title: The dual task-cost of standing balance affects quality of life in mildly disabled MS people.
abstract: The aim of this study was to explore the correlations between the dual-task cost (DTC) of standing balance and quality of life (QoL) in mildly disabled patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In this cross-sectional study, patients affected by MS with an expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score of 3.0 or less and without an overt balance impairment were tested by means of static posturography under eyes-opened (single-task condition) and while performing the Stroop word-color test (dual-task condition), to estimate the DTC of standing balance. The self-reported 54-item MS quality of life questionnaire (MSQoL-54) was also administered to obtain a MS-specific assessment of health-related QoL. Among the 120 screened patients, 75 (53 women, 22 men) were tested. Although there was no impact of the DTC of standing balance on the physical and mental composite scores of MSQoL-54, patients who had a greater DTC of standing balance scored worse on role limitations due to physical problems (p = 0.007) and social function (p < 0.001), irrespective of demographic and other clinical characteristics including walking performance and cognitive status. However, the EDSS step and fatigue also contributed to reduced scores in these two QoL domains (p-values < 0.01). In conclusion, the phenomenon of cognitive-motor interference, investigated as DTC of standing balance, may affect specific QoL domains even in mildly disabled patients with MS and in the absence of an overt balance dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Unit, S. Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University, Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Unit, S. Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Rita
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Unit, S. Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sellitto
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University, Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fulvia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fanelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University, Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185, Rome, Italy. luca.prosperini@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3237-6267
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prosperini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Balance; Cognitive-motor interference; Dual-task; Multiple sclerosis; Quality of life