Does the type of disease-modifying drugs impact on the quality of life in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis?

Abstract

Objective. Multiple sclerosis (MS) can cause serious physical and mental problems, which can affect patients’ health-related quality of life (HQoL). The aims of this study are comparing oral and injection disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) in improving HQoL and researching the relations between demographic characteristics and HQoL. Material and methods. This is a cross-sectional study of patients whit a lower degree of disability with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. According to drug usage, we divide patients into two groups of oral and injection medications. After obtaining informed consent, multiple sclerosis quality of life-54 (MSQOL-54) questionnaire filled by patients. Outcomes. 115 patients including 34 males and 81 females with the mean age of 33.06 ± 8.68 years old were involved in this study. There was no significant difference in demographics factors between two groups. We observed no statistically significant difference between two groups of patients, but oral medicines showed a better function in physical health composite and users of injection DMDs were better in mental health composite. There was a negative correlation between age and the expanded disability status scale score with physical health composite, while education had a positive correlation with physical health composite. Except cognitive function, there wasn’t any significant gender differences in any subscale of HQoL. Conclusions. Oral and injection DMDs have a similar function in boosting HQoL in a lower degree of disability RRMS patients. Severity of the disease, education and age are related to health condition of MS patients.

Keywords

• multiple sclerosis
• quality of life
• pharmaceutical preparations
• disease-modifying drugs