Chanson JB, Zéphir H, Collongues N, Outteryck O, Blanc F, Fleury M, Vermersch P, de Seze J. Evaluation of health-related quality of life, fatigue and depression in neuromyelitis optica.
Eur J Neurol 2010;
18:836-41. [PMID:
21087360 DOI:
10.1111/j.1468-1331.2010.03252.x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The burden of multiple sclerosis (MS) includes fatigue, depression and worsening of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). These changes have not been yet measured in neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Our aim was to assess the HRQOL, fatigue and depression in NMO.
METHODS
We administered French validated self-questionnaires on HRQOL (SEP-59), fatigue (EMIF-SEP) and depression (EHD) to 40 patients followed up in two centres. We assessed the relationship of these parameters with gender, age, disability, disease duration, visual acuity and NMO-antibody status and also compared our results with equivalent data in MS and normal subjects derived from previous studies.
RESULTS
Health-related quality of life scores were lower (P < 0.01) in patients with NMO when compared to normal subjects. No significant difference was noted between patients with NMO and MS for most scores, the exceptions being HRQOL related to cognitive function (better in NMO than in MS), HRQOL related to sphincter dysfunction (worse in NMO than in MS) and the psychological dimension of fatigue (milder in NMO than in MS). Disability was the main predictive factor of an unfavourable evolution.
DISCUSSION
This study reveals the strong impact of NMO on HRQOL, fatigue and depression and the importance of screening patients, especially the more disabled, so as to initiate suitable treatment.
Collapse