OBJECTIVES: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS). The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of MS patients is significantly impacted by the pathophysiology and symptomatology of the disease. However, limited national-level data exists regarding the HRQoL of MS patients. This study evaluated the HRQoL and functional limitations of MS patients using the 2006-2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS).

METHODS: Using the conceptual framework of the Wilson and Cleary model, this study compared HRQoL of adult MS patients (Clinical Classification Code="080") and non-MS adults. The study applied the multivariate Generalized Linear Models (GLM) to estimate the marginal differences in HRQoL, specifically physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) of SF-12. Additionally, multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the help needed for activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) for MS and non-MS populations.

RESULTS: According to the MEPS, there were 0.52 million (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.42-0.60) individuals diagnosed with MS annually during 2006-2015. The majority of MS patients were female (71.90%), 50-64 years old (40.21%), non-Hispanic Whites (78.29%), and enrolled in private insurance plans (68.93%). The multivariable GLM with Poisson distribution found that the average PCS score was 11.10 (95% CI: 9.50-12.61) units lower, and the MCS score was 4.89 (95% CI: 3.44-6.30) units lower among MS patients compared to those without MS after adjusting for other factors. Further, patients with MS were 17.32 (95% CI: 11.61-25.84) and 14.43 (95% CI: 10.09-20.65) times more likely to seek help for ADL and IADL, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with MS were associated with diminished physical and mental HRQoL and were more likely to seek help for ADL and IADL. Effective treatment approaches can help to improve HRQoL and decrease functional limitations in MS.