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BMC Neurology
Published in: BMC Neurology 1/2011

Open Access 01-12-2011 | Research article

Cognitive function and quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients: a cross-sectional study

Authors: Karine Baumstarck-Barrau, Marie-Claude Simeoni, Françoise Reuter, Irina Klemina, Valérie Aghababian, Jean Pelletier, Pascal Auquier

Published in: BMC Neurology | Issue 1/2011

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Abstract

Background

Nearly half of all patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) will develop cognitive dysfunction. Studies highlighted from no/weak impact to a strong impact of cognitive impairment on quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of cognitive dysfunction on self-reported QoL in MS patients while considering key confounding factors.

Methods

Design: cross-sectional study. Inclusion criteria: MS patients of any disease subtype. Data collection: sociodemographic (age, gender, marital status, education level, and occupational activity) and clinical data (MS subtype, disease duration); MS disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS); depression (Beck Depression Inventory); fatigue (Modified Fatigue Impact Scale); QoL (SF36 and MusiQoL); and neuropsychological performance (Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests, BRB-N). Statistical analysis: multiple linear regressions (forward-stepwise selection).

Results

One hundred and twenty-four patients were enrolled. Performance on BRB-N subtests varied widely (6% to 70% abnormal). The BRB-N classified 37-78% of the patients as cognitively impaired, depending on the definition of cognitive impairment. No links were found between the MusiQoL index and cognitive subtests, whereas marital status, EDSS, and depression were found to be independent predictive factors.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated the weak and scarce association between cognitive impairment and QoL, when the key confounding factors were considered. These results need to be confirmed with larger samples and more accurate tests of cognitive function.
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Metadata
Title
Cognitive function and quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients: a cross-sectional study
Authors
Karine Baumstarck-Barrau
Marie-Claude Simeoni
Françoise Reuter
Irina Klemina
Valérie Aghababian
Jean Pelletier
Pascal Auquier
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Neurology / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2377
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2377-11-17

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