title: Quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis in Serbia.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drulovic
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pekmezovic
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Matejic
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mesaros
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manigoda
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dujmovic
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stojsavljevic
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kocev
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gavric-Kezic
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nikic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dragojlovic
mesh_terms: 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