Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have reported decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Identifying factors that contribute to a worse HRQoL is needing in order to improve the HRQoL of these patients.
We aimed to investigate the HRQoLin an Argentinean population of MS patients and their correlation with clinical variables and coping strategies.
Nationwide cross-sectional study. Screening instruments: Demographics and clinical data, HRQoL (MS Impact Scale, [MSIS-29]), Fatigue Severity Scale and physical disability (self-administrated Expanded Disability Status Scale, [EDSS]) and coping strategies (Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced, [COPE-28]).
We included 249 (74.7% women) MS patients with a mean age at survey of 38.6 (±10.7), a MS duration of 7.3 years (range: 1-43 years) and a mean EDSS of 1.9 (±1.8). The multivariate analysis via linear regression showed: lower fatigue scores and higher EDSS score, perception of severity of MS score and dysfunctional (maladaptive) coping strategies score significantly correlated with both higher (worse) HRQoL total (from p=0.009 to p<0.0001) and MSIS-physical scores (from p=0.04 to p<0.0001). Additionally, higher age and lower fatigue, dysfunctional coping strategies and perception of severity of MS scores were significantly correlated with worse MSIS-psychological (from p=0.006 to p<0.0001). An inverse correlation between live alone (p=0.04) and emotion-focused strategies (p=0.02) was significantly associated with a better MSIS-psychological.
This study showed a negative impact of physical disability and maladaptive coping strategies on HRQoL in MS patients from Argentina. Therefore, it would be necessary to increase interdisciplinary interventions and based on adaptive coping strategies to improve the HRQoL of these patients.