Compartmentalization of impact of oral and injection therapy on quality of life in the early stage of disease in multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can cause serious physical and mental problems, which can affect patients’ health-related quality of life (HQoL). Objective: The aims of this study are comparing oral and injection disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) in improving HQoL and Investing the relations between demographic characteristics and HQoL. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of patients whit a lower degree of disability with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. According to drug usage, we divide patients into two groups of oral and injection medications. After obtaining informed consent, multiple sclerosis quality of life-54 (MSQOL-54) questionnaire filled by patients. Results: 115 patients including 34 males and 81 females with the mean age of 33.06 ± 8.68 years old involved in this study. There was no significant difference in demographics factors between two groups. We observed no statistically significant difference between two groups of patients, but oral medicines showed a better function in physical health composite and users of injection DMDs were better in mental health composite. There was a negative correlation between age and the expanded disability status scale score with physical health composite, while education had a positive correlation with physical health composite. Except cognitive function, there wasn’t any significant gender differences in any subscale of HQoL.