Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and severity of 8 symptoms in persons with
multiple sclerosis (MS) and to examine the association between these symptoms and
community integration and mental health. DESIGN:
Cross-sectional survey that
assessed 8 symptoms (pain, fatigue, imbalance, numbness, weakness, shortness of
breath, vision loss, and memory loss), disease progression (self-report version
of the Expanded Disability Status Scale), community integration, and mental
health. SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS: Adults with self-reported MS who
responded to a mailed survey (N=180). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME
MEASURES: The presence and intensity of symptoms were measured with a symptoms
checklist. Community integration was assessed with the Community Integration
Questionnaire, and mental health was measured by the Mental Health Index of the
Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. RESULTS: The average
number of symptoms reported was 5.07+/-2.18. The most common symptoms (fatigue,
weakness, and imbalance) were also rated as the most severe. Not all symptoms
were associated with level of disease progression or with MS subtype. Symptoms
related to mobility were more likely to be associated with these variables. The 8
symptoms as a whole accounted for significant amounts of variance (range,
13%-21%) in measures of community integration and mental health, with specific
symptoms making differential independent contributions to these measures.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that most individuals with MS report a
number of bothersome symptoms. Type of MS or level of progression does not tell
the whole story regarding the impact of symptoms.
CI - Copyright (c) 2016 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS