Association of factors influencing health-related quality of life in MS

Objectives: As results regarding associative demographic and disease-specific factors on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are partially inconsistent and contradictory, we reinvestigated this question on a large Austrian MS dataset. Materials and methods: Patients received a questionnaire covering demographic and disease-specific characteristics and the Nottingham health profile (NHP) for assessing HRQoL. In order to estimate the risk for suboptimal HRQoL, adjusted odds ratios were calculated from logistic regression models including gender, age, expanded disability status scale (EDSS), disease course, disease duration and walking ability as covariates. Results: The EDSS was the only factor contributing to both physical and mental dimensions (P < 0.001), whereas disease course, gender and age showed a significant effect on all physical, but not consistently on mental dimensions. Conclusions: The regression models fitting better for physical than for mental dimensions, clearly indicate a lack of explanation of demographic and disease-specific factors in these dimensions of HRQoL.