Identification and quantification of risk factors related to the quality of life of multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating neurological disease which significantly impacts the patients’ quality of life. The aim of this study was to identify and quantify the most important risk factors associated to the quality of life, as quantified through Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 Questionnaire (MSQOL-54). A retrospective observational study was designed. 54 patients were considered and three quality of life indicators were derived: physical health, mental health and perceived quality of life (QL Score). A correlation and causality analysis was performed, in order to describe the relationship between these three factors and relevant clinical characteristics, such as age, gender, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS score) and treatment duration. The results indicated a strong positive correlation between all three quality of life indicators and a moderate negative correlation between age, EDSS and physical health and QL Score. In addition, the good cause-effect relationship between the clinical characteristics and the quality of life parameters may offer a basis of developing personalized machine learning prediction algorithms which might further optimize the physical health and mental health of MS patients.