Objective
To examine whether self-rated physical health, as measured by the Physical Functioning Scale (PF) and the Role-physical Scale (RF) of the SF-36 Health Survey, could predict change in ...disability measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) over a follow-up period of 3 years.
Methods
A group of 156 clinically definite MS patients (Poser criteria), who had never been treated with disease-modifying therapies, were recruited consecutively from an outpatient clinic setting at the Institute of Neurology, Belgrade. The self-rated physical health was measured by using PF and RF of the SF-36.
Results
At follow-up, 33 out of 156 patients (21%) had dropped out. The mean EDSS score had increased from 3.7 to 4.5. Multiple regression analyses using change in EDSS as the dependent variable and baseline scores of EDSS and RF as independent variables showed a significant effect for RF (standardized beta = –0.21). A similar but non-significant effect was found for PF. Dichotomizing change in disability according to clinically meaningful deterioration and using logistic regression, an odds ratio of 1.27 (95% confidence interval 1.01–1.62) was found for the smallest unit of change in the self-rated scale. This means that patients who rated their own physical health as poor had a higher increase in disability compared with patients with the same level of disability at baseline who rated their physical health better.
Conclusions
MS patients’ perception of their health comprises information predictive for disease development not included in the more objective measure of disability status.
Objectives – The aim of this investigation was to evaluate factors that might influence the health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Serbia.
Materials and ...methods – This cross‐sectional study was performed on a group of 156 patients with MS. HRQoL was assessed by using the SF‐36 questionnaire. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scale were assessed as variables affecting the HRQoL of MS patients.
Results – EDSS score correlated negatively with all SF‐36 health dimensions, and the highest statistically significant coefficients were for physical functioning (r = −0.682), and social and role functioning (r = −0.407 and −0.405 respectively). BDI correlated statistically significantly negatively (P < 0.01) with all SF‐36 health dimensions.
Conclusions – Our findings suggest that both disability and depression significantly influence the HRQoL in Serbian MS patients, with depressive symptoms having the major influence.
