Quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis in Serbia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this investigation was to evaluate factors that might influence the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Serbia.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study was performed on a group of 156 patients with MS. HRQoL was assessed by using the SF-36 questionnaire. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scale were assessed as variables affecting the HRQoL of MS patients.


RESULTS
EDSS score correlated negatively with all SF-36 health dimensions, and the highest statistically significant coefficients were for physical functioning (r = -0.682), and social and role functioning (r = -0.407 and -0.405 respectively). BDI correlated statistically significantly negatively (P < 0.01) with all SF-36 health dimensions.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that both disability and depression significantly influence the HRQoL in Serbian MS patients, with depressive symptoms having the major influence.
Drulovic
J
J
Institute of Neurology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro.
Pekmezovic
T
T
Matejic
B
B
Mesaros
S
S
Manigoda
M
M
Dujmovic
I
I
Stojsavljevic
N
N
Kocev
N
N
Gavric-Kezic
M
M
Nikic
P
P
Dragojlovic
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D015022:Yugoslavia