title: Cognitive function and quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nearly half of all patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) will develop cognitive dysfunction. Studies highlighted from no/weak impact to a strong impact of cognitive impairment on quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of cognitive dysfunction on self-reported QoL in MS patients while considering key confounding factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  MS patients of any disease subtype.
  
  
  METHODS
  sociodemographic (age, gender, marital status, education level, and occupational activity) and clinical data (MS subtype, disease duration); MS disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS); depression (Beck Depression Inventory); fatigue (Modified Fatigue Impact Scale); QoL (SF36 and MusiQoL); and neuropsychological performance (Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests, BRB-N).
  
  
  METHODS
  multiple linear regressions (forward-stepwise selection).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and twenty-four patients were enrolled. Performance on BRB-N subtests varied widely (6% to 70% abnormal). The BRB-N classified 37-78% of the patients as cognitively impaired, depending on the definition of cognitive impairment. No links were found between the MusiQoL index and cognitive subtests, whereas marital status, EDSS, and depression were found to be independent predictive factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrated the weak and scarce association between cognitive impairment and QoL, when the key confounding factors were considered. These results need to be confirmed with larger samples and more accurate tests of cognitive function.
authors.affiliation: EA3279 Self-perceived Health Assessment Research Unit and Department of Public Health, Nord University Hospital, APHM, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baumstarck-Barrau
authors.forename: Marie-Claude
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Simeoni
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reuter
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Klemina
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aghababian
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Auquier
mesh_terms: D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index