Neuropsychology and Cognition Poster Presentation

P0819 - Perceived Social Support in Multiple Sclerosis: Impact on patient’s quality of life. (ID 1241)

Speakers
  • M. Eizaguirre
Authors
  • M. Eizaguirre
  • C. Yastremiz
  • A. Merino
  • D. Rodrigo
  • D. Taboada
  • C. Pita
  • B. Silva
  • R. Alonso
  • S. Vanotti
  • O. Garcea
Presentation Number
P0819
Presentation Topic
Neuropsychology and Cognition

Abstract

Background

Social support plays an extremely important role in treatment and evolution of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, there are scarce data that describes the size and quality of social network in MS patients, as well as its impact on their quality of life.

Objectives

(a) to analyze differences in perceived social support (PSS) between MS patients and healthy controls. (b) to study the associations between PSS and clinical and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) variables in MS patients, and (c) to analyze the influence of PSS on HRQoL.

Methods

151 MS patients and 89 healthy controls (HC) were studied. HC: Age: 42.01±12.25 years; Education: 14.60±2.44 years; Patients: Age: 41.46±9.97; Education:14.05±3.26 years; EDSS:2.88±2.10; Disease evolution:12.46±10.07 years. Instruments: PSS: MOS (Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey); Clinical Variables: EDSS, Fatigue Scale (FSS); Depression Inventory (BDI-II); HRQoL: MusiQol. Parametric and non-parametric statistics were used, significance p value<0.05.

Results

Patients presented lower scores than HC in global score of PSS (t(238)=- 1.99, p=0.04) and in each functional dimension (t(238)=between-2.59 and -2.09, p<0.05). Associations were found between PSS with depression and fatigue (r = between-0.20 and -0.29, p <0.05) and with the different dimensions of the MusiQol (r = between-0.18 and 0.48, p <0.05). In multiple regression analysis, the four models tested contributed significantly to the explained variance of HRQoL (between 41 and 47%). The model constituted with emotional/informational support explained the greatest variation of HRQoL (47%).

Conclusions

Patients with MS perceive a decrease in their social support impacting on their quality of life. This should be considered for a better therapeutic approach.

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