Table 4 Comparison of QOL domains by gender and MS type versus matched control groups

Physical health: N= 58/108

9.8(2.6)

9.6(2.3)

Ns

11.2(1.8)

10.5(2.0)

P < 0.0008; 0.002

Psychol health: N= 59/109

15.6(3.5)

15.9(3.8)

Ns

18.1(2.4)

17.1(2.9)

P < 0.0001; 0.009

Independence: N= 57/109

12.9(3.7)

12.6(2.9)

Ns

16.1(2.4)

15.7(2.4)

P < 0.0001; 0.0001

Social relations: N= 58/105

9.6(2.8)

9.8(2.6)

Ns

11.5(1.7)

10.8(2.5)

P < 0.0001; 0.006

Environment: N= 57/102

27.5(5.4)

27.5(5.1)

Ns

28.3(4.4)

28.3(5.3)

P = 0.4; 0.3

Spiritual N = 59/108

3.2(1.0)

3.5(1.0)

Ns

3.7(0.9)

3.7(1.0)

P < 0.005; 0.2

General facet: N= 59/107

6.9(1.6)

6.7(1.7)

Ns

8.1(1.2)

7.9(1.5)

P < 0.0001; 0.0001

4- domain physical health

22.6(5.7)

22.1(4.8)

Ns

27.3(3.8)

26.3(3.9)

P < 0.0001; 0.0001

4- domain psychol health

18.8(4.3)

19.3(4.5)

Ns

21.8(3.1)

20.8(3.8)

P < 0.0001; 0.009

B. By MS type

WHOQOL-Bref domains

RRMS (SD): 1

PMS (SD): 2

T

P level

Control (SD): 3

N = 171

P level differences b/w pts & control groups:

1 vs 3; 2 vs 3, respectively**

Physical health: N = 141/25

10.0(2.1)

7.6(2.9)

5.1

0.001

10.8(1.9)

P < 0.005; 0.0001

Psychol health: N = 143/25

16.4(3.1)

12.0(4.8)

5.9

0.001

17.4(2.8)

P < 0.003; 0.0001

Independence: N = 142/24

13.2(2.7)

9.2(4.1)

6.3

0.001

15.9(2.3)

P < 0.0001; 0.0001

Social relations: N= 140/24

10.3(2.2)

6.5(3.2)

7.2

0.001

11.1(2.2)

P < 0.002; 0.0001

Environment: N = 135/24

28.4(4.6)

22.4(5.7)

5.7

0.001

28.3(4.9)

P = 0.9; 0.0001

General facet: N = 142/25

7.1(1.2)

5.0(2.3)

6.7

0.001

8.0(1.4)

P < 0.0001; 0.0001