ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients frequently report cognitive difficulties which impact daily functioning. The objective was to investigate the relationship between patient-reported cognitive impairment and depression, demographic and MS-related variables, and to clarify its impact on self-reported health measures and employment. METHOD: A large two-centre survey included the MS Neuropsychological Screening Questionnaire (MSNQ), the two-question screening tool for depression, vitality, health-related quality of life, the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II and questions assessing social network satisfaction and employment status. RESULTS: Of the 751 respondents (median age 54 years, median Expanded Disability Status Scale 5, 66.2% female), two-thirds reported perceived neuropsychological impairment or depressive symptoms. Whilst depressive symptoms were related to higher MSNQ scores, the MSNQ poorly predicted depression. After correcting for confounders, higher MSNQ scores and depressive symptoms decreased vitality, health-related quality of life and health-promoting behaviours and increased the probability of being socially dissatisfied. In participants below retirement age, higher MSNQ and Expanded Disability Status Scale scores increased the probability of unemployment, whilst depression did not. CONCLUSION: The contribution of the MSNQ to self-reported health measures and its unique explanatory power regarding unemployment suggest that subjective cognitive complaints are connected to subtle, yet meaningful, neuropsychological dysfunction.
Subject(s)
Cognition Disorders/psychology , Cognitive Dysfunction/psychology , Employment/psychology , Multiple Sclerosis/psychology , Personal Satisfaction , Quality of Life/psychology , Adult , Depression/psychology , Emotions , Female , Health Surveys , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neuropsychological Tests , Self ReportABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the reliability and feasibility of electronic visual analogue scales in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy individuals. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study Setting: Clinical setting Subjects: Convenience sample of 52 people with MS and 52 matched healthy controls Interventions: NA Main measures: Participants scored 15 statements assessing fatigue, pain, anxiety and quality of life on an electronic visual analogue scale (eVAS), either using a smartphone or a tablet (randomly allocated). To check for test-retest reliability, statements were administered in two separate randomly ordered groups. Subjects completed a feasibility questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean (SD) eVAS scores ranged from 35 (28.1) to 80 (22.1) in MS group, and from 57 (28.0) to 86 (13.2) in controls. Intra Class Correlations ranged from 0.73 to 0.95 in MS sample; 0.61 to 0.92 in controls. For most statements, Bland-Altman plots indicated no systematic error, but relatively large random error of the eVAS scores (exceeding 20mm). Considerable ceiling effects (i.e. better health) were found in healthy controls. Similar reliability was found among smartphone or tablet, different demographic groups and the experience-groups. CONCLUSION: Electronic visual analogue scales are reliable and useful for people with MS to register fatigue, pain, anxiety and quality of life.
Subject(s)
Anxiety Disorders/diagnosis , Fatigue/diagnosis , Multiple Sclerosis/psychology , Pain/diagnosis , Quality of Life , Visual Analog Scale , Adult , Anxiety Disorders/etiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Fatigue/etiology , Feasibility Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Multiple Sclerosis/complications , Pain/etiology , Reproducibility of Results , SmartphoneABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study is to investigate whether socioeconomic indicators such as education, financial concerns, employment, and living status are associated with disease progression in relapsing-onset and progressive-onset Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional survey among individuals with MS, registered by the Flemish MS society and included socioeconomic indicators. A Cox proportional hazard regression was performed with the time from MS onset and from birth to reach an ambulatory disability milestone corresponding to Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 6 (requiring a cane) as outcome measure, adjusted for gender, age at MS onset, and immunomodulatory treatment. RESULTS: Among the participants with relapsing-onset MS, subjects reporting education for more than 12 years had a reduced risk of reaching EDSS 6 compared to subjects reporting education for less than 12 years [HR from onset 0.68 (95% CI 0.49-0.95); HR from birth 0.71 (95% CI 0.51-0.99)]. In progressive-onset MS, longer education was associated with an increased hazard to reach EDSS 6 [HR from onset 1.25 (95% CI 0.91-1.70); HR from birth 1.39 (95% CI 1.02-1.90)]. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows an association of self-reported levels of education with disability progression in MS, with the highest level being protective in relapsing-onset MS.
