Background: The symptoms that have the largest impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) may vary by MS phenotype (relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), secondary progressive MS (SPMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS)). Knowing these symptoms assists in symptom management.

Objective: To examine the associations between 13 common MS symptoms and HRQoL in the total sample and stratified by MS phenotype.

Method: The study included 1985 participants. HRQoL was measured with two multi-attribute utility instruments: assessment of quality of life with eight dimensions (AQoL-8D) and European quality of life with five dimensions and five levels for each dimension (EQ-5D-5L). Multivariable linear regression was used to identify the symptoms that had the largest impact on the HRQoLs.

Results: Feelings of depression, pain, fatigue, and feelings of anxiety were most strongly associated with AQoL-8D and EQ-5D-5L. Walking difficulties additionally contributed to reduced EQ-5D-5L. The strongest single predictors in the multivariable analyses were feelings of depression or pain for AQoL-8D and walking difficulties for EQ-5D-5L, irrespective of MS phenotype.

Conclusion: The strongest single predictors for the AQoL-8D and EQ-5D-5L were feelings of depression, pain and walking difficulties, irrespective of MS phenotype. Reducing these symptoms may have the largest impact on improving HRQoL in all MS phenotypes of people with MS.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	European quality of life with five dimensions and five levels for each dimension, multiple sclerosis, assessment of quality of life with eight dimensions, depression, health-related quality of life, pain, symptoms, walking difficulties
Research Division:	Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Research Group:	Neurosciences
Research Field:	Neurology and neuromuscular diseases
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Clinical health
Objective Field:	Clinical health not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Zhang, Y (Miss Yan Zhang)
UTAS Author:	Taylor, BV (Professor Bruce Taylor)
UTAS Author:	Simpson Jr, S (Dr Steve Simpson JR)
UTAS Author:	Blizzard, L (Professor Leigh Blizzard)
UTAS Author:	Campbell, JA (Dr Julie Campbell)
UTAS Author:	Palmer, AJ (Professor Andrew Palmer)
UTAS Author:	van der Mei, I (Professor Ingrid van der Mei)
ID Code:	141334
Year Published:	2020
Web of Science® Times Cited:	1
Deposited By:	Menzies Institute for Medical Research
Deposited On:	2020-10-15
Last Modified:	2020-11-17
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