Factors Associated with Health-Related Quality of Life Among Older People with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Background: This study was conducted to determine which factors (clinical and demographic) are associated with mental and physical health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) aged 60 years and older. Methods: Data were collected at four MS centers on Long Island, New York, from a total of 211 patients. Three surveys were administered that collected demographic information and included validated questionnaires measuring quality of life (QOL), cognition, depression, and disability. Multivariate linear regression analyses examined the relationship between patient demographics and scores on standardized scales measuring mental and physical HRQOL (Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life–54). Variables included in the regression models were selected on the basis of the Andersen Healthcare Utilization model. This framework encompasses the multiple influences on health status, including predisposing characteristics, enabling resources, need, and health behavior. Results: We found that mental HRQOL was negatively associated with having a high school education or less, risk of neurologic impairment, physical disability, and depression. No variables were positively associated with mental HRQOL. Physical HRQOL was negatively associated with risk of neurologic impairment, physical disability, depression, and the comorbidity of thyroid disease. However, patient employment and, surprisingly, being widowed were positively associated with physical HRQOL. These findings are consistent with those of similar studies among younger patients in which lower HRQOL was associated with increased disability, depression, risk of neurologic impairment, and lower levels of education. Conclusions: The findings that patient employment and being widowed were associated with better physical HRQOL suggest that older patients have the ability to adapt and adjust to the challenges of MS over time. Clinicians should regularly screen for HRQOL in older patients with MS.

The Elders’ Spiritual Well-Being and Their Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Moreover, the results of the present study indicated no relationship between the mean score of Quality of Life and other variables, except for marital status; as the married elderlies reported higher Quality of Life than others (P=0.009) which is consistent with the results of some studies (Jadidi et al 2011;Hajian-Tilaki, Heidari & Hajian-Tilaki 2017;Shi et al 2017;Wang et al 2017b;Zhou & Hearst 2016). However the results were inconsistent with some other studies (Buhse, Banker & Clement 2014). In addition, some studies indicate that elderly people with higher educational level have better health status (Chen, Feng & Li 2014;Dai et al 2016;Tkatch et al 2016).…”

Fatigue, Sleep Quality, and Disability in Relation to Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis

“…6,7 Previous research has found patient physical disability to be associated with mental health challenges as well as reduced physical QOL. 46,47 Interestingly, the present patient sample exhibited a relatively low level of neurologic disability, as measured by the EDSS, and most patients were within 5 years of symptom onset, demonstrating that QOL is significantly affected in the early stages of the disease. In addition, EDSS scores were significantly correlated with FSS scores but not with PSQI scores.…”

“…Education and disease duration were not associated with QOL, similar to the results of previous studies. 31,48 In contrast, Buhse et al 47 showed that less education (high school or less, compared with at least some college) was negatively associated with mental HRQOL. Some limitations of this study should be mentioned.…”

Symptoms of Depression in Elderly Patients with Osteoarticular Diseases Undergoing Hospital Rehabilitation.

“…Diseases (degenerative) of the osteoarticular system, the accompanying pain as well as gradual muscle weakness progress with age and cause the majority of older people to have limited or no ability to perform basic activities of daily living (ADL). This in turn, causes growing frustration and discomfort, resulting in symptoms of depression [8][9][10][11][12][13]. In a study of 1634 elderly people with symptoms of depression, Brazilian authors found diffi culty performing ADLs in both genders.…”

“…Cho ro by (zwy rod nie nio we) ukła du kost no -sta wo we go, to wa rzy szą cy im ból oraz stopnio we osła bie nie si ły mię śnio wej po stę pu ją wraz z wie kiem i pro wa dzą u więk szo ści lu dzi star szych do ogra ni cze nia lub nie mo żno ści wy ko na nia pod stawo wych czyn no ści co dzien ne go ży cia. To z ko lei powo du je na ra sta ją cą fru stra cję i po gor sze nie sa mo poczu cia, a w efek cie wy stą pie nie ob ja wów de pre sji [8][9][10][11][12][13]. Au to rzy bra zy lij scy prze pro wa dzi li ba da nia w gru pie 1634 star szych osób z ob ja wa mi de pre sji i stwier dzi li, że za rów no u mę żczyzn, jak i u ko biet wy stę pu ją trud no ści w wy ko ny wa niu czyn no ści ży cia co dzien ne go (ADL).…”