Health-related quality of life in patients with multiple system atrophy using the EQ-5D-5L

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease. We aimed to investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the determinants of HRQoL in patients with MSA.

The five-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) was used to evaluate patients' HRQoL. The results of HRQoL were indicated by the EQ-5D-5L index values and visual analog scale (EQ VAS) scores. Specific scales were used to measure disease severity, cognition, frontal lobe function, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and sleep disorders. The beta mixture model and the linear regression model were used to explore the determinants of HRQoL in patients with MSA.

A total of 205 patients with cerebellar variants (MSA-C; 53.9%) and 175 patients with parkinsonian variants (MSA-P; 46.1%) were included in this cross-sectional study. The mean values of the EQ-5D-5L index values and EQ VAS scores were .558 and 59.5, respectively. Problem with mobility was the problem reported by the highest proportion of patients (92.1%), followed by problems with usual activities (88.7%), self-care (81.3%), anxiety/depression (72.1%), and pain/discomfort (53.9%). The determinants of the lower EQ-5D-5L index values in patients with MSA were greater disease severity, fatigue, Parkinson's disease-related sleep problems (PD-SP), depressive mood, and anxious mood. Greater disease severity, fatigue, and depressive mood were associated with lower EQ VAS scores.

The problem reported most frequently by Chinese individuals with MSA was mobility. In addition to the greater disease severity of MSA, fatigue, PD-SP, depression, and anxiety were determinants of poor HRQoL.