title: Health status of people with multiple sclerosis: a community mail survey.
abstract: We assessed the self-perceived health status of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) living in the Province of Milan, and the consequences of the disease on family, social and occupational status, using a cross-sectional mail survey. We identified 1350 adults with MS living in the Province of Milan. To a random sample of 400 of these, we sent out the multiple sclerosis quality-of-life-54 questionnaire (MSQOL-54), the proxy version of the short form-36 (SF-36), and a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire. We received 261 replies (65%). Demographic and clinical data of responders and non-responders were similar except for frequency of hospitalisation over the last year, which was higher in responders. Compared to Italian norms, the MS patients had lower scores in all SF-36 domains; the differences were greatest for physical function, physical role limitations, vitality, and general health perceptions. Unemployment was 103 (41%) overall, 45% in women, and 54% in the less educated. A proxy informant was available for 245 (96%) responders. Concordance between patient and proxy reports on the SF-36 was moderate to excellent. MS had a pervasive impact on patients' lives, with substantial negative consequences for family and working life, that generally make themselves felt in the most active and productive period of people's live.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiology, C. Besta National Neurologic Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Solari
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Radice
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011177:Postal Service; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards