title: Health-related quality of life in partners of persons with MS: a longitudinal 10-year perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) impacts the health-related quality of life (HRQL) in partners, but knowledge on the longitudinal perspective is needed. The aim was to analyse HRQL in partners of persons with MS living in Sweden a decade ago and after 10 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Partners were identified through a population-based study of persons with MS in Stockholm. Information on HRQL (the Sickness Impact profile), personal factors and disease-specific factors, and measures of functioning of persons with MS was collected at both time points mainly by home visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Some 64 of 102 identified partners (63%) agreed to participate at baseline, and at 10 years 40 of 54 eligible partners were included (74%). HRQL in partners was worse than in a Swedish, aged-grouped reference population at both baseline and follow-up. Depressive symptoms in persons with MS were independently associated with worse HRQL in partners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depressive symptoms in persons with MS were associated with worse HRQL in their partners, and HRQL of partners was continuously impacted in the longitudinal perspective. This knowledge needs to be accounted for in the planning of MS care, together with the development of evidence-based support for depressive symptoms, and engagement in recreational life in both partners and persons with MS.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden Division of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gottberg
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chruzander
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Einarsson
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fredrikson
authors.affiliation: Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden Department of Physiotherapy, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Widén Holmqvist
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Health services research; REHABILITATION MEDICINE