Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating central nervous disease characterised by a broad spectrum of physical and psychosocial impairments. The MS Quality of Life-54 (MSQoL-54) questionnaire is a health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measure that yields summary scores for physical health composite score (PCS) and mental health composite score (MCS). Both PCS and MCS are expressed on a scale of 0 (poorest QoL) to 100 (best possible QoL).

Purpose To evaluate HRQoL in MS patients calculating PCS and MCS scores. To analyse if there are differences in HRQoL and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) between disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) of parenteral administration.

Material and methods A prospective study was performed from March to September 2017. MS patients were asked by a hospital pharmacist to complete the MSQoL-54 questionnaire. Clinical data were collected from electronic medical and pharmaceutical records (sex, age, MS disease course, EDSS, disease duration, DMTs). DMTs included were interferon (IFN), glatiramer acetate (GA) and natalizumab. Kruskal–Wallis multivariant analysis with SPSS 15,0 was used for statistical analysis.

Results Ninety patients completed the questionnaire (68% females). Median age was 46 years (IQR 38–55). Eighty-three patients had relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Median disease duration was 10 years (IQR 5–14). Forty-nine patients were treated with IFN, 22 with GA and 19 with natalizumab. Median EDSS in IFN, GA and natalizumab patients were 1.5, 1.3 and 3 respectively (p<0.001). Median PCS in these patients were 68.3, 54.0 and 48.1 and median MCS 66.0, 63.5 and 45.1. Statistical significant differences between IFN and natalizumab were found in both PCS (p<0.02) and MCS (p<0.001) composite scores.

Conclusion The majority of patients in this study were young females with RRMS. Patients treated with GA and IFN had similar HRQoL. GA and IFN patients had better PCS and MCS scores than natalizumab patients. This could be explained due to higher EDSS values in natalizumab patients. For future research, oral DMTs could be included to investigate if there are any differences in HRQoL with parenteral DMTs.

No conflict of interest