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Estimating the relative contribution of comorbidities in predicting health-related quality of life of people with multiple sclerosis

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Abstract

Background

Little is known about the relative contribution of comorbidities in predicting the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS).

Objective

To determine the associations between the number of and individual comorbidities and HRQoL and estimate the relative contribution of different comorbidities on HRQoL.

Methods

Cross-sectional analysis of data on self-reported presence of 30 comorbidities and HRQoL from the Australian MS Longitudinal Study (AMSLS) participants (n = 902). HRQoL was measured using the Assessment of Quality of Life-8 Dimensions (AQoL-8D). Linear regression and general dominance analysis were used.

Results

Higher number of comorbidities was associated with lower HRQoL (p trend p < 0.01). Comorbidities accounted for 18.1% of the variance in HRQoL. Mental health and musculoskeletal disorders were the strongest contributors to lower HRQoL. Of individual comorbidities, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) [β = − 0.16 (− 0.27, − 0.05)] and depression [β = − 0.15(− 0.18, − 0.13)] were most strongly associated with overall HRQoL, depression [β = − 0.14(− 0.16, − 0.11)] and anxiety [β = − 0.10 (− 0.13, − 0.07)] with psychosocial HRQoL, and SLE [β = − 0.18 (− 0.29, − 0.07)], rheumatoid arthritis [β = − 0.11 (− 0.19, − 0.02)] and hyperthyroidism [β = − 0.11 (− 0.19, − 0.03)) with physical HRQoL.

Conclusion

Comorbidities potentially make important contributions to HRQoL in PwMS. Our findings highlight groups of and individual comorbidities that could provide the largest benefits for the HRQoL of PwMS if they were targeted for prevention, early detection, and optimal treatment.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their deepest gratitude for all the participants of the Australian Multiple Sclerosis Longitudinal Study for their continuous support and enthusiasm to respond to all surveys.

Funding

This study was supported by Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia

    Lara Marie Pangan Lo, Bruce V. Taylor, Tania Winzenberg, Andrew J. Palmer, Leigh Blizzard, Hasnat Ahmad, Mohammad Akhtar Hussain & Ingrid van der Mei

  2. Centre for Health Policy, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Level 4, 207 Bouverie Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3053, Australia

    Andrew J. Palmer

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  1. Lara Marie Pangan Lo
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  2. Bruce V. Taylor
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Correspondence to Ingrid van der Mei.

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Lo, L.M.P., Taylor, B.V., Winzenberg, T. et al. Estimating the relative contribution of comorbidities in predicting health-related quality of life of people with multiple sclerosis. J Neurol 268, 569–581 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-020-10195-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-020-10195-w

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