Impact of multiple sclerosis on quality of life: Comparison with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective: To report the impact of multiple sclerosis (MS) on patients' quality of life (QoL) compared to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using the 36-Item Short Form (SF-36) health questionnaire in Argentina. Patients and methods: Cross-sectional study. All consecutive MS patients, SLE and healthy controls (HC) were included. Demographics, clinical and radiological aspects, EDSS and SF-36 were assessed. Results: A total of 191 subjects were included (MS = 74, SLE = 30 and HC = 87). When we compared, using 2 standard deviations below the normal mean, the SF-36 subscales scores between MS and SLE, we found that MS patients experienced significant deterioration in general health (p < 0.0001), vitality (p = 0.009), current health (p < 0.0001) and previous year health perception (p = 0.003). Additional evaluated areas did not show significant differences. MS patients scored significantly lower in all categories compared to HC, except for bodily pain. An inverse correlation between EDSS and SF-36 total (R-2 = 0.59, beta - 11.08, p < 0.0001) and subscale scores was observed after applying regression analysis. Conclusion: MS behaves as a systemic disease from the functional point of view. Patient-reported QoL scales scores provide comprehensive additional prognostic information beyond the EDSS score. Therefore, adding the SF-36 questionnaire in clinical practice might be useful for the assessment and follow-up of MS patients.