Quality of life during the first 6 months of interferon-β treatment in patients with MS

Objectives: To determine the quality of life (QoL) of MS patients during the initial 6 months of treatment with interferon-beta (IFN-beta). Furthermore, to determine whether changes in QoL relate to disability emotional state therapeutic expectations or side effect profile. Background: IFN-beta has been shown to have beneficial effects on the course of MS. Since the aim of IFN-beta treatment is not to cure but to slow down the disease it is important to know how this treatment effects QoL Surprisingly, the impact of treatment with IFN-beta on QoL measures has not been extensively studied so for. Methods: Case report documentation, including EDSS, SF-36 and MADRAS scores, of 51 relapsing-remitting MS patients treated with IFN-beta was obtained at baseline and at months 1, 3 and 6. Patients also filled in a form about their expectations of therapy and a questionnaire on side effects. Results: During treatment there was a significant linear trend indicating improvement in the role-physical functioning (RPF) scale of the SF-36 (F-1,F-50=4.9, P=0.032). A transient decrease at month I was found in the scale for bodily pain, indicating more experienced pain (F-1,F-50=19.8, P<0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that patients with most depressive symptoms on the MADRAS at baseline contributed most to the increase in RPF scores over time (F-1,F-24=5,6 P=0.026). Furthermore, we found associations between adverse event scores and several domains of QoL. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that IFN-beta therapy has an impact on QoL of MS patients in that it improves role-physical functioning and transiently worsens experienced bodily pain. QoL during treatment with IFN-beta is influenced by depressive symptoms at baseline as well as by treatment-associated side-effects.