Treatment with interferon beta-1b improves quality of life in multiple sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
The Canadian Burden of Illness Study Group reported that the quality of life (QoL) of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients falls drastically, early in the disease. With disability progression, the physical functioning scales of the Short Form 36 (SF-36) showed further decreases in QoL. The objective of this study is to describe the QoL of MS patients treated with interferon beta-1b (IFNB-1b) and to compare it to the QoL observed in a group of patients who had not been treated with IFNB-1b.


METHODS
Treated patients were prospectively recruited and were seen at their regular visit to the MS clinic. They self-completed the SF-36 questionnaire and their QoL was described and retrospectively compared to that of historical controls.


RESULTS
When IFNB-1b treated patients were compared to historical control patients with the same relapsing forms of MS, the treated patients with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score lower than 3.0 had a significantly better QoL. This was significant for four of the eight SF-36 domains: Physical Function (+22%, p = 0.0102), Role-Physical (+100%, p = 0.0022), General Health (+27%, p = 0.0070) and Social Function (+19%, p = 0.0287). The average QoL difference was 8% in the EDSS 3.0-6.0 group and 10% in the EDSS > 6 group.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with relapsing forms of MS treated with IFNB-1b have better QoL than patients who are not treated, especially those with an EDSS < 3.0.
Rice
G P
GP
MS Clinic, University Hospital, London, ON.
Oger
J
J
Duquette
P
P
Francis
G S
GS
Bélanger
M
M
Laplante
S
S
Grenier
J F
JF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012923:Social Class
D016899:Interferon-beta