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Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis: Determinants, Measurement, and Use in Clinical Practice

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Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex demyelinating disease with a relatively unpredictable course. It is well established that MS has a significant impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL) for individuals at all stages of the disease. It is argued that clinicians offer treatment to their patients for three reasons: 1) to increase longevity, 2) to prevent future morbidity, and 3) to make patients feel better. To assess how well they are accomplishing the third of these goals, clinicians have come to depend on the direct measurement of patients’ HRQL. We review the many physical and emotional symptoms and other consequences of MS that negatively influence HRQL, how HRQL is measured, the unique information these measures provide compared with clinical parameters, the benefit of treatment interventions, and how to include HRQL assessment and data from other sources in clinical encounters and suggest measures to consider for clinical use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research, Cleveland Clinic, U-10, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    Deborah M. Miller

  2. Oregon Health and Sciences University, 3181 Southwest Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Rebecca Allen

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Correspondence to Deborah M. Miller.

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Miller, D.M., Allen, R. Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis: Determinants, Measurement, and Use in Clinical Practice. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 10, 397–406 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-010-0132-4

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