Treatment with interferon beta-1b improves quality of life in multiple sclerosis

Background: The Canadian Burden of Illness Study Group reported that the qu ality of life (QoL) of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients falls drastically, early in the disease. With disability progression, the physical functioning scales of the Short Form 36(SF-36) showed further decreases in QoL. The ob jective of this study is to describe the QoL of MS patients treated with in terferon beta-lb (IFNB-1b) and to compare it to the QoL observed in a group of patients who had not been treated with IFNB-1b. Methods: Treated patien ts were prospectively recruited and were seen at their regular visit to the MS clinic. They self-completed the SF-36 questionnaire and their QoL was d escribed and retrospectively compared to that of historical controls. Resul ts: When IFNB-1b treated patients were compared to historical control patie nts with the same relapsing forms of MS, the treated patients with an Expan ded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score lower than 3.0 had a significantly better QoL. This was significant for four of the eight SF-36 domains: Phys ical Function (+22%, p=0.0102), Role-Physical (+100%, p=0.0022), General He alth (+27%, p=0.0070) and Social Function (+19%, p=0.0287). The average QoL difference was 8% in the EDSS 3.0-6.0 group and 10% in the EDSS >6 group. Conclusion: Patients with relapsing forms of MS treated with IFNB-1b have b etter QoL than patients who are not treated, especially those with an EDSS <3.0.