title: Patient characteristics and determinants of quality of life in an international population with multiple sclerosis: assessment using the MusiQoL and SF-36 questionnaires.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) can have psychological and socioeconomic consequences that affect patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as much as physical disability.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the clinical and sociodemographic factors affecting HRQoL in a large international study using the MS International QoL (MusiQoL) questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients aged >18 years with a diagnosis of MS for >6 months or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) were enrolled. Sociodemographic and clinical data were recorded, and patients completed the MusiQoL and 36-item short form (SF-36) health survey questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 1992 patients from 15 countries were enrolled (mean [standard deviation] age: 42.3 [12.5] years; 70.5% women; 70.4% with relapsing-remitting MS). Multivariate multiple regression analyses identified lower educational level, higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, cognitive impairment, being single and shorter time since last relapse as significant predictors of lower MusiQoL global index scores (p < 0.05). Older age, female sex, higher EDSS score, shorter time since last relapse and receiving current MS treatment were significant predictors of lower SF-36 physical component summary scores (p < 0.05). The SF-36 mental component summary score was linked to occupational status, inpatient/outpatient status, time since last relapse, and whether the patient was receiving MS treatment (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sociodemographic and clinical factors are linked to HRQoL in patients with MS. Interventions that affect these factors might be expected to influence HRQoL.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Hospital Regional University Carlos Haya, Spain. oscar.fernandez.sspa@juntadeandalucia.es
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baumstarck-Barrau
authors.forename: Marie-Claude
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Simeoni
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Auquier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult