The impact of disease symptoms on the quality of life of people with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease, usually occurring between 20 and 40 years of age, where central nervous system demyelination occurs.

Materials and methods: After establishing cooperation with 5 departments of the Polish Society of Multiple Sclerosis in Poland and the Rehabilitation Center in Krakow, 179 questionnaires were obtained from people with multiple sclerosis. The study used diagnostic survey methods and standardized Quality of Life Questionnaire Short Form 36.

Results: The largest group were women, 72.63%, the average disease duration was 13.18 years, the lowest quality of life values were the domain of social functioning 3.23 ±2.0 points, pain sensation 4.44 ±2.7 points and limitations resulting from the emotional state 8.02 ±6.8 points. A statistically significant correlation was found between age, sex, duration of the disease (p < 0.05) in selected domains and dimensions. The results of the analysis showed statistically significant correlations between the symptoms of the disease and the quality of life assessment in individual categories and dimensions (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: 1. Assessment of the quality of life by patients with multiple sclerosis in particular domains is very diverse, with the lowest ranked domain concerning social contacts, the highest domain physical functioning and physical dimension. 2. Elderly people and those who have been suffering from multiple sclerosis for longer have rated their quality of life worse than younger and shorter suffering people. This applies mainly to the domain of physical functioning and the physical dimension. This is probably due to the disease process and adaptation to the changing conditions dictated by the progressive disease. 3. The severity of disease symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis is associated with a decrease in the quality of life of these people.