by MSQoL-54 in patients with multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458508093619 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 14 (8) ◽

pp. 1131-1136 ◽

Cited By ~ 89

Author(s):

DK Tepavcevic ◽

J Kostic ◽

ID Basuroski ◽

N Stojsavljevic ◽

T Pekmezovic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Sexual Dysfunction ◽

Sexual Function ◽

Health Distress ◽

Pain Subscale ◽

Related Quality ◽

Vaginal Lubrication ◽

The Impact

Objective Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a common but often overlooked symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency, type, and intensity of SD in our patients with MS and to investigate its influence on all the domains of quality of life. Methods The study population comprised a cohort of 109 patients with MS (McDonald's criteria, 2001). SD was quantified by a Szasz sexual functioning scale. Health-related quality of life was measured by a disease-specific instrument MSQoL-54 (Serbian version). Results The presence of at least one symptom of SD was found in about 84% of the men and in 85% of the women. The main complaints in women were reduced libido, difficulties in achieving orgasm, and decreased vaginal lubrication; in men, the main complaints were reduced libido, incomplete erections, and premature ejaculation. In women, statistically significant negative correlations between the presence and level of SD and quality of life domains were reached for all subscales ( P < 0.01), except for the Pain subscale ( P = 0.112). In men, negative correlations were also observed for all domains, but they were statistically significant for physical health, physical role limitations, social function, health distress, sexual function, and sexual function satisfaction ( P < 0.01). We found that the presence of all the analyzed types of sexual problems statistically significantly lowered scores on the sexual function and the sexual function satisfaction subscales in both men and women ( P < 0.01). The most prominent impact on both domains was observed for the total loss of erection in men and for anorgasmia in women. Conclusions Our results reveal that frequent occurrence of SD in MS patients prominently affects all aspects of their quality of life.

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Positive impact of cladribine on quality of life in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458517726380 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 24 (11) ◽

pp. 1461-1468 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Dayo Afolabi ◽

Christo Albor ◽

Lukasz Zalewski ◽

Dan R Altmann ◽

David Baker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Rank Correlation ◽

Phase Iii ◽

European Medicines Agency ◽

Total N ◽

The Impact ◽

Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Background: A number of elements of the pivotal ‘cladribine tablets treating multiple sclerosis orally’ (CLARITY) trial have remained unpublished. Objective: To report the impact of cladribine on health-related quality of life (QoL) in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (pwRMS). Methods: QoL data from the phase III trial of two different doses (3.5 and 5.25 mg/kg) of oral cladribine in pwRMS were acquired from the European Medicines Agency through Freedom of Information. Spearman’s rank correlation was used to analyse the relationship between baseline QoL scores and baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores. Responses of the Euro Quality of Life 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) and Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54) questionnaires were compared between treatment and control groups using univariate analyses of covariance. Results: In total, n = 5148 EQ-5D responses and n = 894 MSQOL-54 physical, mental health and dimension scores were extracted. Baseline EQ-5D indices correlated with EDSS scores. After 2 years, pwRMS taking 3.5 ( p = .001) and 5.25 mg/kg ( p = .022) reported significantly improved EQ-5D index scores compared with placebo. Positive, yet non-significant, differences were detected in MSQOL-54 scores between cladribine and placebo. Conclusion: Analysis of the CLARITY dataset suggests that, over and above its established clinical efficacy, cladribine leads to improved QoL over 96 weeks. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00213135.

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Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis in Oman – A CrossSectional Study

Oman Medical Journal ◽

10.5001/omj.2021.109 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jansirani Natarajan ◽

Mickael Antoine Joseph ◽

Abdullah Al Asmi ◽

Gerald Amandu Matua ◽

Jaber Al Khabouri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Disease Process ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

The Impact ◽

Disease Specific

Objectives: Multiple sclerosis is a disabling neurological disorder with significant negative effects on patients’ quality of life. Despite the increased prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Arabian Gulf countries in recent years, no study has assessed the impact of multiple sclerosis on the healthrelated quality of life of Omani patients. Therefore, the objectives of the current study was to assess the impact of multiple sclerosis on the health-related quality of life of Omani patients using the validated disease-specific self-administered MusiQoL instrument. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out between April and December 2019 on 177 Omani patients with multiple sclerosis attending two major hospitals in Oman. Patients’ health-related quality of life was assessed using the validated disease-specific self-administered MusiQoL instrument. Results: Majority (51.4%) of the patients had poor HRQOL and 48.6% had moderate HRQOL. We found that being older than 30 years, a female, married, separated, widowed, or divorced, and having visual and sleep problems had poorer health-related quality of life. Among the different health-related quality of life components, relationship with the healthcare system and relationship with family and friends were the most affected because of the disease process. Our results also showed that psychological well-being and coping domains of MusiQoL questionnaires are significantly reduced in females as compared to males. Conclusion: Understanding the health-related quality of life of Omanis with multiple sclerosis provides valuable knowledge that could help optimize the management of this disease.

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