2025 American Academy of Neurology Abstract Website

Objective:

This study aimed to assess fatigue's impact on quality of life, its correlation with EDSS, and its effect on work activity post-diagnosis.

Background:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system (CNS) disorder characterized by physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms, with fatigue being a key factor negatively influencing health perception.

Design/Methods:

We conducted a multicenter, cross-sectional study of MS patients. Data were gathered using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale and Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life questionnaire. Parametric and non-parametric analyses were performed using EPI Info 7.

Results:

A total of 101 MS patients were included over a 4-month period, with a median EDSS score of 1.5. Fatigue affected 34.7%, and 45.5% reported a significant impact on the physical subscale. Among those with fatigue, 62.9% reported reduced working hours. Moderate QoL, measured by the MusiQol global index (GI), was found in 62.9% of patients. Higher fatigue impact in physical and psychosocial domains correlated with significantly higher median EDSS (p = 0.0003 and p = 0.0001). Patients with moderate QoL had a median EDSS of 2, while those with better QoL had a median EDSS of 1 (p = 0.003). Non-parametric analysis revealed that patients with fatigue had a median EDSS of 2, compared to 1 in those without fatigue (p = 0.001). Parametric analysis showed that 51.7% of patients with EDSS < 2 had moderate QoL, while 44.8% had good QoL; in contrast, 72.1% of patients with EDSS > 2 had moderate QoL, and only 20.9% had good QoL (p = 0.004). Fatigue was more prevalent in EDSS > 2 (53.5%) than in those with EDSS < 2 (20.7%) (p = 0.0003).

Conclusions:

Although fatigue has relatively low prevalence in this MS population, it significantly affects the physical subscale of QoL and reduces work hours in patients with an EDSS of 2 or higher.