[QUALITY OF LIFE IN CARERS OF PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS TAKING A DISEASE-MODIFYING MEDICATION: A PILOT STUDY]

A chronic physical disease not only has direct consequences for the chronically ill person but can also distort the life of the healthy family member. The aim of our study was to measure the health-related quality of life (QOL) in people caring for patients with relapsing-remitting form of multiple sclerosis (MS) and currently treated with disease-modifying drugs. Eligible patients were selected via Sarajishvili Institute of Neurology database for MS. 25 carers (mean age 40.7; 56% women, 56% partners) and 25 sex and age-matched controls completed 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), version 2. Carers also completed the Beck depression Inventory (BDI-II). Compared to carers, patients were found to have a lower QOL (P<0.05 for five dimensions). However, no significant difference was observed in SF-36 domains scores between carers and controls except general health score which was lower in carers (63.3 vs 75.6, p=0.016). A strong negative correlation was found between BDI and all SF-36 dimension scores of carers. The association remains unchanged even adjusted to carers other independent variables. Last year relapse rate was the only clinical variable correlated with carers QOL dimensions. Our pilot study demonstrated that QOL in carers of patients with relapsing-remitting MS receiving disease-modifying treatment is minimally affected. Further study with large sample size is warranted.