title: Ten-year follow-up of health-related quality of life among ambulatory persons with multiple sclerosis at baseline.
abstract: The aim of this 10-year follow-up study was to determine changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) over time among ambulatory persons with MS (PwMS) at the baseline using generic and disease-specific instruments.
  
  
  
  Of 109 independently walking PwMS included in a population-based study in 2002, 77 (70.6 %) were re-assessed in 2012. HRQoL was captured using the 36-Item Short Form Survey Instrument (RAND-36), 15D instrument (15D), and the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54). Repeated-measures ANOVA and effect size (ES) calculations (Cohen's d) were used in the statistical analysis.
  
  
  
  The RAND-36 physical health composite score (p = 0.003, ES = 0.26) and 15D total score (p = 0.012, ES = 0.25) declined from the baseline levels. In particular, lower scores were observed on the RAND-36 scales of physical functioning (p = 0.001, ES = 0.27), pain (p = 0.020, ES = 0.25), and general health perceptions (p = 0.002, ES = 0.36), on the MSQOL-54 scales of physical functioning (p = 0.001, ES = 0.27), pain (p = 0.040, ES = 0.21), sexual functioning (p = 0.003, ES = 0.43), and satisfaction with sexual functioning (p = 0.012, ES = 0.38), and in the 15D dimensions of mobility (p = 0.004, ES = 0.31) and sexual functioning (p ≤ 0.001, ES = 0.59). Improvement was observed on the RAND-36 scale of social functioning (p = 0.049, ES = 0.25). The other composite scores, scales, and dimensions remained unchanged.
  
  
  
  The results of this study suggest that ambulatory PwMS at baseline reported reduced HRQoL in physical functioning after a 10-year follow-up period, while emotional well-being was maintained and social functioning improved. The scores in the other HRQoL dimensions and scales remained unchanged. More long-term population-based studies are needed to precisely determine the development of HRQoL among PwMS.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport and Health Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Aki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rintala
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport and Health Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland.|Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Jyväskylä Central Hospital, Keskussairaalantie 19, 40620, Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Arja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Häkkinen
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Social Studies, JAMK University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 207, 40101, Jyväskylä, Finland. jaana.paltamaa@jamk.fi.
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paltamaa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology*; D000071066:Patient Reported Outcome Measures; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Health-related quality of life; Multiple sclerosis; Patient-reported outcomes; Quality of life