Plain English Summary

This study looked to establish which aspects of health-related quality of life are negatively impacting people with multiple sclerosis. In addition, this study explored if different ages or how long someone has had multiple sclerosis influenced their health-related quality of life differently. This knowledge allows for improved clinical decision making when working with this population. The fundamental problem addressed in this study was to determine which health-related quality of life domains people with multiple sclerosis have affected compared to general population norms. This research also explored if subgroups exist with similar health-related quality of life needs within the larger multiple sclerosis population. This study discovered that mental health influences health-related quality of life more than physical health in the multiple sclerosis population. This difference is the greatest in a subgroup of individuals recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Introduction

Approximately eighty-five percent of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) initially present with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) [1,2,3,4]. RRMS is characterized by clearly defined disease activity periods, known as exacerbations, followed by periods with partial to complete recovery of symptoms [1, 4]. Symptoms of RRMS can include visual changes, weakness, spasticity, paresthesia, impaired proprioception, balance difficulties, pain, fatigue, bladder/bowel changes, and cognitive impairments [5]. Also, a higher rate of suicidal behavior than the general population has been observed in the MS population [6, 7]. Another critical feature of RRMS is the highly variable disease presentation within and between individuals [8]. This variability between individuals with RRMS results in a broad range of interventions and treatment plans for this population. Even an individual’s presentation of RRMS is expected to show variability throughout the disease course [9, 10].

Due to these variable symptoms, MS is often described as a heterogeneous condition [8, 11] that is hard to predict [12]. This unpredictability and variable disease course has fueled a recent rise in the literature related to MS symptoms and their impact on overall QOL. Some studies have demonstrated that people with MS have a lower QOL than the general population [13,14,15,16]. This diminished QOL reflects the different types of symptoms a person with MS experiences [17]. It is becoming more widely accepted that factors in addition to physical symptoms play an important role in overall QOL for people with MS [18,19,20]. In 2015, the Consortium of MS Centers (CMSC) held a series of meetings between various clinical professionals exploring the current standard of care for MS [1]. Relating MS symptoms to the impact it has on QOL was deemed essential for achieving positive outcomes [1].

Over the years, both general and disease-specific QOL tools have been examined to determine what best captures MS's overall impact on health-related QOL. Although no one QOL assessment is the gold standard test, studies have concluded that physical, mental, and social aspects of life need to be included in any QOL assessment used with the MS population [16, 21, 22]. Interestingly, these studies have shown that QOL assessments can more widely measure the impact of MS than many of the other more frequently used tools to measure disease activity and its corresponding impact on the person [22, 23]. Despite this knowledge about QOL tools to measure the impact of MS from the patient perspective, these tools remain underutilized. In a recent study focused on exploring the level of agreement between patients and neurologists related to QOL, the authors concluded that providers and participants continue to have different perspectives on what influences QOL the most [23].

One tool that measures QOL is the SF-36 survey. The origins of the SF-36 survey are found in a more extensive 149-item survey that was initially developed in the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) in Chicago in 1982 [24]. The current 36-question short-form survey (SF-36) is a more concise set of questions that takes minimal time to complete compared to the original 149-item survey. Currently, the SF-36v2 is one of the more commonly used health-related QOL surveys for people with chronic conditions, including MS [25]. The SF-36v2 builds upon the SF-36 and breaks down QOL into eight different dimensions of health while seeking to relate these dimensions of health to a person’s overall QOL. The eight dimensions of health included in the SF-36v2 are physical functioning (PF), role physical (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH), vitality (VT), social functioning (SF), role emotional (RE), and mental health (MH). In addition to these eight subscales, the SF-36v2 also breaks the eight different categories into two component summary scores, the physical component summary (PCS) and the mental component summary (MCS) [26,27,28]. The focus of the SF-36 is to capture the person’s perspectives on their QOL, thus allowing for the lived experience to be present.

The SF-36 survey has been validated in the MS population, and all three physical summary subscores have been shown to correlate highly with the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) [29]. The EDSS is currently the gold standard for measuring physical disability due to MS [30]. A cross-sectional study performed in Norway concluded the SF-36 survey could capture the full effects of MS on a person’s QOL [31].

The purposes of this investigation were to (1) identify the domains of health-related quality of life most impacted in people with RRMS, (2) compare the health-related QOL in people with RRMS to general population norms, and (3) to describe subgroups within the RRMS population that have similar health and wellness needs.

Methods

This cross-sectional QOL investigation invited adults with RRMS to participate in this study. Participants (n = 120) were recruited through social media and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of the United States. A sequential sample of convenience was used during the recruitment period of 4 weeks. All study participants provided informed consent before participating in the electronic SF-36v2 survey, along with demographic questions. The inclusion criteria were a self-reported diagnosis of RRMS, 18 years of age or older, ability to speak or read in English for survey completion, and the ability to consent to participate. Exclusion criteria included any additional neurological diagnoses outside of MS. This project was approved by Rocky Mountain University of Health Profession’s IRB.

Data collection

The SF-36v2 survey and demographic information were collected via Qualtrics, a secure electronic survey platform. Demographic information collected included age, years since MS diagnosis, gender, health insurance status and type of insurance, income, and ambulation ability. (Table 1). Demographic data was imported into IBM SPSS version 25 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY), and frequency counts were tabulated.

Table 1 Demographic characteristics
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Data analysis

The a priori target participant number for the survey subscales for a z test was 44, calculated using G*power 3.1.9.4 with alpha = 0.05, power = 0.90, and Cohen’s d effect size = 0.50. The a priori target participant number for stratification of the sample into subgroups was 128, using G*power 3.1.9.4 with alpha = 0.05, power = 0.80, and Cohen’s d effect size of 0.50.

The SF-36v2 data was analyzed using Optum, Pro Core program, designed to calculate the SF-36v2 survey results into norm-based scores [32]. The survey data analysis included a quality check for completeness of data within the category range, consistent responses between similar survey items, percentage of estimable scale scores, item internal consistency using Cronbach’s Alpha, item discriminant validity, scale reliability, and confirmation of the two-component structure [33]. (Appendix). Cronbach alpha scores for the eight subscales ranged from 0.784 to 0.948.

The norm-based SF-36v2 is scored to have a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10 for each of the eight health domain subscores [33]. This scoring method uses a T-score transformation to convert raw data to norm-based data. The range for scores is a 0–100 scale, with zero representing the lowest possible QOL score and 100 the highest possible QOL [34]. Individual scores below 45 or a group mean below 47 indicates a health status, in that domain, below the population mean. Conversely, scores above the mean are indicative of above-average health status in that domain [33]. Normative data for the SF-36 was first established in 1998; these norms were updated most recently in 2009 [33]. In addition to the subscales scores and component scores, Optum’s Pro Core program uses aspects of the SF-36v2 to run a first stage positive depression screening to assess the percentage of individuals at risk of depression compared to general population norms. A positive first-stage depression screening score is defined as an MCS score less than or equal to 42 [32]. This definition has been validated through prior research [35, 36].

One-sample Z-tests were completed to compare the sample mean to the general population mean (50, ± 10) for all eight subscales and composite scales using IBM SPSS version 25 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY). The difference between the sample means and the population means was assessed by looking at the standardized effect size (Cohen’s d) of the difference between groups.

Stratification of the data using demographic variables such as gender, age, and years with RRMS was performed to identify if trends and subgroups of the survey population existed. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was performed to determine if relationships exist between the SF-36v2 survey subscale scores and the different demographic variables. This statistic was performed for each of the eight subscales on the SF-36v2 survey. IBP SPSS version 25 was used for these calculations.

Results

The study population consisted of 120 participants with RRMS ranging from 18 to 70 + years old. Table 1 provides the demographic characteristics of the population in detail. Eighty-nine percent of study participants were female, slightly higher than the general MS population of 74% in the United States [37]. About three-quarters of the participants reported being able to ambulate 500 feet or more without an assistive device, while 2.5% reported using a wheelchair as their primary means of locomotion. Most participants reported having health insurance, with 69% reporting private insurance, followed by 15.8% reporting Medicare as their primary insurance. Employment status widely varied, with 38% employed full time and 14% part-time. Almost a quarter of the population reported being out of work due to disability, while 3.4% were college students.

SF-36v2 Subscales and Composite Scores (n = 120)

The SF-36v2 norm-based means and SD for the eight subscales and the two-component scores (PCS, MCS) are shown in Table 2. One-sample Z-tests were completed for all subscales and component means to determine if a difference between groups was present. All values of z were statistically significant, p < 0.01, for all subscale and component scores. (Table 3). This finding indicates that the sample QOL mean score was statistically lower than the normalized mean of the general population. This finding is consistent with current literature [13,14,15, 38].

Table 2 SF-36v2 Scale and Summary Measure Scores, Norm-Based Scoring
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Table 3 One sample Z-test
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The magnitude of the difference (Cohen’s d) for all eight subscales and the two-component scores demonstrated a large effect size, with the largest effect size occurring with social functioning (SF) followed by role physical (RP) and then the MCS score (Table 3).

All group means in this sample fell below 47, indicating the sample population had a below-average health status in all health domains. Without an established minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the SF-36v2 in the MS population, a determination based on available literature was made to use a difference of greater than -half of a standard deviation MCID [39]. Using this criterion, both component scores and all subscales, except bodily pain (BP), achieved a minimal clinically important difference.

A comparison of mean scores between this sample and the general population norms are provided in Figs. 1 and 2. Social functioning was significantly different from the population subscale mean, 39.84. Role physical (RP) and role emotional (RE) had mean health scores of 40.95 and 41.49, respectively. The two-component scores were MCS 42.16 and PCS 43.45.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Mean score comparison to general population on the SF-36v2

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Fig. 2
figure 2

Subscale and component summary means

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The study’s sample population had 49% of those surveyed at risk for depression, compared to 18% for the general population. When looking at RRMS for 0–3 years, the percentage of at-risk individuals sharply increased to 61% compared to the general population of 18% (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3
figure 3

First stage positive depression screen

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Subgroups

Stratifying the data for age and comparing to age group norms (Fig. 4, Table 4), young adults 18–24 had the largest difference in both the MCS and the PCS scores compared to other age groups. Although both z tests were significant at p < 0.05, the sample size was too small to generalize findings. Two other age groups (25–34 and 45–54) demonstrated a large difference in mean scores than the general population age norms for the MCS score. The 65–74 age group PCS mean was greater than one SD away from the population mean.

Fig. 4
figure 4

Subscales and component scores by age group

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Table 4 Component scores by age group
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Stratifying the data for years living with RRMS and age, some trends emerge. Several categories had insufficient sample sizes to generalize findings (Table 5). The lowest MCS score was 38.04 resulting in a statistical difference, p < 0.05, from the population norm in the newly diagnosed subgroup (0–3 years, n = 36). In the 20–24 years with MS group, the MCS scores were 38.54, a statistically significant difference, p < 0.05, n = 10. The lowest PCS score was 34.85 in the 15–19 years subgroup, a statistically significant difference, p < 0.05, n = 10.

Table 5 Years living with MS
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Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was calculated to determine if relationships exist between the SF-36v2 survey subscale scores and demographic variables. Weak relationships were discovered between the MCS scores and income, r = 0.359, p < 0.01, role emotional (RE) and income with r = 0.374, p < 0.01, and social function and income had the strongest relationship with r = 3.93, p < 0.01.

Discussion

This investigation described health-related QOL in people with RRMS by comparing health-related QOL in people with RRMS to the general population data. In addition, the domains of health-related QOL with the most significant variance from normative data were identified. This investigation also enabled the description of subgroups within the RRMS population with similar health-related QOL needs to occur.

This investigation’s population comprised a diverse group of people with RRMS that appears to adequately reflect the larger RRMS population in the United States and around the world [8, 40]. Overall, comparing this RRMS population to the general population, this data suggests that the RRMS population has poorer health in all the health domains measured on the SF-36v2. Although this is not surprising to see a population with a chronic condition having lower overall QOL scores, the notable finding is the impact mental, social, and emotional health have on health-related QOL. The two component scores data strongly suggest that the mental health of individuals with RRMS influences overall health-related QOL significantly compared to other domains of health and the population norms. Despite the evident physical impairments RRMS can cause, mental, emotional, and social health influenced health-related QOL scores more than physical health.

Social functioning was the dimension of health affecting QOL the most by having the lowest mean score. Social function means were low in both recently diagnosed subgroups and those with MS for ten or more years. This study builds on previous research highlighting social function as an aspect of health that should be included when discussing QOL in the MS population [43, 44]. This study’s results further demonstrate the need to explore how social function affects QOL and strategies to improve social function in the RRMS population.

The low MCS mean score in the recently diagnosed subgroup is particularly important. This finding suggests that mental health has a large impact on individuals recently diagnosed with RRMS. Early in the course of the disease, mental health is far below the general population mean. This recently diagnosed group also had the highest percentage of individuals at risk for depression, 61% compared to 18%. Future research should consider a deeper investigation into the mental health needs of individuals recently diagnosed with MS.

This research also highlights the importance of taking a more in-depth look at social factors and mental health when looking at contributors of QOL in the MS population. Based on the findings from this study, further investigations targeting young adults with RRMS are highly suggested. The younger adult (18–24) subgroup and the ‘zero to three years’ since diagnosis subgroup emerged as distinct subgroups within the study’s broader population. These two groups demonstrated a significant risk for depression and exhibited the greatest difference in mean scores from the population norm for the MCS score.

Weak relationships exist between income and the mental component summary score. Income and social functioning, along with role emotional and income, had evidence of a weak to a moderate relationship. This relationship could be due to many reasons related to affordability and access to quality health care services. Exploring these relationships in future research is also recommended.

Surprisingly, mental health was a large detractor of health-related QOL early on in the disease course. Low mental health subscale scores were most prevalent in the ‘zero- three years since diagnosis’ subgroup. The low MCS scores in this study’s recently diagnosed subgroup align with previous research that demonstrated cognitive impairments occur early in the disease course and in the absence of other physical symptoms [41, 42]. This study’s data suggests mental health is also impacted early in MS and independent of physical symptoms.

The lower than average mental health scores and the high number of individuals at risk for depression present a strong message. Mental health is affected at high levels in the RRMS population, and more attention must be given to mental health by providers, researchers, and others involved in multiple sclerosis care.

Research is also recommended to explore further social function and emotional health roles that influence health-related QOL for the RRMS population. Increased attention and resources should be directed into understanding these nonphysical dimensions of health to advance the QOL for the RRMS population. Future studies should consider the perspectives of people with MS through qualitative inquiry to broaden the overall understanding of QOL influencers in the MS population.

This study had some limitations including a smaller sample size then needed to conclusively identify subgroups related to age and years with MS. Another limitation involves participant recruitment; some previous research has shown that females fill out online surveys more than their male counterparts, which may have occurred here with higher percentages of females responding to the survey [45, 46].

Conclusions

This research suggests that the mental health of individuals with RRMS is significantly influencing the QOL in the RRMS population. These findings suggest mental health is affecting overall QOL more than physical health. Physical function was not the prime or sole influencer of QOL in this study; almost all dimensions of health were impacted. It is clear that dimensions of health outside of the physical realm influence QOL in people with RRMS throughout all ages, years with MS, and ambulation ability.