Quality of life and sleep profile in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis is the most common demyelinating autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS) which can present by various neurological symptoms including vision impairment, numbness and tingling, focal weakness, bladder and bowel incontinence, and cognitive dysfunction. Aim of the work: The aim of the current study was to assess the quality of life and sleep in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Methods: The study was comparative case control study which included 40 patients and 40 controls; Health-related QOL was assessed using the Arabic version of the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 questionnaire in RRMS patients. Sleep quality was assessed for both patients and controls using the Arabic version of The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. To measure patients’ degree of disability, the Ex‌panded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was used. Results: The results showed that RRMS patients have low mean physical and mental composite score. The results also showed that RRMS Patients has high global sleep index indicating poor sleep quality. Conclusion: MS patients have limitations as regard physical and cognitive functions which, in addition to poor sleep quality, lead to low health related quality of life.