Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test (MSPT): An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
Patient reported outcomes in benign multiple sclerosis
Line E Hviid1, Brian C Healy, David J Rintell
1Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical Institute, Brookline, MA 02445, USA. hviid@partners.org
Background:
Benign MS patients have a mild course of disease and show no or minimal accumulation of disability over time. Little is known about the patient reported outcomes (PROs) in benign MS.
Objective:
The objective of the study was to compare PROs in benign MS patients and patients with similar disease duration or disability status, and to investigate how the definition of benign MS affected this outcome.
Methods:
Two groups of Benign MS patients (disease duration ≥15 years, Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] score ≤1.5 [Benign-1.5], or ≤3.0 [Benign-3]) were compared with four other MS groups: disease duration ≥15 years, EDSS score >3.0 (Late-MS); disease duration <15 years, and EDSS score ≤1.5 (Low-EDSS-1.5), or ≤3.0 (Low-EDSS-3); disease duration ≤5 years (Early-MS). PROs included measures of QOL, fatigue, depression, and social support. Cognitive function was also assessed.
Results:
Both benign groups had better PROs than Late MS patients on all measures (p < 0.05). QOL, depression, and fatigue were significantly different between Benign-1.5 and Early-MS groups (p < 0.01). Benign-1.5 had higher mental health QOL than Low EDSS-1.5, but was otherwise similar. Benign-3 patients had worse depression than Early-MS (p < 0.01), and worse cognition compared with Low-EDSS-3 (p = 0.033). Benign-1.5 had higher QOL and lower fatigue (p < 0.005) than Benign-2-3, and showed a marginally significant difference in cognitive functioning (p = 0.055).
Conclusions:
Patients with benign MS had better PROs than other groups of MS patients, suggesting that both disease duration and disability influence PROs. The study also showed a difference in PROs based on the way benign MS was defined.
Insights
Patients with benign multiple sclerosis (MS) report better outcomes than those with more severe MS. However, patient-reported outcomes differ based on how benign MS is defined, highlighting the impact of disease duration and disability.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Clinical Research
- Patient-Reported Outcomes
Background:
- Benign multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by a mild disease course with minimal disability accumulation.
- Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in benign MS are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare PROs in benign MS patients against those with similar disease duration or disability.
- To investigate the impact of defining benign MS on PROs.
Main Methods:
- Two benign MS cohorts (EDSS ≤1.5 or ≤3.0) were compared with other MS groups based on disease duration and EDSS.
- PROs assessed included quality of life (QOL), fatigue, depression, social support, and cognitive function.
Main Results:
- Benign MS groups reported better PROs than Late MS patients (EDSS >3.0).
- Significant differences in QOL, depression, and fatigue were observed between Benign-1.5 and Early-MS groups.
- Benign-3 patients showed worse depression and cognition compared to specific control groups.
Conclusions:
- Benign MS patients generally exhibit superior PROs compared to other MS patient groups.
- Both disease duration and disability level significantly influence PROs in MS.
- The definition of benign MS impacts observed PROs, underscoring the importance of precise classification.
