Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Persons Newly Diagnosed With Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: To examine the association between physical activity (PA) and quality of life (QOL) in persons newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have been under-represented in MS research.

Design: Cross-sectional study with secondary data analysis.

Setting: General community.

Participants: The study included 152 persons newly diagnosed with MS (ie, diagnosed with MS within the past 2 years) aged 18 and older (N=152).

Main outcome measures: Participants completed the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire to measure PA. QOL, disability status, fatigue, mood, and comorbidity were assessed using the 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12), Patient Determined Disease Steps, Hamburg Quality of Life Questionnaire Multiple Sclerosis, and comorbidity questionnaire.

Results: The bivariate correlations indicated that PA was significantly and positively associated with the physical component of QOL (ie, SF-12 PCS) (r=0.46). The stepwise multiple linear regression analysis indicated PA as associated with SF-12 PCS (β=0.43, R²=0.17) when solely included in the model. After controlling for fatigue, mood, disability status, and comorbidity as covariates (R²=0.63), the association between PA and SF-12 PCS was still statistically significant, but attenuated in magnitude (β=0.11).

Conclusions: This study observed that PA was significantly associated with the physical component of QOL in persons newly diagnosed with MS, even after controlling for covariates. The findings underscore the importance of developing behavior change interventions targeting PA while addressing the roles of fatigue and disability status for enhancing the physical component of QOL of this MS subpopulation.

Keywords: Early MS; Multiple sclerosis; Physical activity/exercise; Quality of life; Rehabilitation.