Quality of Life Changes in Early-Onset Multiple Sclerosis: A 4-Year Follow-Up Study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Quality of Life Research
• Pediatric Health

Background:

• Early-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) significantly impacts young individuals' lives.
• Longitudinal data on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in this demographic is crucial for understanding disease progression and support needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate longitudinal changes in HRQoL among early-onset MS patients.
• To determine the influence of disease activity, specifically relapses, on these HRQoL changes over time.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of individuals with MS onset between 12-25 years was followed for four years.
• Health-related quality of life was assessed using the Paediatric Quality of Life inventory (PedsQL) at baseline and year 4.
• Paired samples t-tests and linear mixed-effects models were used to analyze HRQoL changes and the effect of relapses.

Main Results:

• No significant longitudinal changes were found in overall PedsQL scores or physical, school, and psychological functioning.
• A significant increase in social functioning (p < 0.001) and a decrease in emotional functioning (p = 0.006) were observed.
• Relapses significantly affected changes in social functioning (p = 0.044) but not emotional functioning.

Conclusions:

• Juvenile-onset MS leads to distinct longitudinal HRQoL changes, with social functioning improving and emotional functioning declining.
• Disease activity, indicated by relapses, plays a role in altering social functioning over time.
• Interventions should focus on fostering emotional acceptance of limitations and maintaining social connections to preserve quality of life in young MS patients.